Launching the National Electricity Saving Campaign in 2023

On May 22nd, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade organized the National Electricity Saving Campaign Conference for 2023. The conference aimed to provide and update information on the electricity supply situation and launch the nationwide electricity saving movement. The meeting was held in a combination of in-person and online formats.

Mr. Dang Hoang An, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, attended and presided over the conference.

The conference was also attended by representatives of the Commission for the Management of State Capital at enterprises, leaders of the People's Committees and Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and centrally governed cities, as well as significant electricity consumers.

Representing the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) were Mr. Dang Huy Cuong, a member of the EVN Board of Members in charge of the Board of Members, and Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan, the CEO of EVN.

At the conference, Deputy Minister Dang Hoang An assessed that the global energy market has been undergoing complex developments recently, with energy prices continuously rising. The effects of phenomena such as El Nino and the risk of heatwaves, droughts, and water shortages have seriously impacted the operations of hydropower plants. Severe heatwaves have occurred nationwide, mainly concentrated in the Northern and Central regions, leading to high demand for electricity. On May 19th, the total power demand of the national power system reached a new record of approximately 924 million kWh, the highest so far this year, an increase of 10.5% compared to the same period in May 2022. The peak power consumption reached 44,600 MW, the highest this year, a rise of 8.5% compared to the same period in May 2022.

Deputy Minister Dang Hoang An affirmed that besides vigorously implementing measures to enhance electricity production and supply capacity, the efficient and economical usage of electricity is considered one of the important and urgent solutions to ensure sufficient power for economic development and social life in the coming period.

Deputy Minister Dang Hoang An believes that all levels, sectors, localities, agencies, organizations, businesses, and citizens across the country will actively engage in practical activities to respond to the electricity-saving movement, creating positive effects and spreading the spirit of collective efforts in saving electricity and protecting the environment for the development of the nation and the improvement of people's quality of life.

At the conference, Mr. Tran Dinh Nhan, the General Director of EVN, stated that despite facing numerous challenges in terms of power generation structure and financial balance due to the high fuel prices for electricity production, Vietnam Electricity had made continuous efforts to ensure an adequate power supply for the country's development needs throughout 2022 and the first five months of 2023.

To ensure electricity supply, the Vietnam Electricity has mobilized all available sources, including high-cost sources such as thermal power, diesel, and fuel oil.

EVN requests that all electricity consumers participate in the electricity-saving movement actively and jointly promote the " ENERGY SAVING - BUILDING A HABIT " message to contribute to the national power system's stable operation and sustainable development.

To ensure a safe, continuous, and reliable power supply during the dry season and throughout 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade calls for the active involvement and effective implementation of the following vital measures by relevant central ministries, sectors, the Vietnam Electricity, and the provincial People's Committees:

Firstly, communication efforts must be enhanced by disseminating general and continuous information through various suitable forms regarding efficient and economical electricity usage to increase awareness among the public, businesses, and the community about electricity and energy conservation.

Media agencies should actively coordinate with relevant functional units of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, other ministries, sectors, and localities to increase broadcasting time, establish specialized news, and organize discussions and competitions to promote understanding of the state regulations and policies related to efficient and economical electricity use, as well as the current challenges in electricity supply caused by complex weather conditions and fuel supply difficulties. They should also raise awareness about the benefits, measures, and practices of electricity conservation, aiming for the public and social consensus, support, empathy, and voluntary adoption of electricity-saving practices.

Secondly, there is an urgent need to develop and strictly implement the electricity usage schedules for each industry, sector, and especially for large electricity-consuming households. The focus should be on effectively fulfilling the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister's Directive No. 185/TB-VPCP dated May 19, 2023, on ensuring electricity supply during the 2023 dry season. At the same time, the implementation of the tasks and solutions outlined in the Prime Minister's Directive No. 20, dated May 7, 2020, on enhancing electricity conservation, the National Energy Efficiency Programme and the National Program on Demand management for electricity until 2030 should continue. Particularly, emphasis should be placed on non-commercial electricity demand adjustment activities, striving to achieve and surpass the set electricity conservation targets.

Thirdly, there is a need to strengthen the organization of training courses at agencies, businesses, neighborhood associations, and residential areas to provide direct guidance to citizens on electricity-saving solutions and practices. Inspecting and monitoring compliance with legal regulations regarding energy-efficient and effective usage should be intensified to detect and strictly handle violations following the law on time. Organizations and individuals implementing electricity-saving measures should receive timely recognition and rewards.

In the long term, it is necessary to prioritize reviewing, amending, supplementing, and issuing new standards, technical regulations, and energy usage norms for products in each industry and sub-sector. This will provide recommendations to the competent authorities for establishing and implementing comprehensive, robust, and feasible regulations, mechanisms, and policies that promote and encourage energy efficiency and effective energy utilization. Mainly, there is a need to expedite the process of amending the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Law and develop and implement programs that incentivize the development of rooftop solar power in businesses and households under the "self-generation, self-consumption" model. These efforts aim to make a significant transformation in reducing the intensity of energy consumption in the economy, in line with the spirit of Resolution 55 by Politburo, as well as Vietnam's strong commitment to COP26 and the Political Declaration on Just Energy Transition.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade also calls for the support and active participation of all levels, sectors, agencies, units, businesses, households, and the entire population throughout the country. It emphasizes the need to enhance the implementation of synchronized and comprehensive measures for energy efficiency and effectiveness, particularly during the dry season (especially from now until June 30, 2023).

Accordingly, businesses are urged to adopt rational production plans, limiting high-power-consuming devices and machinery during peak hours while installing on-site renewable energy sources to reduce electricity consumption from the national grid. Household and individual consumers are encouraged to regularly practice energy-saving habits such as turning off electrical appliances when leaving the room, using high-efficiency devices, and limiting the usage of high-power-consuming devices during peak hours. Together, they should spread the message of "Energy Saving – Building a Habit" to contribute to the stability and sustainability of the national power system.