Peak hour electricity and the adaptation challenge.

In an effort to optimize the operation of the national power system, the latest draft from the Ministry of Industry and Trade regarding the adjustment of peak and off-peak hours according to seasons, instead of being fixed year-round as currently, is attracting significant public attention.

Thai Nguyen Power Company inspects and resolves power grid issues, ensuring safe and continuous power supply. (Photo: Provided)

According to the proposed plan, from January to April and from September to December, peak hours are defined as from 2 PM to 7 PM, applicable from Monday to Saturday, totaling 5 hours per day.

During the hot season from May to August, peak hours are divided into two periods: from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM and from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM, each lasting a total of 5 hours per day; there are no peak hours on Sundays.

Off-peak hours continue to be from 0:00 to 6:00 every day of the week, with the rest of the time being normal hours. This distribution shows that electricity demand is shifting strongly towards the afternoon and extending into the evening, especially during the summer.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade , designing seasonal time slots aims to create clearer price signals for the electricity market. When peak-hour electricity prices increase, users will tend to shift their load to off-peak or normal hours, thereby helping to reduce pressure on the power system during stressful periods.

However, from a practical standpoint, extending peak hours to 10:30 PM during the summer raises considerable concerns. For households, almost all of their main daily activities would fall within the hours with the highest electricity prices.

This limits the ability to adjust electricity usage to save costs, as essential needs are unlikely to shift to off-peak hours from midnight to 6 am.

For businesses, when peak hours fall in the afternoon and extend into the evening, many may be forced to recalculate their shift schedules, or even shift some operations to nighttime to avoid rising electricity costs.

This means that labor and operating costs will also increase. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have limited resources and adaptability, this will be a significant challenge.

Another issue that needs to be considered is the technical impact of changing electricity usage hours seasonally, with frequent changes throughout the year. When the hours change, the electricity sector must reconfigure meters remotely or directly on-site. This is not only a technical requirement but also relates to the synchronization and accuracy of the entire system.

Undeniably, if implemented scientifically , adjusting peak hours seasonally can contribute to ensuring energy security and promoting more efficient electricity use.

However, for policies to be implemented effectively and gain consensus, it is crucial to have a suitable, transparent, and stable roadmap. Regulatory agencies need to ensure sufficient foresight to allow businesses and citizens to proactively adapt.

In addition, the electricity sector needs to accelerate the provision of real-time electricity monitoring tools, helping users proactively regulate their consumption and save costs.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202605/dien-gio-cao-diem-and-bai-toan-thich-ung-55b04e9/