On May 26th, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced that the prolonged and intense heatwave across a wide area is putting pressure on the national power system as electricity demand has surged. According to the report on May 26th, from the beginning of April until now, especially during the period from May 23rd to 27th, nationwide electricity demand has continuously reached new peak levels.
According to data from the National Power System and Electricity Market Operation Company (NSMO), on May 25th, the national load capacity reached a record high of 57,120 MW, an increase of 13.5% compared to the same period in 2025. Electricity consumption reached 1.171 billion kWh, an increase of 11.8%. The North recorded an even higher increase, with load capacity reaching 29,667 MW, up 26.2% compared to the same period last year. Electricity consumption reached 603 million kWh, an increase of 20.2%.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that the prolonged heatwave has led to a sharp increase in electricity demand, while the drought has affected water levels in hydropower reservoirs. The agency stated that the power system is facing significant operational pressure, especially during peak evening hours from 8 PM to 11 PM.
To ensure electricity supply, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has directed NSMO and other units to implement a number of solutions for operating the power system during the peak season of 2026.
Accordingly, the power sector is urgently repairing and maintaining the transmission grid; increasing the capacity of some substations to serve the power supply to the North; adjusting the operating methods of hydropower plants to prioritize power generation during peak hours; maximizing the mobilization of available coal-fired thermal power plants; and flexibly utilizing domestic gas, LNG, and oil sources for power generation.
NSMO also proposed adjusting peak hours in June 2026 to suit the characteristics of summer load, focusing on regulating electricity demand between 5:30 PM and 10:30 PM.
Given the extreme heat wave expected in 2026 due to El Nino, the Ministry of Industry and Trade advises people to use electricity economically and efficiently, especially during the hours from 1 PM to 4 PM and from 8 PM to 11 PM on days of extreme heat in the North.
Meanwhile, on the afternoon of May 26th, the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting reported that the northern region, from Thanh Hoa to Hue City, and the South Central coastal region are still experiencing intense heat, with some areas experiencing exceptionally severe heat.
At 1 PM on May 26th, temperatures in many places exceeded 39 degrees Celsius. Some locations recorded extremely high temperatures, such as Lang ( Hanoi ) at 40 degrees Celsius, Do Luong (Nghe An) at 39.9 degrees Celsius, and Dong Hoi (Quang Tri) at 39.2 degrees Celsius.
According to meteorological forecasts, on May 27th, the Northern Delta region, Phu Tho province, and the area from Thanh Hoa to Hue City will continue to experience intense and exceptionally intense heat with temperatures generally ranging from 38-40 degrees Celsius, and exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some places.
On May 28th, the heatwave in Northern Vietnam began to subside, but many areas still maintained temperatures of 35-37 degrees Celsius. The area from Thanh Hoa to Hue City continued to experience intense heat with temperatures generally ranging from 37-39 degrees Celsius.
According to forecasts from meteorological experts at the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, the widespread heatwave in Northern Vietnam will end from May 29th. The heatwave in Central Vietnam will gradually subside.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nang-nong-bao-trum-tieu-thu-dien-tang-vot-post854515.html
![[Photo] General Secretary and President To Lam presides over the meeting to approve the draft report on the results of the second inspection by the Politburo of the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/26/1779789811432_a2-bnd-4430-9620-jpg.webp)
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