Transferring the Power System Control Center from EVN to the Ministry of Industry and Trade

The National Power System Dispatch Center (A0) was ordered by the Prime Minister to be separated from EVN and transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, according to a decision from 2017, but implementation has been slow.

On June 6th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested the transfer of the National Power System Dispatch Center (A0) from Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) to the Ministry of Industry and Trade within June. This is aimed at ensuring transparency in the operation of the electricity market.

EVN owns more than one-third of electricity production sources and manages and operates the entire electricity transmission and distribution system. Meanwhile, A0 is a dependent accounting unit of EVN. Separating the dispatch center from the corporation aims to ensure transparency of interests between electricity buyers and sellers.

A0 engineers are operating the national power grid. Photo: EVN — A0 engineers are operating the national power grid. Photo: *EVN*

A0 operates the transmission and distribution of electricity to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. This unit is also responsible for operating power plants; exploiting and regulating reservoirs; and handling incidents in the 500 kV power system. The separation of A0 from EVN was mentioned in the 2017 Decision on restructuring the power sector but has not yet been implemented.

In a submission to the Prime Minister on June 14th, the Ministry of Industry and Trade requested a special financial mechanism for the transformation of A0, with two options. Option 1: A0 becomes a public service unit, providing electricity system operation and electricity market management services under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Option 2: A0 becomes a wholly state-owned limited liability company operating the electricity system and managing the electricity market, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that Option 1 is reasonable in the current context. However, after the amended Law on Prices and the Law on Electricity are enacted, a second option may be considered.

The power system dispatch center employs personnel under immense work pressure, controlling the operation of hundreds of power plants and thousands of high-voltage electrical devices. This requires speed, accuracy, and error-free operation, ensuring 24/7 performance.

"This is a crucial force for the safe and economical operation of the power system; it needs to be maintained stably and is not easily replaced because it takes nearly two years to find new personnel," the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated.

To avoid personnel disruptions that could jeopardize the stable, safe, and efficient operation of the power system, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes a special financial mechanism to maintain salaries and allowances equivalent to those currently received by dispatching engineers. The average salary for engineers at the National Power Dispatching Center is 40 million VND per person per month.

To avoid disruption and impact on energy security, the Ministry also proposed a suitable roadmap for transferring the current assets and personnel of A0 from EVN to the Ministry, and suggested amending regulations related to the organizational and operational charter of EVN; and the tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry.

The National Power System Dispatch Center (A0) was established in 1994, responsible for dispatching the power system and managing electricity market transactions.

EVN is currently under investigation regarding its electricity supply, amidst frequent power outages in Hanoi and other northern provinces since the beginning of June. The average daily electricity consumption nationwide reached nearly 820 million kWh in May, an increase of over 20% compared to April. In Hanoi alone, average daily consumption in May was over 75.4 million kWh, a 22.5% increase compared to April. By June 8th, average consumption had reached over 85.6 million kWh.

Mr. Minh

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