To ensure power supply for the dry season as well as the whole year of 2015, the Southern Power Corporation (EVN SPC) is implementing power saving measures in 21 provinces and cities in the South.

Response to power shortage

Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Duc, deputy general director of EVN SPC says, this is the most "intense time" of the Southern Power sector when electrical loads are rising, while the southern hydropower generators have limited capacity because of water shortage.

In the first 4 months of this year, the total electricity production of EVN SPC was 16.272 billion kWh, an increase of 11.31% over the same period of 2014. It is expected that, in May, the consumption will be 4.5 billion kWh (12.1% increase), the maximum capacity is 7,500 MW (9.1% increase compared with the same period in 2014).

Under the increasing load pressure, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has provided guidance to its units to maximize the production, apply technical measures and operational management, improve power transmission capacity on the 500 kV transmission line, 220 kV to transmit the high capacity from the North, and the Central to the South. EVN SPC is also speeding up the construction of 110 kV line and distribution network, while coordinating with local authorities and customers to promote electricity saving measures.

Earlier this year, EVN SPC set performance targets to be achieved at 2% energy saving compared with commercial power production and to complete the programs and plans in power savings as assigned by EVN. "The Corporation focuses on improving the efficiency in communication to bring the electricity saving movement and Earth Hour program into life. Especially, in the time to come, there is a Power Savings Festival 2015 to be held in Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), "Mr. Duc says.

Voluntary registration for power saving

Mr. Quach Lam Hung, the Head of EVN SPC Production Technique Division, says that there are about 30,000 clients in 21 provinces, from Ninh Thuan southward to Lam Dong (excluding HCM city) with an output of over 5000 kWh/month per customer, who registered to reduce power consumption according to the actual situation of production units (about 2% of the actual consumption). According to Mr. Hung, it is positive to foresee that in case of supply-demand imbalance, eliciting to a need of moderation, then the reduction of power output of clients in 21 provinces and cities of the South can reach as much as 10- 5%. This output can vary, depending on characteristics and processes of each client's technology.

"Electricity Saving has actually ingrained in the consciousness of businesses and citizens. A mindset of saving reduces the spending and also means a share of difficulties with the electricity sector. Therefore, in many provinces these days, businesses havecommitted to reduce the overall amount of consumption", Mr. Hung says.

Mr. Pham Viet Ai, Head of Business Office of Dong Nai Power Company Limited (PC Dong Nai), says that there are 1,072 greater power consuming customers who signed agreement in regulated reduction of electricity consumption in the dry season. Typically, the Southern Tole Company (Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 1) will reduce by 5% of the electricity used during peak hours. Similarly, in Can Tho City and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Long An, Dong Thap, Tra Vinh, many large manufacturing companies also pledged to support in case of electricity supply-demand imbalance. Businesses will arrange the production at off-peak times and perform in compliance with already signed commitments  on power reduction.

Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Duc says that in parallel with the communication with businesses, people in electricity saving, EVN SPC also commended in a timely manner the typical exemplary characters who well performed the power-saving practices in the program "Power Saving Family " "Hamlet /Residential quarter with electricity savings culture" and "Power Saving Street". The Corporation has more than 10,000 prizes awarded to individuals, households and businesses in these programs. As a result, the power saving in recent years in EVN SPC and the power companies exceeds by over 20% planned assignments, representing 1.32 to 2.75% of total commercial electricity output. 

Trong Tan