KEPCO chief inspects power grid ahead of summer demand surge

Korea Electric Power Corp. has launched inspections of its power grid control infrastructure in preparation for a surge in electricity demand driven by extreme heat this summer.

KEPCO President Kim Dong-chul visited the distribution station and regional network control center at the utility's Seoul headquarters on Thursday to conduct a final review of the company's summer power supply readiness.

KEPCO is running a "summer power supply management period" from June 29 through Sept. 18 to ensure rapid response to emergencies and deteriorating conditions. The utility plans to continuously monitor the operational status of power facilities nationwide and maintain an emergency restoration system to guarantee stable electricity supply.

Earlier, KEPCO conducted special inspections of 7,076 major power facilities across the country from May 15 through June 19, identifying 282 potential risk factors in transmission and distribution equipment and addressing them immediately.

In the transmission and substation sector, inspectors focused on 1,393 steel towers at risk of landslides, 217 underground power conduits vulnerable to flooding or water leaks, drainage systems at 321 substations, and exterior walls and outdoor equipment at 144 substations. In the distribution sector, the company replaced 1,176 transformers to prepare for rising summer electricity demand.

KEPCO also ran diagnostic checks on about 1.3 million pieces of equipment, restoring more than 6,000 to normal operation, and inspected supply lines serving 2,223 flood-control facilities such as pumping stations.

"Please ensure our field response systems operate without gaps during the summer, when electricity demand peaks, so that the public can use power without inconvenience — and do your utmost to restore service quickly should an emergency arise," Kim said.

He went on to say that "summer disasters are becoming increasingly complex due to climate change, and electricity demand continues to grow," adding that the company would "do its utmost to operate power facilities stably through thorough pre-inspections and a seamless rapid-restoration system, so the public can use electricity with peace of mind."