Taipower Enhances Power Grid Resilience　Reducing Outage Incidents by 70% in 13 Years and Completing Nationwide Feeder Automation

Taipower held a press conference titled "Measures to Enhance Distribution System Power Supply Stability" at the Ministry of Economic Affairs today (26), presenting the achievements of its recent distribution system improvements. (Pictured from left to right: Huang Mei-lien, Chief Engineer and Administrator of Taipower; Chih-meng Tsai, Vice President of Taipower; Ming-shu Chen, Vice President of Taipower; and Yow-jen Rau, Director of Taipower's Distribution Department.)

Taipower held a press conference titled "Measures to Strengthen Power Supply Stability in the Distribution System" at the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) today (26th), outlining the results of its distribution system improvement efforts.

In recent years, Taipower has accelerated the replacement of aging equipment, introduced smart technologies for inspection and monitoring, and implemented measures to prevent contact by birds and animals. By shifting its approach from "post-incident repairs" to "preventive maintenance," the number of distribution system incidents has declined significantly, from a peak of 21,019 cases in 2012 to 6,191 cases in 2025, representing a reduction of nearly 70%.

In addition, nationwide feeder automation was completed last year, enabling the system to proactively detect and isolate fault sections, thereby substantially improving overall power restoration efficiency. Taipower continues to invest in strengthening the power system to build a more resilient, intelligent, and user-friendly electricity network, enhancing the quality of power supply for the public.

Following the "Awakening of Insects Action" launched on March 5 last year, Taipower mobilized more than 4,000 personnel to strengthen power supply stability. Measures included relocating bird nests from utility poles or installing bird-friendly nesting baskets to guide birds away from hazardous areas, as well as installing rodent guards, snake-proof nets, and bird deterrents to prevent wildlife intrusion. These efforts demonstrate Taipower's commitment to achieving a balance between ecological conservation and stable power supply.

Taipower further explained that the distribution network is highly complex, comprising more than 10,000 feeders nationwide with a total length of approximately 440,000 km, enough to circle the Earth ten times. The network is equipped with around 1.57 million switches and 1.58 million transformers, supported by approximately 3.26 million utility poles. When any piece of equipment is affected by natural disasters, external forces, or equipment failure, it may cause a feeder trip, resulting in localized power outages.

To reduce the occurrence of such incidents, Taipower launched the five-year distribution system upgrade plan in 2023, investing NT$33.4 billion to accelerate the replacement of aging transformers, lines, switches, and other equipment nationwide. As the plan continues to advance, it is expected to further mitigate the risk of power outages and enhance overall system reliability.

Taipower further explained that in response to the impact of Typhoon Danas last year, the company launched a dedicated initiative to develop a disaster-resilient power grid. Priority has been given to undergrounding utility poles along key road sections, such as Provincial Highways 17, 19, 9, and 11, which are highly exposed to strong winds yet less prone to flooding.

In areas affected by land subsidence or frequent flooding, Taipower has adopted localized solutions, including pole consolidation and reinforcement, as well as the installation of E-grade utility poles capable of withstanding Category 17 typhoon-force winds. These measures are designed to prevent domino-effect pole collapses and significantly enhance the disaster resilience of power facilities.

Taipower also noted that it has continued to advance "smart inspections" in recent years by deploying infrared thermal imaging and very-low-frequency (VLF) cable testing technologies. It is estimated that last year alone, inspections were conducted on approximately 636,000 transformer boxes and 4.1 million meters of power cables, enabling the early identification and replacement of equipment with potential failure risks. Meanwhile, feeder automation nationwide was completed last year. Through intelligent upgrades to distribution lines, the system can proactively detect and isolate fault points when incidents occur, restoring power to unaffected customers within five minutes, up to ten times faster than traditional repair methods, thereby substantially improving power restoration efficiency.

In recent years, Taipower has continued to promote smart inspections, utilizing infrared thermal imaging and very low frequency (VLF) cable testing technologies. It is estimated that last year alone, inspections were conducted on approximately 636,000 transformer boxes and 4.1 million meters of power cables. Through early identification and replacement of equipment with potential failure risks, Taipower has shifted from "post-incident repairs" to "preventive maintenance" strategy, effectively enhancing the reliability of the power distribution system.

According to Taipower's statistics, nearly 50% of distribution system incidents are caused by external factors, with contact by birds and animals accounting for approximately 40% of such cases. To ensure a stable power supply while remaining environmentally friendly, Taipower has continued to strengthen vegetation management and has completed insulation covering on approximately one million utility poles nationwide. The company has also relocated bird nests from poles, installed bird-friendly nesting platforms to guide birds away from hazardous areas, and added bird deterrents, as well as rodent- and snake-proof mesh and sealed conduit gaps, to prevent wildlife contact with power equipment.

By these sustained efforts, power outages caused by birds, animals, and vegetation contact have declined from 4,073 cases in 2012 to 1,772 cases last year, representing an overall reduction of more than 50% and demonstrating significant results.

Taipower emphasized that ensuring a stable power supply is both its mission and responsibility. Whether through routine inspections and maintenance or around-the-clock emergency repairs during typhoons, Taipower personnel remain on the front lines to restore power for the public and safeguard illumination across every corner of Taiwan. Moving forward, Taipower will continue to strengthen the power system, reduce outage incidents, and protect the public's right to reliable electricity.