“폭염·집중호우에도 전력 지켰다”…한전, 전국 전력설비 74만 개 특별점검

과학화 장비(부분방전 진단장비)를 이용해 가스절연 개폐장치를 진단하는 모습 / 사진제공=한전

[나주=AI호남뉴스] aihnnews@kakao.com
한국전력이 올여름 폭염과 집중호우에 대비해 전국 송·배전 전력설비 약 74만 개를 사전 점검하고 취약설비를 정비하는 등 전력공급 안정성 확보에 나섰다.

한국전력은 29일 기록적인 폭염과 국지성 집중호우가 이어진 올여름 전국 송·배전설비에 대한 선제적인 점검과 정비를 실시하고 기상재해 현장 대응체계를 강화했다고 밝혔다.

한전이 인용한 기상청 자료에 따르면 2026년 여름철 전국 평균기온은 25.4℃로 평년보다 1.7℃ 높아 1973년 이후 세 번째로 높은 수준을 기록했다. 8월 중하순에는 경남 해안을 중심으로 기록적인 집중호우도 발생했다.

■ 5주간 9,741명 투입…전력설비 74만 개 점검
한전은 여름철 기상재해에 따른 전력설비 고장을 예방하기 위해 지난 5월 15일부터 6월 19일까지 5주 동안 ‘2026년 하계 대비 송배전설비 특별점검’을 실시했다.
특별점검에는 총 9,741명이 투입됐다.
점검 대상은 송전설비 4,110개, 변전·전자제어설비 2,966개, 배전설비 약 73만 개 등 모두 약 74만 개에 달했다.
송·변전 분야에서는 산사태 피해 우려가 있는 철탑 1,586기를 점검했다. 침수나 누수 위험이 있는 전력구·변전소 538곳의 배수설비도 집중적으로 살폈다.
폭염과 화재에 대비해서는 전력케이블 65곳과 장기간 사용한 변압기 접속설비 327대를 중점 점검했다.
열화상과 부분방전 진단 등 과학화 장비를 활용한 설비 진단도 실시했다. 이를 통해 이상징후를 사전에 확인하고 282건의 부적합 사항을 조치했다고 한전은 설명했다.

■ 변압기·저압설비 14만 개 점검…2만 개 즉시 정비
배전 분야에서는 여름철 냉방수요 증가 등에 따른 전력사용 확대에 대비해 변압기와 저압설비 14만 개를 점검했다.
점검 결과 부적합 판정을 받은 설비 2만 개는 즉시 정비했다.
집중호우에 취약한 배수장과 펌프장 공급선로 2,223곳도 과학화 장비를 활용해 진단했으며, 이 가운데 취약한 것으로 확인된 321곳을 보강했다.
강풍으로 나무가 쓰러지거나 가지가 전력선과 접촉하면서 발생할 수 있는 정전을 막기 위한 정비도 진행됐다.
한전은 전력선과 접촉할 우려가 있는 수목 약 51만 그루를 정비했다.
지중 저압설비 16만 개도 점검해 이 가운데 3천 개를 보강하는 등 폭염·집중호우·강풍 등 기상 상황별 위험요인을 사전에 제거했다.

■ 송·변전-배전 통합 대응…재난 때 복구인력 전진배치
전력설비 자체 점검뿐 아니라 기상재해 발생 이후 정전 복구를 위한 대응체계도 재정비했다.
한전은 송·변전과 배전 분야 간 상황 전파체계와 비상 연락망을 점검하고 협력회사와 긴급복구 방안을 확인했다.
정전 발생 시 활용하는 이동용 변압기와 비상발전기 등 긴급지원 장비의 운용상태도 점검했다.
특히 폭우나 산사태 등으로 현장 접근이 어려워질 가능성에 대비해 원거리 선로와 무인변전소 등에 복구인력과 장비를 전진 배치하는 체계를 갖췄다.
기상재해 발생과 상황 전파, 현장 출동, 설비 복구에 이르는 전 과정을 점검해 대규모 정전 발생 가능성을 낮추고 복구시간을 단축하는 데 초점을 맞췄다.

