National electricity demand continues to reach peak levels.

According to updated information from the National Power System and Electricity Market Operator (NSMO), as of 5 PM on May 25th, the nationwide peak afternoon load (at 1:40 PM) reached 55,196 MW - this is the highest power and electricity consumption level ever recorded.

On May 25th, power generation capacity in the North set a new record at 27,955 MW, a 5.8% increase compared to May 15th. Capacity in the Central and Southern regions was recorded at 5,380 MW and 22,109 MW respectively. Despite this, the voltage at system nodes and the load levels of equipment remained within permissible operating limits.

Meanwhile, on May 24th, the national power system's peak capacity reached 48,729 MW (at 9:50 PM), and electricity consumption reached 1.044 billion kWh.

Electricity workers are repairing the power system in Nghe An province.

The projected peak power of the national/Northern power system at 10 PM on May 26th could reach 55,519/30,134 MW, approximately 7,000 MW higher than before the heatwave.

Electricity consumption of the national power system could reach 1.188 billion kWh. The projected electricity consumption in the North, Central, and South regions is 610 million kWh, 107 million kWh, and 470 million kWh respectively.

Peak load tends to shift to the evening hours.

In 2026, under the influence of the El Nino phenomenon, widespread and intense heatwaves will lead to increased electricity consumption, placing significant pressure on the dispatch and operation of the national power system.

A major challenge for the power system in Northern Vietnam in particular, and the nation in general, during the dry season is that when widespread and prolonged heatwaves occur, peak load tends to shift to the evening hours (8 PM - 11 PM), sometimes even exceeding daytime peaks. The evening peak hours are also when the system faces immense pressure due to the lack of solar power support, while many small hydropower plants also lack sufficient water to generate electricity.

The system is also facing several potential risks such as: a decline in the capacity of coal-fired power plants due to prolonged operation at high capacity or environmental requirements, as well as the risk of fuel supply disruptions (LNG, oil, imported coal) due to geopolitical instability around the world.

In the face of extreme weather conditions, the National Power System and Market Operation Company (NSMO) has coordinated with units within the system to proactively implement a comprehensive range of operational plans, preparing and readying operational scenarios to ensure electricity supply during hot weather. They regularly monitor weather developments and the hydrological conditions of reservoirs to adjust resource mobilization in a timely manner, absolutely preventing electricity shortages caused by subjective factors.

Regarding specific solutions, for the NSMO power grid, it will coordinate with power grid management units to carry out maintenance and upgrades to the power grid to ensure the highest level of availability for the transmission and distribution power system; and be ready to transmit power from power sources to consumer loads.

For hydropower, flexible operation of reservoirs is crucial to ensure a balance between downstream water supply and electricity generation; proactively accumulating water in small reservoirs and coordinating rational mobilization to concentrate power generation during peak evening hours. Simultaneously, coordination with relevant units is necessary to shift the power generation hours of small hydropower plants in the North, supporting the system during peak evening hours.

For coal-fired power plants, mobilize all available units to increase reserve capacity. Continuously urge units to resolve incidents to increase available capacity, generating at maximum output during peak evening hours; for units affected by high cooling water temperatures, proactively reduce output during off-peak cycles to ensure maximum output is available during peak evening hours.

For gas turbines and oil-fired thermal power plants, close coordination with PV GAS is essential to store gas and adjust the generating units to match gas supply capacity; flexible switching between domestic gas, LNG, and diesel fuels is crucial to ensure maximum power generation during peak hours and minimize system costs.

Furthermore, to align with the characteristics of summer load, NSMO has proposed implementing a new peak, off-peak, and normal time frame starting in June 2026 to regulate electricity demand away from peak hours from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

Vietnam Electricity Corporation recommends solutions for saving electricity.

According to NSMO's calculations, the power system is expected to rely heavily on LNG and utilize high-cost oil-fired generating units. NSMO has coordinated with the gas supplier (Vietnam Gas Corporation) to inform them of the LNG mobilization needs and projected oil mobilization needs to power generation units to ensure fuel readiness and meet system demands.

The strategy of mobilizing LNG and oil-fired power sources aims to achieve a dual objective: ensuring sufficient available capacity for the power system during peak hours, while proactively conserving water at hydropower reservoirs, especially in the central region, to optimize water regulation for operation throughout the dry season.

Saving electricity is not just about reducing bills, but also about maintaining system stability.

During peak periods of hot weather, the electricity sector recommends that the public use energy economically and efficiently.

Saving electricity is not just about reducing bills, but also about protecting energy security and the environment. During peak heat waves, millions of cooling devices operating simultaneously put immense pressure on the power system, increasing the risk of overload and malfunctions.

Every small action, such as turning off unnecessary appliances, adjusting air conditioning settings appropriately, or unplugging chargers when not in use, contributes to reducing pressure on the national power grid. When millions of families change their habits, the amount of electricity saved will become a huge resource for production, daily life, and sustainable development.

Saving electricity is therefore not just the responsibility of the electricity industry or individual households, but the responsibility of every citizen towards the future economy , environment, and community.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/kinh-te/cac-van-de/nang-nong-cuc-doan-he-thong-dien-cang-minh-van-hanh-1041314