Engineer sparks his co-workers to new highs

Zhang Liming checks equipment during a mission to help guarantee the smooth operation of the power grid during the COVID-19 lockdown in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, in January. CHINA DAILY

Power maintenance engineer Zhang Liming, 52, is a well-known figure in Tianjin due to his dedication to maintaining communities' electricity supplies for more than 30 years.

An employee of the State Grid Tianjin branch's Binhai subsidiary, Zhang has been granted several titles for his work, including Excellent Member of the Communist Party of China, Role Model of the Times and National Morale Model.

Zhang has memorized many paths around the Binhai New Area in order to quickly answer service calls, and residents welcome him as a family member.

Over the years, he has drawn up maps of the coastal area to help him find a location when he is called out on a job. He always leaves his phone on to answer maintenance requests and according to his work logs, he has covered 80,000 kilometers over the past three decades.

Liu Liqin, a resident of Huianli community in Binhai, said she called him to fix a power problem on Oct 1, which was a holiday.

"However, after the maintenance work, Zhang found our community had electrical hazards, such as cables piled in the corner of an old building.

"Unlike other utility workers who ignore other problems after completing their own work, Zhang asked his colleagues to come and help us clear all of the cables, removing any possible risks," she said.

Her experience is just one example of why Zhang's volunteer spirit has won him praise from grassroots people.

Another service he provides for free is changing the light bulbs in elderly residents' homes.

While he is proud of his blue collar work, Zhang has also concentrated on introducing technological innovations.

The Binhai subsidiary has finished more than 500 technological upgrades and received 192 national-level patents, with Zhang playing a major role. Nine staff members of the company received the May 1 Labor Medal in Tianjin given to grassroots workers.

"Zhang's outstanding contributions lie in the fact that he has inspired a number of young engineers in innovation and voluntary contributions," said Shi Xueqian, deputy Party chief the State Grid's Tianjin branch.

The country's first "intelligent power town" was officially launched this March in Binhai with the support of Zhang's team. The project expects to reduce electricity costs for consumers by 10 percent, compared with ordinary industrial and residential towns.

Zhang has not only inspired the Binhai arm of the company, but also the entire Tianjin branch with more Party members following his lead on voluntary work and innovations.

Huang Xu, an engineer awarded the May 1 Labor Medal, said:"Since I joined the company, I have been impressed by Zhang and learned from his efforts to address the needs of the grassroots people and remain hungry for innovation."

Zhang said his work is a small contribution but something every "CPC member should do".