[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyung-wook] This year passed without a single power outage caused by wildfires, which were frequent in the spring. #Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) plans to build on this success to minimize damage from heavy rains and heatwaves this summer.

According to KEPCO on the 10th, this spring’s wildfire prevention period concluded with zero power outages. While wildfires a year ago damaged two substations and caused power outages, KEPCO explained that this year’s success was due to proactive preventive measures and a 24-hour emergency response system, implemented as a lesson learned from the previous incident.

During this spring’s wildfire prevention period, KEPCO deployed a total of 12,148 personnel—including 6,050 employees and 6,098 contractors—to maintain a 24-hour emergency response system for power facilities in mountainous areas, even on public holidays and at night. Although wildfires occurred frequently this year as well, KEPCO responded on-site by immediately dispatching personnel whenever a fire broke out near power facilities to assess the impact and guide fire authorities to the location of the facilities. KEPCO reports that the number of dispatches this spring reached 443.

Additionally, during this period, KEPCO strengthened cooperation with relevant agencies by establishing an emergency restoration resource mobilization system with 365 transmission and distribution partner companies and operating power facility tour programs for officials from the Korea Forest Service, fire departments, and local governments. Furthermore, to reduce the risk of wildfires at substations in mountainous areas, KEPCO passed an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act that exempts mountainous substations from landscaping requirements.

Based on its experience responding to wildfires this spring, KEPCO is preparing for the upcoming summer season’s torrential rains and heavy downpours.

A KEPCO official stated, “We plan to conduct special inspections of transmission towers vulnerable to landslides, substation drainage facilities, and underground equipment, and strengthen preventive measures against equipment overheating and fires caused by heatwaves,” adding, “We will manage operations thoroughly to ensure there are no disruptions to the stable supply of electricity this summer.”