There has been a significant drop in the number of residential customers in Ho Chi Minh City who reached the sixth retail price tier for electricity in July compared to the hottest months. The main reasons are attributed to cooler weather conditions and the city’s residents becoming more conscious of practicing energy conservation.
A noticeable decrease in electricity bills
According to statistics, the number of residential customers who reached the fifth and sixth tiers of electricity pricing in July decreased by an average of 10.76% compared to the peak months of April and May 2024. Specifically, the number of customers in the sixth tier (consuming 401 kWh or more at a rate of 3,015 VND, excluding VAT) decreased by 11.30% (approximately 270,000 customers) compared to the hottest months.
Mr. Minh, a resident of District 3, shared that his family spent 1.7 million VND on electricity in April 2024. Their consumption in the sixth tier alone was 198 kWh, costing more than 600,000 VND. In contrast, their electricity bill for July was just over 1 million VND, with only 35 kWh falling into the sixth tier, resulting in a charge of slightly more than 100,000 VND. “There have been no changes in the electrical appliances we use at home. Moreover, during July, the children were on summer vacation and spent more time at home, which typically leads to increased use of devices such as televisions and fans. Yet, our electricity bill was significantly lower,” Mr. Minh added.
Mr. Tam, a homeowner in Thu Duc City, experienced a similar reduction in his electricity costs. His bill for May exceeded 2 million VND, but it dropped to 1.3 million VND in July. The electricity sector’s App clearly showed that his charges for the sixth tier in July amounted to 299,345 VND, while in May, it was 1,061,887 VND.
The primary reason for the decrease in high-tier electricity consumption among residential customers in July and the subsequent months is the change in weather patterns. As Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern region entered the rainy season, the cooler climate reduced the need for cooling appliances, especially air conditioners. The usage duration of these appliances has also shortened, and they are no longer operated continuously at low-temperature settings (18–23°C). As a result, the electricity consumption of households has significantly dropped, with costs falling mainly within the first four tiers and a small portion in the fifth and sixth tiers.
Customers are guided on how to monitor their daily electricity consumption through the EVNHCMC CSKH App.
Another contributing factor is the growing awareness and practice of energy conservation among households in Ho Chi Minh City. Families have been using energy-efficient appliances with energy labels. They have adopted habits such as turning off appliances when leaving a room, completely unplugging devices when not in use, using air conditioning only when necessary, minimizing the use of incandescent light bulbs, and installing and utilizing rooftop solar power systems and solar water heaters. With the cooler night temperatures in Ho Chi Minh City, many residents have opted to open windows during sleep instead of running the air conditioner all night. This change in behavior has led to reduced electricity consumption and avoided the higher-priced tiers, resulting in substantial savings on their electricity bills.
Monitoring Electricity Consumption through the App
According to Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation, 100% of electricity customers in the city now have remotely readable meters installed. This system not only collects electricity data for billing purposes but also provides customers with additional information such as alerts for abnormal increases or decreases in electricity consumption and parameters related to current, voltage, and power factor. These alerts are automatically sent to customers through the EVNHCMC CSKH App, enabling them to make informed decisions about their electricity usage. By accessing the app, customers can view their daily electricity consumption graph and detailed meter readings, helping them identify their highest and lowest usage days. This information empowers customers to adjust their behavior and practice energy conservation to minimize costs associated with higher-priced tiers (fifth and sixth tiers), ultimately reducing their household expenses and positively impacting the environment.
“Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation continuously encourages customers to join the electricity sector in rigorously implementing energy conservation measures, aiming to make energy conservation a habit rather than a temporary solution during hot and dry seasons,” emphasized Mr. Bui Trung Kien.
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