The awarding for scientific and technological achievements in electric power profession originated from the National Science Conference in 1978. Regulations of encouragement have been formulated by former Ministry of Electric Power, Ministry of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering, Ministry of Energy and former State Power Corporation of China. Up to 2005, 2669 science & technology prizes at ministry-level were awarded, including 132 first prizes. The power profession won 427 national science & technology awards, including 1 top-grade prize, 32 first prizes and 108 second prizes, via recommendations of administrative departments of science & technology of power and following assessment.
       Authorized by the state department in charge of science & technology awards in March, 2001, former State Power Corporation of China established the China Electric Power Technology Award, which then became one of the first 26 awards established by social power after significant reformation taken place on Science & Technology awards. Besides, the first and second prizes of China Electric Power Technology Award were permitted to be recommended to state-level science & technology awards directly by Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering.
       In order to adapt to the new circumstances of power system reform, since 2003, sponsors for China Electric Power Technology Award had changed from former State Power Corporation of China to 7 corporations in all, including State Grid Corporation of China, China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd, China Huaneng Group, China Datang Corporation, China Huadian Corporation, China Guodian Corporation and China Power Investment Corporation. The organizer also changed from former State Power Corporation of China to Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering. Between February and April, 2004, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group, Beijing Guohua Electric Power Corporation and North United Power Corporation took part in the sponsors as well.
       After reform of sponsors and organizers, the first conference on China Electric Power Technology Award was held in Beijing on February 18th, 2003. The conference was presided by Zhao Xizheng, the former general manager of State Grid Corporation of China. Delegates of sponsors and organizers attended the conference, including Yuan Maozhen, Li Xiaopeng, Zhou Dabing, Cheng Niangao (representative of general manager, He Gong), Zhang Xiaolu (representative of general manager, Wong Binghua), Zhu Mingkun (representative of general manager, Zhai Ruoyu) and Lu Yanchang. “Principles and Suggestions about the Review and Adjudication Committee of China Electric Power Technology Award” were passed at the conference. Candidates of chairman, vice chairman, award office director and vice director were confirmed, source of expenses, standards of reward and other details were also discussed and confirmed.
       Hierarchy of organizational management of the award:
1. Joint Conference of sponsors and organizers: in charge of supervising and investigating significant matters and making decisions
2. Review and Adjudication committee of awards: in charge of approving the decisions and solving important matters related
3. National Office for China Electric Power Technology Award: in charge of dealing with daily affairs
China Electric Power Technology Award, which is one of the awards established by non-government institutes,  is awarded to the power industry as well as the whole society. Prizes are awarded annually, including first prizes, second prizes and third prizes, and they are intended for technology programs contributing enormously to the advancement of China electric power industry, and companies, institutes or individuals which have played an important role in this process.