Circular No. 16/2014/TT-BCT on the implementation of electricity selling prices

CIRCULAR

Provisions on the implementation of electricity selling prices

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Pursuant to Decree No. 95/2012/NĐ-CP dated November 12, 2012, of the Government, detailing the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

Pursuant to the Electricity Law dated December 3, 2004 and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Electricity Law dated November 20, 2012;

Based on Decree No. 137/2013/NĐ-CP dated October 21, 2013, issued by the Government, detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Electricity Law and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Electricity Law;

Based on Decision No. 69/2013/QD-TTg dated November 19, 2013 of the Government Chairman regarding the mechanism for adjusting average retail electricity prices;

Based on Decision No. 28/2014/QĐ-TTg dated April 7, 2014 of the Prime Minister on the structure of the retail electricity price list;

At the proposal of the Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority,

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues the Circular stipulating the implementation of electricity selling prices.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular stipulates the implementation of retail electricity prices for various categories of electricity customers and electricity selling prices for electricity retailers (specific electricity selling prices are prescribed in the Decision on electricity prices issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade).

2. This Circular applies to organizations and individuals purchasing electricity from the national power system in areas connected to the national power grid; in rural, mountainous, border, island areas not yet connected to the national power grid, and related organizations and individuals.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

Strategic multi-purpose hydropower plant

1. Wholesale electricity price is the electricity selling price sold by the Electricity Corporation of Vietnam, provincial electricity companies, or units authorized by the Vietnam Electricity Group to electricity retailers.

2. Residential electricity consumption quota is the level of electricity consumption at each tier prescribed in Section 4.1 of the Appendix attached to Decision No. 28/2014/QD-TTg dated April 7, 2014 of the Government Chairman on the structure of the retail electricity pricing schedule (hereinafter referred to as the quota).

Article 3. Application of electricity selling prices

1. Electricity selling prices must be applied according to the correct category and purpose of electricity use as prescribed in this Circular.

The electricity buyer is responsible for declaring the correct purpose of electricity use to calculate the electricity selling price in accordance with this Circular.

In case there is a change in the purpose of electricity use that alters the applicable price, the electricity buyer must notify the electricity seller 15 days in advance to adjust the pricing in the contract according to the actual purpose of use. The electricity seller must verify and promptly apply the electricity selling price according to the prescribed category.

In case the incorrect application of electricity selling prices due to the wrong purpose of electricity use causes damage to either the electricity buyer or seller, the overcharged or undercharged electricity fees must be recovered or refunded. If the time period of incorrect pricing cannot be clearly determined, it will be calculated as 12 months from the date of discovery backward.

2. In cases where the electricity buyer uses electricity for multiple purposes:

a) For customers who sign contracts for electricity use for residential purposes through a single meter but also use part of it for other purposes (production, business, services), the residential retail electricity price shall be applied to the entire measured electricity consumption at that meter;

b) For customers who sign contracts for electricity use for non-residential purposes through a single meter, both the electricity buyer and seller shall base their agreement on the actual electricity usage situation to determine the proportion of electricity used for each type of purpose.

On the day the electricity price changes according to the pricing schedule decision issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the electricity seller must settle the readings of all meters currently operating on the grid, except for residential retail meters.

The settlement of readings for three-tier meters, station-specific meters, and wholesale electricity selling meters must be confirmed by a customer representative, witness, or agreed-upon method between the two parties.

Article 4. Electricity selling prices based on voltage levels

1. The categories subject to electricity selling prices based on voltage levels include:

a) Customers using electricity for production, business, service, administrative, and public service purposes;

b) Electricity retailers in industrial zones.

2. The electricity metering system installed at which voltage level determines the electricity selling price according to the price prescribed at that voltage level.

Article 5. Electricity sale price based on time-of-use during the day

1. The time-of-use for electricity consumption during the day shall be defined as follows:

a) Normal hours:

- From Monday to Saturday

+ From 04:00 to 09:30 (5 hours and 30 minutes);

+ From 11:30 to 17:00 (5 hours and 30 minutes);

+ From 20:00 to 22:00 (2 hours).

- Sunday

From 04:00 to 22:00 (18 hours).

b) Peak hours

- From Monday to Saturday

+ From 09:30 to 11:30 (2 hours);

+ From 17:00 to 20:00 (3 hours).

- Sunday: no peak hours.

c) Off-peak hours

All days of the week: from 22:00 to 04:00 the following morning (6 hours).

