**Electricity Bills Spike Amidst Soaring Temperatures**
In early May, social media platforms and online forums were flooded with netizens humorously flaunting their “affluence” through exorbitant electricity bills. A deluge of bills amounting to nearly 1 million VND and upwards of 4-5 million VND were eagerly shared online.
Many individuals reported experiencing “headaches, dizziness,” or “near fainting spells” upon receiving their electricity bills, which had increased by hundreds of thousands of VND or even millions compared to the previous month.
Within a mere 20 minutes of posting, a status update on a community group reading “Wealthy folks, it’s not about designer brands anymore; show off your electricity bills!” garnered over 100 comments. Numerous members of the group reported a 40%-50% increase in their April electricity bills, with some even doubling compared to March.
Air conditioners consume a significant amount of electricity, especially during hot weather. Photo: HOÀNG TRIỀU
Mr. Nguyen Truong Hai (residing in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) jokingly expressed a desire for “psychological trauma” after his April electricity bill skyrocketed to 1.6 million VND, a 400,000 VND increase from March. Mr. Tran Van Thai (residing in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) received a bill of almost 5 million VND, nearly 2 million VND more than the previous month.
“We have two refrigerators and three air conditioners that run 24/7. My wife and children are accustomed to using them at 23-24 degrees Celsius, but the recent heat wave has forced us to lower the temperature to 20-21 degrees Celsius for sufficient cooling. We knew the electricity bill would soar, but the heat is unbearable,” Mr. Thai lamented.
Explaining the sudden surge in April electricity bills, Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVNHCMC), attributed it to a 12% rise in household electricity consumption in April compared to March and a 20% increase compared to April 2023.
“Out of 2.47 million residential customers in the city, 1.8 million consume electricity at Tier 4 or higher (accounting for 75% of all households). The number of Tier 6 users has increased to 44% (typically around 25% during normal months),” Mr. Kien stated.
According to Mr. Kien, EVNHCMC anticipated the situation from the beginning of April and continually warned customers about the impending surge in electricity bills.
In April, Ho Chi Minh City consumed over 2.75 billion KWh of electricity, a 12.44% increase compared to March. On April 26th, the peak consumption reached 103.46 million KWh, the highest ever recorded.
“The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting predicts that temperatures in May will decrease compared to April but will remain high. Therefore, EVNHCMC urges customers and households to implement energy-saving measures, especially for cooling appliances such as air conditioners and evaporative coolers,” Mr. Kien emphasized.
In light of this situation, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has issued Official Dispatch No. 2325 on April 26th, 2024, regarding the promotion of electricity conservation and ensuring a stable and uninterrupted power supply during the dry season of 2024 and beyond.
The dispatch specifically instructs households to adopt rigorous electricity conservation measures, such as turning off appliances when not in use, using air conditioners at temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius or higher, and maximizing natural light indoors.
Record-breaking Electricity Consumption During Holidays
On May 2nd, the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) reported a significant increase in electricity consumption during the 30-4 and 1-5 holidays, bucking the usual trend. Due to scorching temperatures nationwide, the average daily peak electricity consumption of the entire national power system reached approximately 40,459 MW, with an average daily output of around 860.5 million KWh.
Compared to the same holiday period in 2023, the average daily electricity output increased by 37.2%, while the peak system consumption rose by 30.6%.
According to EVN, the heat wave is expected to continue with unpredictable patterns, and the number of extremely hot days is forecasted to exceed the yearly average.
“Electricity consumption in the North is projected to rise even higher during the upcoming heat waves this summer. If the heat intensifies across all three regions, national electricity consumption will surge, putting pressure on power operations and supply during the late dry season,” a representative from EVN cautioned.
To ensure an adequate power supply for the national electricity system, particularly in the North during peak months of the 2024 dry season, EVN has implemented various measures, including optimizing system operations, investing in infrastructure development, and promoting energy conservation through public awareness campaigns and load adjustments. EVN also urges customers to practice responsible electricity usage, especially during peak evening hours (7 p.m. to 11 p.m.).
M. Chiến
