The First All-Electric Camping Food Festival was held at Banyue Island Ecological Park in Guicheng, Nanhai District, making the park an especially lively spot during this year’s National Day holiday. At the event, chefs from several time-honored restaurants crafted delicious dishes using all-electric kitchen appliances such as induction cookers and electric steamers. Mouth-watering delicacies with appealing color, aroma and taste were freshly made, drawing crowds of local residents to stop and enjoy the feast.
“I never imagined that authentic Shunde steamed fish could be cooked without an open flame,” exclaimed Ms. Chen, a local resident, after a 10-minute queue to taste the signature all-electric cooked dish just out of the cooker. To her delight, steaming fish on an induction cooker produced no cooking fumes and allowed precise heat control.
This vivid scene is a microcosm of Foshan’s vigorous drive to advance the “Gas-to-Electricity” project. Amid this kitchen energy revolution, Foshan Power Supply Bureau of China Southern Power Grid Guangdong Power Grid Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Foshan Power Supply Bureau”) has leveraged innovative measures and solid safeguards to let green electricity light up the warm livelihood of thousands of households.
A Transformation on the Tip of the Tongue: From Skepticism to Acceptance
Foshan boasts a time-honored catering culture. Nevertheless, while traditional gas-fueled kitchens bring forth tasty delicacies, they harbor conspicuous potential safety hazards. Particularly in densely populated areas with a mix of catering outlets and residential buildings, the use of bottled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) poses a latent threat to public safety. To fully implement the National Special Renovation Work Plan for Urban Gas Safety, Foshan Power Supply Bureau has actively collaborated with municipal housing and urban-rural development authorities to vigorously advance the special “Gas-to-Electricity” initiative for catering and other premises starting from the beginning of 2025.
Faced with initial public skepticism, the power supply authority adopted innovative publicity methods, turning the abstract concept of electricity substitution into tangible and experiential practical benefits for the public. In Nanhai and Gaoming Districts, the power supply departments ingeniously hosted all-electric culinary competitions and all-electric food festivals. At these events, all-electric kitchen appliances demonstrated their outstanding performance as chefs cooked exquisite dishes, treating residents to both visual and gustatory pleasures. A science popularization interactive zone was also set up, where vivid explanations on the advantages of “all-electric kitchens” and policy incentives for the “Gas-to-Electricity” transformation were delivered through fun quizzes and on-site demonstrations.
“I never knew induction cookers could generate such intense heat, with no cooking fumes and enhanced safety!” a resident who participated in the interactive games sighed with emotion. This face-to-face science popularization effectively raised public awareness and acceptance of the “Gas-to-Electricity” transformation. Gradually, skeptical voices faded away, replaced by growing understanding and support, marking a quiet transformation unfolding on the tip of the tongue.
Demonstration and Leadership: Building a Replicable “Foshan Model”
Promoting the “Gas-to-Electricity” transformation is far more than simply replacing cooking stoves; it requires comprehensive supporting guarantees. Foshan Power Supply Bureau has adopted a multi-pronged approach, building a complete promotion system covering policy publicity, power grid upgrading and service optimization, thus creating a replicable and scalable “Foshan Model”.
Among these efforts, Nanhai Power Supply Bureau of Foshan joined hands with health authorities to launch a campaign to accelerate the “Gas-to-Electricity” transformation in medical institutions. As special venues, hospitals have demands such as uninterrupted meal supply and patient services, imposing extremely high requirements on the stability and safety of their kitchens. In response to these characteristics, Nanhai Power Supply Bureau implemented a “Dual Manager” service mechanism, assigning professionals to follow up the entire installation application process and carry out targeted renovations under the principle of “one hospital, one tailored solution”. Up to now, 5 hospitals including Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Nanhai Hospital) have completed the “Gas-to-Electricity” upgrade, with a cumulative renovated and planned capacity reaching 4,200 kilowatts.
“After the renovation, our hospital has significantly improved the level of green and safe energy consumption, and saved approximately 30,000 RMB in monthly costs,” said Manager Lu of the canteen at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Nanhai Hospital). The renovation has achieved triple benefits of safety, energy conservation and cost optimization.
Sanshui Power Supply Bureau of Foshan collaborated with the district housing and urban-rural development department to build a model “all-electric kitchen” project at the Mincai Project construction site in Datang Town. They completed the entire process from line renovation to equipment installation in just two and a half days, driving the transformation of construction site canteens that previously used bottled LPG. To date, all construction site canteens using bottled LPG in Sanshui District have completed the renovation, building a solid “power defense line” for the dietary safety of nearly 10,000 construction workers and setting an example for green construction site development.
Gaoming Power Supply Bureau of Foshan joined forces with Hecheng Sub-district Office to fully build a “Gas-to-Electricity” demonstration zone in Taihua Community. During the project advancement, led by the sub-district office, multiple departments including development and reform, housing and urban-rural development, emergency management and state-owned assets worked together to coordinate and tackle project difficulties, optimize the project approval process, and implement a personalized dual-track parallel model for construction approval. Up to now, Gaoming District has completed the “Gas-to-Electricity” renovation for 309 merchants, with a plan to finish 371 renovations by the end of the year, enabling more customers to access safe and clean electric energy.
Comprehensive Safeguards: Ensuring a Worriless Transition to “Gas-to-Electricity”
With the in-depth advancement of the “Gas-to-Electricity” initiative, the increasing electricity load has become an urgent issue to address. Foresighted and proactive, Foshan Power Supply Bureau has actively promoted the service requirements of “Zero Application, Zero Approval, Zero On-site Visit” and “Cost Saving, Time Saving, Energy Saving”, and vigorously advanced the upgrading of power grid infrastructure to meet the growing load demand and maximize the guarantee for business electricity consumption.
In terms of power grid upgrading and renovation, Foshan Power Supply Bureau has taken a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, it has built new public transformer substations to meet users’ electricity needs. For instance, Gaoming Power Supply Bureau collected electricity load demands in relevant areas in advance, planned and constructed 7 new public transformers, and carried out supporting low-voltage line renovations.
On the other hand, it has optimized the existing power grid, re-planned the access lines for residential and catering electricity consumption, improved the line operation environment, and effectively enhanced the power supply reliability of electric facilities. Targeting the problems of aging low-voltage lines and insufficient power capacity in the Baiwangcheng area of Sanshui District, Sanshui Power Supply Bureau built a new 800 kVA distribution room and added 8 low-voltage cable circuits, raising the average electricity capacity of merchants from 3 kilowatts to 40 kilowatts and doubling the power supply guarantee capacity.
Meanwhile, Foshan Power Supply Bureau collaborated with Huiyuantong Group, a subsidiary of the municipal state-owned assets company, to launch an integrated “electromagnetic kitchen” solution, formulate various equipment construction and operation models, and provide customers with one-stop services covering the entire chain of electricity application, equipment selection, construction and installation, and after-sales maintenance. Users can apply for new electricity connection, capacity expansion and electric kitchen renovation solutions with one click through the “China Southern Power Grid Online” APP or mini-program, enjoying a hassle-free experience with “zero trips to the service hall”.
Up to now, Foshan has completed more than 600 “Gas-to-Electricity” renovation projects across the city, covering schools, hospitals, large enterprises, commercial complexes, and government and public institutions. As this initiative advances further, Foshan Power Supply Bureau will continue to optimize its service model and expand the scope of renovation, enabling more residents to enjoy safe, clean and efficient electric energy.
In the future, a safer, greener and smarter new era of catering is slowly unfolding in Foshan.
