Joint Circular No. 111/2009/TTLT-BTC-BCT guides the implementation of electricity conservation in state agencies and public service units.

JOINT CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING ELECTRICITY SAVING IN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

AND PUBLIC SERVICE UNITS

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Pursuant to Decree No. 60/2003/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2003, promulgated by the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on State Budget;

Pursuant to Decision No. 80/2006/QĐ-TTg dated April 14, 2006 of the Prime Minister approving the Electricity Saving Program for the period 2006-2010;

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade provide guidelines for implementing electricity saving in government agencies and public service units as follows:  These Guidelines apply to government agencies and public service units (referred to as units) under ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies (referred to as central ministries and agencies), People's Committees at all levels.

Article 1. Scope and Applicability

Agencies under the Communist Party of Vietnam and political-social organizations using state budget funds shall consider self-determining the application of the provisions of these Guidelines.

Article 2. Electricity Saving Measures

- Turn off unnecessary electrical devices when leaving a room and completely disconnect power sources if not using devices after working hours.

- Maximize natural light and ventilation, reduce lighting when the number of people working in a room decreases. Design and install lighting systems reasonably, reducing at least 50% of the energy used for common lighting in corridors, courtyards, gardens, and fences.

- Only use air conditioning when absolutely necessary and set it to cooling mode at 25°C or higher. Regularly inspect and maintain ventilation ducts and heat transfer paths to avoid energy loss. Use fans instead of air conditioning when the weather is not too hot.

Article 3. Development of Electricity Usage Plans

Each unit shall develop an annual electricity usage plan based on the previous year's electricity consumption, tasks, and requirements for the planned year, divided by quarter (Model 1), before January 15 of the planned year. The electricity usage plan must include electricity-saving measures ensuring at least a 10% reduction in annual electricity costs. The unit shall submit the electricity usage plan along with the electricity-saving measures to the superior supervisory agency and the Power Company/Electricity Authority managing the power grid in the area. If the electricity usage plan does not meet the required savings level, within 15 days from receiving the plan, the superior supervisory agency shall require the unit to adjust it and resubmit it to the Power Company/Electricity Authority managing the power grid in the area.

Article 4. Utilization of Electricity Savings Revenue

Revenue generated from electricity savings can be used to enhance material resources, increase income, reward, and provide welfare benefits to officials, civil servants, employees, and workers of the unit according to the current financial autonomy and responsibility mechanism.

Article 4. Use of electricity savings funds

The funds generated from electricity savings shall be used by the unit to enhance material infrastructure, increase income, award bonuses, and provide welfare benefits for officials, civil servants, public employees, and workers of the unit in accordance with the current mechanism of self-management and financial responsibility.

Article 5. Inspection, Supervision, and Handling of Violations

The superior managing agency when reviewing the annual settlement has the responsibility to inspect and supervise the implementation of electricity conservation by units under its management.

In cases where the level of electricity consumption exceeds the registered level, the unit shall be responsible for explaining the reasons to the superior managing agency and will be handled as follows: For objective reasons (due to increased equipment, scale of operation...), the operating funds can be used to cover costs; for subjective reasons (lack of sense of responsibility, failure to comply with regulations on electricity usage...), the staff causing wastage must be clearly identified and compensation must be made according to Circular No. 98/2006/TT-BTC dated October 20, 2006 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the compensation for damages and disciplinary measures against civil servants who violate laws on thrift and anti-wastefulness.

The results of the inspection of electricity conservation by the superior managing agency shall be publicly disclosed to subordinate units; the inspected unit must disclose the inspection results of the superior managing agency and handle violations of the electricity usage regulations within the unit.

People's Committees at all levels (or authorized agencies) have the responsibility to inspect and monitor the implementation of electricity conservation measures by electricity-consuming units in their jurisdiction. In case of discovering that an electricity-consuming unit has not implemented electricity conservation, they must promptly notify the superior managing agency of the electricity-consuming unit for handling according to regulations.

Article 6. Electricity Conservation Reports

Quarterly and annually, units are responsible for reporting the situation of electricity supply by the Power Company/Provincial Power Enterprise managing the power grid in their jurisdiction; the situation of electricity usage, amount of saved electricity, electricity conservation budget, and explanations for reasons of non-conservation of electricity (model number 2) to the superior managing agency (quarterly reports sent before the 15th day of the first month of the next quarter; annual reports sent before January 15 of the following year) for consolidation and reporting to the Ministry, central agencies (for units under central agencies), Provincial People's Committee (for units under local agencies).

Ministries, central agencies, Provincial People's Committees aggregate the amount of saved electricity, electricity conservation budget, and measures taken against units under their direct management that fail to meet electricity conservation targets and send them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister; simultaneously sending to the Ministry of Finance.

Article 7. Implementation Organization

1. Ministries, central agencies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities instruct the establishment of plans, implementation, and supervision of electricity conservation measures at units under their management and directly subordinate units.

2. Quarterly and annually, the Power Company/Provincial Power Enterprise is responsible for reporting the situation of electricity supply to units and the situation of electricity usage by directly subordinate units of ministries, central agencies, and localities in their jurisdiction to People's Committees at all levels for the purpose of inspecting and monitoring the implementation of electricity conservation measures by electricity-consuming units in their jurisdiction; while also notifying the electricity-consuming units to report to their superior managing agencies.

State agencies and public service units establish electricity usage regulations and publicly disclose them internally within the agency or unit; including provisions for compensation in cases of electricity wastage due to subjective reasons.

This Circular takes effect 45 days from the date of signature.

During implementation, if there are any difficulties, units are requested to reflect them to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade for timely revision and supplementation to ensure appropriateness.