2. The subjects applying the electricity sale price based on time-of-use during the day (hereinafter referred to as the three-tier pricing system) include:

a) Electricity buyers using electricity for production, business, and service purposes supplied through dedicated transformers of 25 kVA or more, or with average monthly electricity consumption over three consecutive months of 2,000 kWh/month or more;

b) Retail electricity units in industrial zones;

c) Units purchasing electricity for retail outside residential purposes at commercial-service-residential complexes.

It is encouraged that electricity buyers using electricity for production, business, and service purposes with transformers and electricity consumption below the level specified in Point a Clause 2 of this Article purchase electricity under the three-tier pricing system. The seller of electricity has the responsibility to create conditions and guide the buyer of electricity to install a three-tier meter.

3. The seller of electricity must prepare sufficient meters to measure electricity for installation for buyers who are subject to the three-tier pricing system. During the period when the seller of electricity does not have the conditions to install a three-tier meter, the normal hour electricity sale price shall be applied.

4. In cases where the seller of electricity has the conditions to install a three-tier meter, has previously notified in writing the buyers who are required to apply the three-tier pricing system about the plan to install a three-tier meter, the buyers must cooperate with the seller of electricity to carry out the installation of the three-tier meter as soon as possible.

In cases where buyers who are required to apply the three-tier pricing system refuse to implement the installation of a three-tier meter after being notified twice by the seller of electricity (with confirmation from the customer representative and a minimum interval of 10 days between notifications), then 15 days from the date of the last notification, the seller of electricity may apply the peak hour electricity sale price to the entire electricity consumption of the buyer until the installation of the three-tier meter.

5. In cases where buyers who are subject to the three-tier pricing system have organizations or individuals sharing the same meter but not subject to the three-tier pricing system, the buyers must cooperate with the seller of electricity to separate the meters for these organizations or individuals into separate customers to sign direct electricity purchase contracts and apply prices according to their respective usage categories.

6. In cases where buyers use electricity for production, business, and service purposes not subject to the three-tier pricing system as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, the normal hour electricity sale price shall be applied.

Article 6. Conditions for applying wholesale electricity sale prices

1. Retail electricity units in rural areas, collective living areas, community clusters, commercial-service-residential complexes, and industrial zones must meet the following conditions:

a) Possessing a Power Business License in the distribution and retail sectors issued by the competent authority, except for cases exempted from the Power Business License as provided for in Point c Clause 1 Article 34 of the Electricity Law;

b) Maintaining accounting books in accordance with regulations, with the retail electricity business portion being separately accounted for from other business activities;

c) Having electricity purchase and sale contracts and electricity meters installed for each household user in accordance with Article 24 of the Electricity Law and Clause 10 Article 1 of the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Electricity Law;

d) Issuing electricity bills in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's regulations for each electricity user according to the payment periods specified in the electricity purchase and sale contracts.

2. For retail electricity units that do not meet the conditions stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, the State Grid Corporation or its affiliated companies have the responsibility to report to the Department of Industry and Trade for submission to the People's Committee of the province for consideration and decision to transfer the power grid under the management of such unit to the State Grid Corporation or its affiliated companies to sell electricity directly to electricity users.

Chapter II

RETAIL ELECTRICITY PRICES

Article 7. Retail electricity price for production

The retail electricity price for production shall apply to the buyer using electricity for production in the following industries:

1. Industry.

2. Construction; transportation; mining; forestry; fisheries and aquaculture.

3. Agriculture: crop cultivation; irrigation pumping; livestock breeding, fisheries and other types of animal husbandry; production of preservatives and disease control substances.

4. Water supply production for domestic consumption, production, and business activities.

5. Production management offices located at the same site as the production area.

6. Warehouses storing goods (raw materials, finished products, semi-finished products) during the production process and warehouse locations within the production area.

7. Enterprises producing and supplying public utility products and services (for the portion of electricity used for public utility activities) excluding public lighting activities.

8. Pumping out water, draining floodwater in cities and towns; wastewater treatment plants.

9. Switchboards, transmission networks, receiving and transmitting stations belonging to telecommunications companies and television companies.

10. Textile mills, livestock farms, poultry hatcheries, rice milling, ice making, welding, cutting, carpentry, rice drying (rice), post-harvest agricultural product storage.

11. Printing activities under the processing and manufacturing industry group; printing activities of press, communication, and publishing agencies.

12. Industrial garment processing; industrial computer embroidery; industrial laundry; food processing, agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.

