Saving electricity is an act of patriotism!

Electricity is a precious energy resource that Vietnam is striving to conserve to serve the cause of national construction and defense. Therefore, wasting even just 1 watt of electricity is a waste of national resources. Conversely, saving electricity is the act of a civilized citizen and an act demonstrating patriotism!

Officials and employees of Hoang Hoa Power Company disseminate knowledge about safe, economical, and efficient electricity use to students. Photo: Thanh Hoa (Hoang Hoa Power Company)

Urgent request

Vietnam is aiming for prosperous development, therefore, the demand for energy is enormous. According to the Northern Power Corporation, forecasts indicate that over the next five years, nationwide electricity demand will continue to grow at a high rate, averaging around 8.5% per year. Specifically for the North, the current available capacity of all sources is approximately 17,500 - 17,900 MW; while demand is around 20,000 MW and could reach 23,500 - 24,000 MW during hot weather.

At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), held in Glasgow (Scotland, United Kingdom) in 2021, Vietnam, along with nearly 150 other countries, committed to achieving net emissions of "zero" by the middle of the century. This is "a very large program, a difficult, new issue, and one with sensitive content," as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized. However, this commitment aligns with Vietnam's goal of harmonious, sustainable, and comprehensive development.

Amidst increasing energy demand pressure year after year, and especially given the strong commitments made at COP26, Vietnam still sets the following goals: In the period 2023-2025 and subsequent years, the country aims to save at least 2% of total electricity consumption annually. Simultaneously, it aims to reduce power losses across the entire electricity system to below 6% by 2025; and reduce peak load capacity of the national power system by at least 1,500 MW by 2025 through the implementation of demand management (DSM) and demand response (DR) programs.

It can be said that setting very specific targets for electricity savings demonstrates the government 's strong determination to combat electricity waste and to use electricity efficiently and economically, aiming for sustainable national development. To achieve the above goal, the urgent requirement for all levels, sectors, localities, agencies, businesses, and every citizen is to share responsibility and participate in a unified, decisive, and highly motivated manner.

According to the Northern Power Corporation, Thanh Hoa province currently ranks third in electricity consumption, accounting for approximately 10% of the total electricity demand in the entire Northern region. With a peak load capacity of approximately 1,350 MW and a projected 2,150 MW by 2025 (due to an additional 949 MW registered by power plants and 10% from other needs), Thanh Hoa also has the highest load growth rate in the North. Areas with high, concentrated loads and high growth rates in the coming period include Thanh Hoa City - Sam Son City - Quang Xuong; Nghi Son town - Nong Cong - Nhu Thanh - Nhu Xuan; Bim Son town - Hoang Hoa - Hau Loc - Nga Son...

Given the increasing electricity consumption and high load growth rate mentioned above, managing, operating, and regulating electricity consumption to maximize savings is a pressing issue for the electricity sector in particular and Thanh Hoa province in general. However, with the message "Making electricity saving a habit," Thanh Hoa has been implementing many solutions decisively and comprehensively, such as establishing a provincial-level electricity saving steering committee to unify the direction of electricity saving efforts throughout the province. Extensive communication and awareness campaigns have been conducted through various forms. Commitments to electricity saving have been signed with customers in four groups: administrative and public services, public lighting, commercial and service sectors, and industrial production (as of June 30, 2024, 54,318 out of 54,318 customers had updated their data to the DRMS ​​program - Remote Load Monitoring and Control System, achieving 100%). Strengthening inspection and control of electricity usage to ensure efficiency and compliance with registered capacity in electricity purchase contracts... As a result, in the first six months of 2024, Thanh Hoa province saved 71.16 million kWh of electricity.

Nevertheless, the issue of electricity conservation still faces many challenges and obstacles. According to calculations by Thanh Hoa Power Company, although Thanh Hoa has significant potential for electricity savings, potentially reaching 15-35%, achieving this figure is not easy. In reality, due to financial difficulties, many households and businesses have not invested in upgrading or replacing old equipment with new, high-efficiency electrical equipment. Many offices and workplaces still leave computers, fans, air conditioners, and printers running even when not in use. Public lighting in buildings is also often left on at high brightness or even until midnight or early morning... Furthermore, evaluating the electricity saving results of each unit requires a specific and detailed calculation method for each entity. Furthermore, a rather challenging issue for the authorities at this time is the lack of a mechanism to handle cases of violations related to the efficient and economical use of electricity.

