Ten years ago, the core tasks of switchgear operation and maintenance (O&M) centered on tightening terminals, cleaning dust, replacing parts, and performing mechanical adjustments-typical physical, experience-based field work that was vividly referred to as the "tightening screws" era. However, with the widespread adoption of smart power distribution technology, the traditional, rudimentary equipment O&M model has come to a complete end, and switchgear O&M has officially entered the "parameter tuning" era, centered on data, logic, algorithms, and parameter setting. The scope of O&M personnel's capabilities has been significantly expanded, and their skill sets are undergoing a comprehensive transformation and reshaping. Across various power distribution scenarios, common types of switchgear have long undergone intelligent upgrades. Whether it's mainstream 12 kV switchgear or the highly versatile air-insulated switchgear (AIS), all are equipped with intelligent monitoring, remote control, and data analysis systems-forcing O&M teams to evolve from "equipment repair technicians" to "system control engineers."
Traditional O&M relies on experience and intuition, while intelligent O&M relies on data and logic. The era of a single O&M system fitting all equipment has come to an end. Different types of switchgear feature distinct intelligent architectures, data logic, and control models, placing varied demands on the professional capabilities of O&M personnel. This article will draw on the intelligent application scenarios of 12 kV switchgear and air-insulated switchgear (AIS) to provide an in-depth analysis of the direction of skill evolution, the challenges of role transition, and the pathways for capability reshaping for power O&M personnel in the era of intelligent switchgear.
I. The End of Traditional Operations and Maintenance: "Tightening Screws" Is No Longer Suitable for Smart Equipment
In traditional power distribution systems, switchgear failures are primarily caused by mechanical malfunctions, poor contacts, aging insulation, and short circuits due to dust accumulation, and operations and maintenance work relies heavily on hands-on experience. The core skills of O&M personnel centered on mechanical repairs, equipment cleaning, tightening screws, visual inspections, and routine testing-tasks characterized by low technical barriers, high repetitiveness, and a heavy reliance on physical labor.
However, with the intelligent upgrade of the power grid, various types of switchgear are now fully equipped with smart terminals, sensors, partial discharge monitoring, online temperature monitoring, and relay protection modules, leading to a fundamental shift in the nature of equipment failures. Today's equipment hazards are no longer limited to obvious mechanical damage but increasingly involve hidden issues such as parameter drift, logic mismatches, data anomalies, and threshold shifts.
Taking the 12 kV switchgear-the most commonly used type in distribution networks-as an example, the new generation of smart cabinets has eliminated a large number of mechanical components and added digital protection, cloud-based data uploading, and remote switching control functions. Simple mechanical maintenance is no longer sufficient to address these hidden equipment faults. At the same time, air-insulated switchgear (AIS)-widely used in auxiliary power distribution at power plants and substations-has also undergone intelligent upgrades, incorporating environmental monitoring, condensation warning, and live-line monitoring modules. Equipment operating status now relies entirely on data feedback,
rendering the traditional visual inspection method completely obsolete.
II. Transformation of Operations and Maintenance in the Smart Era: From "Manual Labor" to "Parameter-Based Logical Control"
The widespread adoption of smart switchgear has completely reshaped the core of operations and maintenance work, shifting the focus from "hardware repair" to "software control, data analysis, and logical optimization." "Adjusting parameters" has become the core daily task for operations and maintenance personnel.
First is the fine-tuning of protection parameters. Intelligent 12 kV switchgear supports customizable multi-level protection logic configurations, where parameters such as instantaneous trip, overcurrent, zero-sequence, and time delay directly determine the selectivity and safety of the power distribution system. O&M personnel must dynamically adjust protection thresholds based on load changes, line conditions, and the coordination between upstream and downstream equipment to prevent out-of-level tripping and protection failure-a technical capability never before required in traditional O&M.
Second is the analysis of equipment data and the tracing of anomalies. Intelligent air-insulated switchgear (AIS) can transmit real-time data on cabinet temperature, ambient humidity, partial discharge (PD) data, switch status, and load current. O&M personnel no longer need to inspect each cabinet on-site; instead, they can screen for anomalies, analyze trends, and predict potential hazards through backend data, achieving a shift from "emergency repair" to "condition-based maintenance."
