The online dialogue on Warning of electricity use in hot season organized by Tuoi tre newspaper on the afternoon of March 19 received numerous questions from customers who use electricity nationwide.
Many readers have questioned about the solutions to use electricity for daily activities and production in the hot season of 2024.
Customer Mai Phuong (residing in Kien Giang) asked who is responsible for the electricity loss caused by the faulty meter or the faulty power lines?
Answering this question, Mr. Nguyen The Huu, Deputy Director of the Electricity Regulatory Department – Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that the electricity meter is the boundary point of responsibility between the seller and the buyer. If there is a leak in front of the electricity meter, the electricity seller will be responsible. If there is a leak behind the electricity meter, the electricity buyer will be responsible.
“In case either party suspects that the meter is inaccurate, it can be reported to the other party for re-examination of the meter. In case either party does not agree with the examination results, it can be submitted to a third party for examination, and the party that is wrong will bear the cost of the examination,” Mr. The Huu said.
Some customers asked about how to use electrical devices efficiently, how to determine peak hours, and solutions to ensure electricity supply during the hot season this year. These questions were answered thoroughly one by one by the organizers.
Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVNHCMC), informed that according to Decision 28 in 2024, peak hours are from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and from 5 pm to 8 pm; off-peak hours are from 10 pm to 4 am the next day. The remaining time is normal hours.
“Different electricity prices will be applied for each time frame. The electricity sector recommends that customers restrict the use of high-power devices during peak hours, and shift the demand to off-peak or normal hours. For production, the goal is to keep the total electricity usage unchanged,” Mr. Kien shared.
Regarding the electricity supply situation in 2024, Mr. Vo Quang Lam, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN), said that from the beginning of 2024 until now, the Vietnamese economy has made strong recovery steps, with national commercial electricity growth reaching 14.5%, triple that of 2023.
This year, it is forecasted that there will be hot weather with high temperatures across the country, leading to a high demand for electricity use. Supplying and using electricity have become urgent issues.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen The Huu said that this year, the electricity consumption is high, and EVN has implemented many solutions to ensure electricity supply.
Currently, hydropower plants have collected water to prepare for the dry season, providing not only electricity but also water for production.
Thermal power plants and gas-fired power plants have reviewed their fuels and systems to handle incidents promptly. Besides, the operation of power plants is closely monitored and properly handled.
The electricity sector is also pushing forward the construction progress of power transmission lines and 500kV power lines to ensure electricity supply for production and daily activities.
Mobilization of expensive electricity sources
Mr. Vo Quang Lam said that EVN is concentrating on mobilizing a large amount of thermal power, with the goal of ensuring electricity for the economy and at the same time ensuring water supply for household use and agricultural production due to the forecasted extended dry season this year. Therefore, EVN must immediately mobilize expensive electricity sources, namely thermal power, at the beginning of the dry season. In which, thermal power is expected to increase by 145% compared to 2023.
EVN will also maximize the use of renewable energy sources on weekdays, except for Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Accordingly, wind power will be utilized 25% more than last year, while solar power will be utilized 19% more than last year.