"Important national policy"

President Ho Chi Minh was a shining example of the spirit of frugality and the practice of saving. He himself always practiced saving electricity in the smallest things and, above all, through his extremely simple lifestyle. He believed that "saving means not being extravagant, not wasteful, not reckless"; and the word "frugality" in Ho Chi Minh Thought also has a broad meaning, encompassing saving material wealth, saving people's strength, saving time... He repeatedly reminded people about saving electricity, especially in the context of our country being poor and simultaneously fighting the war and rebuilding the nation, stating that "if each person, each household, each agency, and each enterprise saves electricity, then we will have enough electricity for life and production."

Currently, as all levels, sectors, agencies, units, and citizens are striving to study and follow the thoughts, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh, more than ever, "saving electricity" must become a part of the learning and emulation of Uncle Ho by every cadre, Party member, and citizen. From Uncle Ho's example of frugality, everyone can learn and follow it through the smallest daily actions. This involves changing perceptions and awareness about saving electricity, so that the spirit of saving electricity truly becomes a good habit – a habit as vital as the breath of life. Then, from awareness, behavior will gradually change, with the habit of "turning off electrical devices when not needed, so that electricity is available when needed." Even more positively is recognizing the urgent need to replace energy-wasting devices (incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent lamps with magnetic ballasts, old refrigerators, washing machines, pumps, air conditioners, etc.) with new ones. For example, inverter air conditioners can save up to 30% more electricity than non-inverter models. Although the price may be a few million dong higher, in the long run, using high-efficiency, energy-saving electrical products/equipment will be a more worthwhile investment...

In recent years, the "Earth Hour" event has become an annual activity to encourage and call for a change in people's awareness and behavior regarding environmental protection. The increasingly widespread organization of the event is also a way for people to speak out, or to demonstrate solidarity and unity in working together to protect the Earth – the common home of humanity. In particular, organizing "Earth Hour" has brought many practical benefits, such as saving electricity and reducing CO2 emissions, while simultaneously accumulating a valuable energy source for development and creating a healthier living environment. Thus, the symbolic number "60" has evolved into "60+", with the profoundly meaningful message that "Earth Hour is not just 60 minutes, but much more."

Changing a habit may not be easy, but it won't be difficult if that habit brings many positive and practical benefits. Furthermore, those benefits don't just benefit an individual or a family, but the entire community. Start by changing your electricity-saving habits at home – each family is the "cell" of the "body" of society. From there, this habit will gradually spread, becoming a behavior, even a common standard of conduct for the entire community. Only then will practicing electricity saving gradually become a shared awareness and a common action of the whole society. So that every day is "Earth Hour," and every hour is "Earth Hour"!

The National Power Development Plan VIII (National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050) clearly emphasized the viewpoint: "Electricity is a crucial infrastructure sector; power development must precede other sectors to create a foundation for rapid and sustainable national development, building an independent and self-reliant economy, improving people's lives, and ensuring national defense and security." Simultaneously, it aims to "form a comprehensive energy industry ecosystem based on renewable and new energy sources." This serves as both a direction and a goal for energy to truly become a vital resource capable of "leading the way" for effective and sustainable socio-economic development. Therefore, strengthening awareness of energy conservation and efficiency, and protecting the environment are considered important national policies and the responsibility of the entire society.

...

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh once instructed: "Every citizen must understand: only with self-reliance can there be independence, only with self-strength can there be freedom." To achieve independence and self-strength, first and foremost, we must rely on our internal strength, and that strength is nurtured by boosting production, improving labor efficiency, and practicing frugality. This remains true for Vietnam's development today, as the entire nation is focusing its efforts on building a prosperous, beautiful, and civilized socialist Vietnam. Therefore, every Vietnamese citizen should demonstrate patriotism through small but significant actions: Save electricity!

Khoi Nguyen

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/to-quoc-can-dien-nhu-co-the-can-mau-bai-cuoi-tiet-kiem-dien-la-yeu-nuoc-221897.htm