Enhance electricity saving measures.

Báo Bình Thuận•16/05/2023

From the beginning of 2023 until now, despite facing many difficulties due to the general fluctuations of the economy , Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) has made every effort to supply electricity for socio-economic development and the needs of the people.

However, recently, due to the El Nino phenomenon, the hot weather, drought, and water shortages have severely affected hydropower reservoirs, directly impacting national electricity production. In light of this situation, EVN calls on agencies, businesses, localities, and the public to share the difficulties and strengthen electricity saving practices.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment , the El Nino phenomenon poses a risk of water shortages until the end of the 2023 dry season. The total inflow to major reservoirs in the North Central region is forecast to be 15-35% lower, in the Central and South Central regions 15-40% lower, and in the Central Highlands 10-25% lower than the multi-year average. The risk of water shortages during the remainder of the dry season will be severe, directly impacting national electricity production. Furthermore, electricity demand is trending upwards, especially during the hot season and in May, June, and July. At times, the national power system's electricity demand reached a new record high of approximately 895 million kWh, the highest since the beginning of the year and a 12.34% increase compared to the same period in May 2022. Peak power consumption reached 43,300 MW, the highest so far this year and a 9.12% increase compared to the same period in May 2022.

In the spirit of actively implementing Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 7, 2020, on strengthening electricity saving in the 2020-2025 period and Official Dispatch No. 397/CĐ-TTg dated May 13, 2023, on proactively implementing urgent measures to respond to the risks of heatwaves, droughts, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion, the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) calls on agencies, businesses, localities, and people to share difficulties and strengthen electricity saving practices. Accordingly, it is necessary to strengthen solutions for electricity saving and voluntary non-commercial demand response (DR) measures. Specifically, as follows: Administrative and public service units should save 10% of monthly electricity consumption compared to the same period; schools, hospitals, clinics, health stations, and nursing homes should save 5% of monthly electricity consumption compared to the same period; Public lighting units (CSCC) are implementing measures to save 50% of monthly electricity consumption compared to the same period; restaurants, hotels, commercial service establishments, office complexes, and apartment buildings are reducing outdoor advertising and decorative lighting by 50% at night, complying with regulations on energy-efficient lighting, and are ready to cut or reduce electricity demand when notified by the local power company in case of power shortages; industrial customers, especially those with high electricity consumption, are implementing voluntary demand response (DR) programs according to Circular No. 23/2017/TT-BCT dated November 16, 2017, of the Ministry of Industry and Trade , when notified by the power company. Households using electricity for domestic purposes should proactively reduce their consumption and not set air conditioner temperatures below 26 ^° C. They should regularly monitor the website https://sudungdien.evn.com.vn/ to update information on monthly and annual electricity consumption of administrative and public service agencies, public lighting, and key energy-consuming facilities to manage electricity saving efforts in their areas. Given the critical situation regarding electricity supply, EVN has requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the implementation of many urgent solutions to overcome difficulties in electricity supply, not only during the hot season of 2023 but also in the coming years.

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