Taipower continues to improve grid resilience; power outages drop 70% over 13 years Feeder automation completed, accelerating power restoration
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Taipower convened a press conference at the Ministry of Economic Affairs today (January 26) on Initiatives to Enhance the Stability of the Power Distribution System. A Taipower representative described the outcomes of power distribution system improvements.
January 26, 2026-Taipower convened a press conference at the Ministry of Economic Affairs today on Initiatives to Enhance the Stability of the Power Distribution System. A Taipower representative described the outcomes of power distribution system improvements as follows: In recent years, Taipower has accelerated the phasing out of old facilities, incorporated smart monitoring systems, and implemented measures to prevent wildlife from making contact with power equipment, comprehensively replacing the philosophy of "post-incident repairs" with one of "pre-incident prevention". Compared to 2012, when there were 21,019 power distribution incidents, in 2025 there were only 6191 incidents—a 70% decrease. Additionally, last year, Taipower completed the installation of automated systems for feeder lines nationwide. These systems can automatically detect and isolate faults, which greatly increases the overall efficiency of power restoration. Taipower will continue to invest in energy system enhancements, aiming to create a more resilient, smarter, and friendlier power grid to increase the quality of power services for the people of Taiwan.
On March 5, 2025, as part of its Jingzhe operation, Taipower mobilized over 4000 personnel to enhance power supply stability. In addition to transplanting bird nests found on top of utility poles and installing environmentally friendly bird baskets—leading birds away from danger—personnel also installed anti-rat and anti-snake netting, bird repellers, and other equipment to prevent wildlife incursion, striving to ensure a win-win scenario for the power supply and ecology.
The structure of Taipower's energy distribution network is complex. There are more than 10,000 feeder lines throughout Taiwan, with a total length of 440,000 kilometers—enough to wrap around the planet 10 times. Along these lines, Taipower has installed a cumulative 1.57 million switches and 1.58 million transformers, along with approximately 3.26 million utility poles. When the equipment in any area is affected by a natural disaster, external forces, or a failure of the equipment itself, it can trigger a feeder trip, causing a small-scale localized outage. To reduce outage incidents, in 2023, Taipower launched the Power Distribution System 5-year Upgrade Plan, investing NT$33.4 billion to accelerate the replacement of outdated transformers, lines, and switches nationwide. Through the continuous promotion of this plan, Taipower will further prevent the occurrence of power outages.
Furthermore, in response to the assault by Typhoon Danas last year, Taipower established a special project to create a disaster-proof grid, prioritizing the undergrounding of utility poles on key roads, such as Provincial Highways 17, 19, 9, and 11, which are vulnerable to wind damage but resistant to flooding. For areas prone to subsidence and flooding, measures were adjusted accordingly; through a combination of pole reinforcement and the interspersed installation of class E utility poles capable of withstanding level 17 winds, Taipower has prevented chain reactions of toppling poles, and greatly increased the equipment's disaster resilience.
In recent years, Taipower has continuously promoted smart monitoring by adopting infrared ray heat imaging and VLF cable tests. According to the Company's initial estimates, a total of 636,000 transformer boxes and 4.1 million meters of cables underwent inspection last year, identifying outdated equipment with potential risks of breakdown and replacing it in advance, preventing accidents from occurring rather than fixing them after they happen.
In recent years, Taipower has continuously adopted smart monitoring technologies, including infrared ray heat imaging and very low frequency (VLF) cable testing. According to initial estimates, a total of 636,000 transformer boxes and 4.1 million meters of cables underwent inspection last year, allowing the Company to identify outdated equipment with potential risks of breakdown and replacing it in advance. Last year, Taipower also completed the installation of automated systems on its feeder lines. Through increased line intelligence, when accidents occur, engineers can actively identify and isolate faults, and restore power to customers in unaffected areas within 5 minutes—ten times faster than with traditional emergency repairs. This has effectively improved the efficiency of power restoration.
In recent years, Taipower has accelerated the replacement of outdated equipment, integrated smart monitoring, and prioritized pre-incident prevention over post-incident repairs. Compared to 2012, when there were 21,019 power distribution accidents, in 2025 there were only 6191 accidents—a 70% decrease. Additionally, last year, Taipower completed the installation of automated systems for feeder lines nationwide.
According to Taipower's statistics, nearly 50% of power distribution accidents are caused by external forces, and among those, approximately 40% occur due to contact with wildlife. To simultaneously ensure a stable power supply and protect the environment, Taipower continuously engages in tree-trimming efforts and has installed insulated conductors on approximately 1 million utility poles nationwide. Additionally, by transplanting bird nests found on top of utility poles and installing environmentally friendly bird baskets, the Company guides birds away from danger. Taipower has also added bird repellers, anti-rat and ant-snake netting, sealed gaps in conduits, and taken other measures to prevent wildlife from making contact with electrical equipment. Through the continuous efforts of Taipower employees, the number of power outages occurring due to contact with equipment by wildlife and trees dropped from 4073 incidents in 2012 to only 1772 in 2025, an overall reduction of over 50%, which is a remarkable result.
A stable power supply is the mission and duty of Taipower personnel. Whether engaged in regular inspections and maintenance or round-the-clock repairs during typhoons, Taipower employees are at the frontline providing electricity to the people, protecting the light on every inch of land in Taiwan. Taipower will continue to enhance its power distribution system, reduce outages, and safeguard the Taiwanese people's right to electricity.