한전 관계자는 “선제적인 설비 점검과 현장 대응으로 올여름 안정적인 전력공급에 기여했다”며 “국민들이 안심하고 전기를 사용할 수 있도록 기상재해 대응 역량을 더욱 강화하겠다.”고 말했다




“Power Supply Remained Stable Despite Record Heat and Torrential Rains”… KEPCO Inspects 740,000 Power Facilities Nationwide
9,741 personnel deployed to inspect transmission, substation and distribution facilities and eliminate potential risks in advance
1,586 transmission towers vulnerable to landslides and drainage systems at 538 underground power tunnels and substations inspected
140,000 distribution transformers and low-voltage facilities checked, with 20,000 defective facilities immediately repaired
510,000 trees posing risks to power lines trimmed…321 vulnerable power lines reinforced against torrential rains
Integrated transmission-substation-distribution response system strengthened…mobile transformers and emergency generators also inspected
[Naju=AI Honam News] aihnnews@kakao.com
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) carried out preventive inspections of approximately 740,000 transmission and distribution facilities nationwide this summer and repaired vulnerable equipment to ensure a stable electricity supply amid record-breaking heat waves and torrential rains.
KEPCO said on Sept. 29 that it had strengthened its field response capabilities against extreme weather by conducting proactive inspections and maintenance of transmission and distribution facilities across the country.
According to data from the Korea Meteorological Administration cited by KEPCO, the nationwide average temperature during the summer of 2026 reached 25.4 degrees Celsius, 1.7 degrees higher than the long-term average and the third-highest level recorded since 1973. Record-breaking torrential rains also hit areas along the southern coast of Gyeongsangnam-do in mid-to-late August.
■ 9,741 Personnel Deployed Over Five Weeks to Inspect 740,000 Power Facilities
To prevent failures of power facilities caused by heat waves, torrential rains and other weather-related disasters, KEPCO conducted its “2026 Special Inspection of Transmission and Distribution Facilities in Preparation for Summer” for five weeks from May 15 to June 19.
A total of 9,741 personnel participated in the inspections.
The inspections covered approximately 740,000 power facilities nationwide, including 4,110 transmission facilities, 2,966 substation and electronic control facilities, and about 730,000 distribution facilities.
In the transmission and substation sector, KEPCO inspected 1,586 transmission towers considered vulnerable to landslide damage as well as drainage systems at 538 underground power tunnels and substations exposed to potential flooding or water leakage.
To prepare for extreme heat and fires, the company also conducted intensive inspections of power cables at 65 locations and 327 connection facilities for transformers that had been in long-term service.
KEPCO used advanced diagnostic equipment, including thermal imaging and partial-discharge detection systems, to identify early signs of abnormalities. Through these inspections, the company identified and addressed 282 cases of non-compliance or defects, reducing the risk of equipment failure.
■ 140,000 Transformers and Low-Voltage Facilities Inspected, 20,000 Immediately Repaired
In the distribution sector, KEPCO inspected 140,000 transformers and low-voltage facilities to prepare for increased electricity demand during the summer cooling season.
Of these, 20,000 facilities found to be defective or inadequate were immediately repaired.
The company also used advanced diagnostic equipment to inspect 2,223 power lines supplying drainage and pumping stations in preparation for torrential rains. A total of 321 vulnerable locations were subsequently reinforced.
KEPCO also carried out extensive vegetation management to prevent outages caused by strong winds bringing trees or branches into contact with power lines.
Approximately 510,000 trees that posed a potential risk of contact with power lines were trimmed or otherwise managed.
In addition, KEPCO inspected 160,000 underground low-voltage facilities and reinforced 3,000 of them, eliminating potential vulnerabilities associated with heat waves, torrential rains, strong winds and other severe weather conditions.
■ Integrated Transmission-Substation-Distribution Response System Strengthened
Along with inspecting power facilities, KEPCO strengthened its integrated emergency response system linking transmission, substation and distribution operations to ensure faster recovery from outages caused by severe weather.
The company reviewed its emergency communication networks and procedures for sharing information between transmission, substation and distribution teams while also coordinating emergency restoration plans with partner companies.
KEPCO also inspected the operational readiness of emergency support equipment, including mobile transformers and emergency generators, which can be deployed when power outages occur.
In particular, the company established a system to pre-position restoration personnel and equipment near remote power lines and unmanned substations in preparation for situations in which torrential rains, landslides or other disasters could make access to affected sites difficult.
KEPCO said it had reviewed the entire emergency response process—from the occurrence of a weather-related disaster and dissemination of situation reports to field deployment and restoration of damaged facilities—with the aim of reducing the risk of large-scale outages and shortening recovery times.
“Through proactive facility inspections and strengthened field response measures, we contributed to maintaining a stable electricity supply throughout this summer,” a KEPCO official said. “We will continue to enhance our capabilities to respond to weather-related disasters so that the public can use electricity safely and with confidence.”