Most of China's damaged power grid in the country's snow-stricken areas has been restored, the government announced on Thursday.

The worst snowfall in five decades affected 13 provinces and autonomous regions. During the month-long weather chaos that ended in mid-February, 36,740 power lines and 2,018 transformer substations had broken down.

To date, 95 percent of the power lines and 99 percent of the transformer substations have been repaired, said the Coal, Electricity and Transport and Disaster Relief and Emergency Command Center under the State Council.

You Quan, State Electricity Regulatory Commission head, called to improve the power grid structure and enhance its resistance against extreme weather.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2008)