In 2026, the transmission grid recorded 8 incidents related to violations of the power grid safety corridor. These incidents show that the risk comes not only from intentional acts but also from subjectivity and lack of awareness of dangers in the process of production, construction and living near high-voltage power lines.
The national power transmission system is managed and operated by the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) with 220-500kV lines stretching across the country, playing a role in ensuring safe, continuous, and stable power transmission to serve socio-economic development, security, national defense and the electricity market. Therefore, protecting the high-voltage grid safety corridor is the responsibility of management and operation units, local authorities, businesses and people living and producing near the lines.
Many incidents from seemingly normal activities
According to statistics, in 2026, incidents occurred due to many different causes. Among them, groups of acts related to kites, flying objects, UAVs; vehicles, construction machinery violating safety distances; pulley winches or objects blown into power lines are all potentially high risks.
On January 24, the 220kV Pho Noi - Gia Loc power line belonging to Northeast 2 Power Transmission (Hai Phong) experienced an incident due to local people's kites getting caught in the power line. On February 5, the 220kV Nam Sum - Nong Cong power line belonging to Thanh Hoa Power Transmission encountered an incident due to people's pole winches placed under the power line; when the rope broke, it flew onto the power line causing an incident.
On May 8, an incident occurred on the 220kV Soc Trang 2 - Ca Mau power line when a tornado swept away the tarpaulin covering people's water pumps, causing this object to get caught in the head of the bar and the insulation chain of the power line. On August 8, an incident on the 220kV power line in Hung Yen was determined to be caused by a crane violating the safety distance.
Notably, on August 17, the 500kV Son La - Viet Tri power line of Northwest Power Transmission 2 experienced an incident due to a kite string entangled in a wire. On the same day, the 220kV Lao Cai - Guman 1 power line of Northwest Power Transmission encountered an incident due to UAV cables of people transporting materials brushing against the power line...
EVNNPT believes that the above incidents do not originate from the intention to approach power projects, but mainly due to not fully identifying the risks when organizing production, construction or living near power lines.
Not subjective with power grid safety corridors
According to regulations on protecting electrical works and safety in the electricity sector, maintaining a safe distance and protecting the high-voltage grid corridor is a mandatory requirement. Activities such as building, expanding works, planting trees, gathering materials, using crane, lifting vehicles, high-altitude machinery, flying kites, balloons, flying objects, operating UAVs or setting fire near power lines all need to be controlled according to regulations.
Violating the safety corridor of the power grid can cause serious consequences such as the risk of electric shock, electric burns, accidents for people directly performing work and people around; damaging electrical equipment, affecting power supply capacity and causing property damage.
EVNNPT recommends that operating management units continue to inspect and detect high-risk areas early; strengthen propaganda in residential areas, production and construction areas near power lines; coordinate with local authorities to handle and prevent violation risks.
For businesses and construction units, field surveys, risk identification and safety measures must be implemented right from the time of planning. Units need to notify and agree in writing with the power grid operating management unit to be guided, consulted and supervised for safety before construction.
People are advised not to fly kites, balloons, flying objects or perform activities that may affect the power line; not to arbitrarily build, expand works, plant trees, gather materials or use high-altitude equipment near the power line without understanding and properly implementing regulations.
LEGAL INFORMATION - WARNING
According to Decree No. 133/2026/ND-CP of the Government, effective from May 25, 2026, some violations of regulations on protecting power works may be fined from 20–30 million VND, such as:
- To allow houses, works, and crops owned by them to violate the safety protection corridor of power projects or cause damage to any part of power projects;
- Mine detection, mine opening causing damage to parts of power projects;
- Violating the safe distance between licensed aircraft and power projects within a radius of 500 m from the outer edge of the high-voltage and super-high-voltage grid in the air or 100 m for medium-voltage grid in the air;
- To fly kites and objects within a range of 1,000 m from the outer edge of high-voltage and super-high-voltage power grid works in the air or 500 m for medium-voltage power grids, except for cases prescribed by law.