In addition, operations and maintenance personnel must become familiar with the system adaptation logic for different types of switchgear and master new skills such as communication protocol debugging, terminal point configuration, data calibration, and remote operations and maintenance access control. This allows them to completely move away from a narrow, mechanical maintenance mindset and adopt a systematic, digital approach to power distribution operations and maintenance.
III. Reshaping the Skills Set for O&M Personnel: Comprehensive Upgrades to Three Core Competencies
In the era of smart switchgear, qualified O&M personnel must update their skills to build a new skill set comprising "electrical fundamentals + digital technology + logical control," thereby reshaping their three core competencies.
First, Digital Data Analysis Capabilities
Traditional O&M focuses only on the surface-level appearance of equipment, whereas modern O&M requires an understanding of data logic. By analyzing load curves, partial discharge data, and temperature rise data for 12 kV switchgear, technicians can quickly identify issues such as insulation aging, overload risks, and parameter drift. By analyzing environmental monitoring data for air-insulated switchgear (AIS), they can accurately assess risks of condensation, contamination buildup, and moisture penetration in insulation, replacing experience with data to achieve precise O&M.
Second, Parameter Tuning and Logic Debugging Capabilities
By mastering the configuration of protection parameters, interlock logic debugging, and communication parameter matching across different scenarios, the system can adjust equipment operating modes based on production loads and operational modes. Faced with differences in intelligent systems across various types of switchgear, it can rapidly adapt to equipment characteristics to complete system debugging, fault reset, and logic optimization, ensuring stable coordination across all levels of the power distribution system.
Third, Smart Equipment O&M and Emergency Response Capabilities
While retaining traditional equipment maintenance capabilities, new competencies include troubleshooting smart terminals, repairing communication failures, system restart and calibration, and remote O&M management. When faced with faults specific to smart equipment-such as data disconnections, parameter discrepancies, terminal failures, and signal anomalies-they can quickly pinpoint and efficiently resolve issues, addressing both hardware repairs and software debugging.
IV. Industry Insights: Moving Beyond Rigid Skills to Adapt to New Trends in Smart Power Distribution
The shift from "tightening screws" to "adjusting parameters"-though seemingly a simple change in tasks-actually represents a structural upgrade in the power operations and maintenance industry. The era of relying on experience accumulated over years is over; in this new era, operations and maintenance personnel are no longer judged by physical strength or years of service, but rather by their digital literacy, logical thinking, and system control capabilities.
Today, the intelligent upgrade of various types of switchgear continues to advance. Whether it is 12 kV switchgear-the core of distribution networks-or the widely adopted air-insulated switchgear (AIS), intelligence, digitization, and remote operation have become inevitable trends. Those who cling to traditional O&M skills will eventually be left behind by the industry; only by proactively reshaping their skill sets and transforming their mindset can they keep pace with the development of smart power distribution.
Conclusion
The thirty-year evolution of switchgear operation and maintenance serves as a microcosm of technological iteration in the power industry. Mechanical maintenance is the foundation, parameter control is the core, and data analysis is the future. In an era where smart equipment is widely adopted, O&M personnel must break free from the shackles of traditional experience, complete a comprehensive transition from physical operations to intelligent control, and continuously update their skill sets. Only then can they meet the O&M demands of all types of smart switchgear-including 12 kV switchgear and air-insulated switchgear (AIS)-and lay a solid talent foundation for the safe, stable, and intelligent operation of power distribution systems.
About us
Zhejiang Lvma Electric Co., Ltd., established in 2018 with a foundation of 17 years' industry experience, is an ISO 9001:2015-certified specialist in intelligent switchgear systems and distribution transformers-both oil-immersed and dry-type. Our products serve clients across Europe, the Middle East, South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Driven by an R&D team holding over 40 patents, we are transitioning from a traditional manufacturer to a smart, sustainable energy solutions provider. Through digitalized production and intelligent real-time monitoring, we deliver safe, efficient, and reliable electrical equipment worldwide.