On the morning of February 12th, Zhang Qiang, the operation and maintenance manager of the Wenfeng Old Town Power Supply Team of State Grid Anyang Power Supply Company, was checking for any customer requests for on-site inspections when the phone suddenly rang. A resident’s voice came through: “I run a hardware store on West Street. A while ago, the electric meter box was relocated, and now we need to update the address. Could you come take a look?” Zhang quickly responded, “Is it the one near the West Primary School on West Street? We’ll be there right away.” Hanging up, he and his colleague grabbed their toolkits, hopped onto their electric bike, and braved the cold wind toward No. 123 West Street to assist the customer.

 

 

Upon arrival, Zhang reassured the customer, “Don’t worry, the address has been verified, and there’s no issue. We’ll update the information once we’re back at the office. Also, remember, for businesses, unplugging unused sockets is important. If any problems arise, don’t hesitate to call us—we’ll come immediately.” With the customer’s details—name, phone number, address, and meter number—already on his phone, Zhang expertly completed the address verification and chatted warmly with the customer.

 

 

Walking down the newly renovated, clean West Street, Zhang felt a deep sense of fulfillment. For the past three years, he had been responsible for the area south of Wenfeng Middle Road and north of Sandao Street, part of the old town of Anyang. The area is home to over 5,000 electricity customers, many of whom are elderly or transient renters with limited knowledge about electricity. For most of them, their first instinct when encountering an issue is to call the power company. Zhang’s role is to resolve these issues and ensure the residents have safe and reliable power.

 

In December 2024, a dispute arose over the placement of an electric meter box due to the city’s ongoing renovation plans. Upon learning of the issue, Zhang immediately visited the site to explain the situation and offered a detailed explanation. Since the matter involved residential users, street vendors, and various departments overseeing electricity metering, Zhang coordinated with the local community, the street office, the ancient city office, and the construction bureau to find a resolution. By January of this year, all parties reached a consensus, and the meter box placement issue was resolved amicably. The customer, who had initially been upset, later expressed gratitude and praised Zhang’s professional service.

 

Zhang chuckled as he explained, “The meter box locations in the ancient city renovation weren’t decided by us, but when users face issues, we have to communicate and resolve them. If a resident’s light goes out or they lose power, they call us, and we immediately check it out. Even if it’s not our responsibility, if we can help, we do. It's like volunteer work, really.”

 

The old town holds deep memories for the people of Anyang, with each brick and alley telling a story of the past. As the ancient city renovation continues and the cultural and tourism industries develop, Zhang finds great meaning in contributing to the city’s transformation. Whether it’s handling installation applications, conducting on-site inspections, or monitoring power lines, Zhang approaches every task with meticulous care. During the recent Spring Festival holiday, Zhang and his colleagues shared safety power usage tips in their customer WeChat group chats, visited the area for inspections, distributed heartwarming cards, and ensured the smooth operation of meter boxes. They also communicated closely with the ancient city management unit, always prepared for emergency repairs to ensure residents’ peace of mind.

 

Thanks to the combined efforts of Zhang and his colleagues, the power supply in the old town has become more reliable than ever. They have become the “lights” that warm the ancient city, safeguarding the flickering lights of countless homes with their dedication, ensuring that every user feels the warmth of reliable electricity services. Under their protection, the ancient city shines even brighter. (Reported by Shi Haoyan)