According to the draft, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes amending the regulations on the timing of applying the electricity pricing framework based on usage time, in order to expedite the implementation of the new electricity pricing mechanism issued in Decision 963/QD-BCT dated April 22, 2026.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is proposing changes to the time frame for calculating electricity prices.
Peak hours (5 hours/day) apply from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM on weekdays (Monday to Saturday). There are no peak hours on Sundays.
Normal operating hours are from 06:00 to 17:30 and from 22:30 to 24:00 (13 hours/day) from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the hours are from 06:00 to 24:00 (18 hours/day).
Off-peak hours (6 hours/day) are from 00:00 to 06:00, applicable to all days of the week.
According to the new schedule, peak hours will be concentrated in the late afternoon and evening – the time when the power system is under the greatest pressure as solar power production decreases towards the end of the day.
Compared to the previous electricity pricing structure, the new schedule extends the evening peak hours and eliminates the morning peak hours. This is considered to be more in line with the current operating realities of the power system.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that the electricity load curve has changed significantly after more than 12 years of applying the old mechanism. The proportion of solar power has increased rapidly, leading to a surplus of electricity during the day but a shortage in the evening, while industrial electricity consumption has increased sharply, accounting for more than 50% of total commercial electricity.
The agency argues that adjusting the operating hours will incentivize businesses to shift their electricity consumption to off-peak hours to reduce costs. This will also help "flatten" the load curve, avoid excess electricity during off-peak hours, and reduce pressure on mobilizing traditional power sources during peak hours, thereby improving the safety and operational efficiency of the entire system.
According to current regulations in Circular 60/2025/TT-BCT, the new electricity usage time frame is only supposed to be applied in the next adjustment of the average retail electricity price. However, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) has submitted a proposal to apply this new time frame immediately during the 2026 dry season.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade assesses that electricity supply in 2026 is facing many difficulties due to geopolitical conflicts, fuel price fluctuations, and especially extreme heatwaves. Therefore, amending the transitional provisions in Circular 60/2025/TT-BCT to allow the new electricity pricing framework to take effect immediately is practically justified. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, this is considered an urgent solution to reduce the risk of supply-demand imbalance, especially during peak afternoon hours in this year's hot season.
The draft is currently being posted on the Ministry of Industry and Trade's electronic portal for public comment.
Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/tin-tuc/bo-cong-thuong-de-xuat-thay-doi-khung-gio-tinh-gia-dien/20260527081341814
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