13. Mechanical product manufacturing; manufacturing products from gold, silver, precious stones; software, film production; packaging manufacturing.

14. Sterilization irradiation.

15. Other production activities.

Article 8. Retail electricity price for business

The retail electricity price for business shall apply to the buyer using electricity for business purposes, including services such as:

1. Retail stores, service centers, supermarkets, trade fairs, wholesale and retail trading premises for materials and goods.

2. Financial institutions, securities firms, commercial banks, savings funds, financial companies, securities companies.

3. Business operations of communication, telecommunication, and television companies; information and postal services (excluding universal postal services and mandatory postal services which are public utilities).

4. Lottery companies.

5. Insurance organizations (excluding social insurance and health insurance).

6. Tourist facilities, photography shops, nightclubs, karaoke bars, massage parlors.

7. Restaurants, refreshment stands, hair salons, laundries, tailoring shops, car washes.

8. Advertising activities of production, business, and service enterprises.

9. Repair and refurbishment facilities for automobiles, motorcycles, transport vehicles, consumer goods, and household items.

10. Hotels, guesthouses, and hostels of organizations and individuals; rental houses using electricity beyond residential purposes as contracted by the landlord.

11. Ticket sales counters, cargo handling stations, waiting rooms (including lounges) of shops and counters selling goods at airports, railway stations, bus terminals, and ports.

12. Toll collection points, parking lots.

13. Warehouses storing goods during circulation.

14. Offices and headquarters of groups, corporations, and companies, except for cases where electricity usage is specified in Clause 5, Article 7 of this Circular.

15. Representative offices of business organizations, customer service centers; consulting companies; notary offices.

16. Business units operating in cultural, artistic, sports, cultural information, sports venues, museums, exhibition fields.

17. Sports business facilities.

18. Theaters, performance companies; film production and screening companies; circus theaters.

Article 9. Retail electricity prices for administrative and public service sectors

1. Retail electricity prices for hospitals, kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools shall be applied to the following entities:

a) Kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools at all levels, continuing education centers (for general education), boarding schools for ethnic minorities;

b) Hospitals (including funeral homes and medical waste incineration facilities within hospital premises); health care facilities (including the portion of electricity consumption for medical services of preventive health centers); rehabilitation centers, functional recovery centers, occupational disease treatment centers; elderly care centers, disabled care centers, orphanages; drug rehabilitation centers, social labor education centers; offices for drug addiction counseling, HIV/AIDS prevention, and family planning.

2. Retail electricity prices for public lighting, administrative agencies, and public service units shall be applied to the following entities and purposes:

a) Public lighting on streets, parks, alleys; temples, churches, pagodas; historical sites that have been ranked; martyrs' cemeteries; collective housing areas or stairwells in collective housing buildings;

b) Electricity used for elevators in high-rise apartment buildings; water pumps serving daily life in collective housing areas, residential clusters;

c) Electricity used for traffic signal lights;

d) Office premises of state administrative agencies; public service units; military forces; political organizations, political-social organizations; professional associations;

đ) Embassies, diplomatic missions, representative offices of international organizations (not for commercial purposes);

e) Office premises of press units, sports training centers; radio and television stations, cultural information centers, sports stadiums; museums, memorials, exhibition halls, libraries, funeral parlors, crematoriums;

g) Parts funded from the state budget of trade fairs, market management boards, guesthouses, lodges under administrative agencies. The electricity buyer must provide legal documents regarding the use of budget funds to serve as the basis for determining pricing according to the ratio;

h) Health insurance agencies, social insurance agencies;

i) Research institutions; universities, colleges, vocational schools of all types of public and private sectors, other training centers (excluding entities specified in point a Clause 1 of this Article);

k) Organizations and agencies issuing central and local newspapers and books, providing school equipment, medical equipment, charitable organizations;

l) Warehouses designated by authorized bodies for national reserves;

m) Non-profit social policy banks;

n) Office premises of agencies responsible for managing and operating water conservancy works;

o) Project management office premises for projects using state budget capital.

3. In cases where administrative agencies and public service units engage in production activities, the electricity price for production shall apply; if they engage in business or service activities, the electricity price for business shall apply to the corresponding electricity consumption.

Article 10. Retail electricity prices for household use

1. Retail electricity prices for household use shall apply to households with contracts for direct purchase of electricity from the seller. Each household's monthly electricity consumption for household use shall be subject to a quota.

2. For electricity buyers with shared meter households (with separate household registration), the retail electricity price for each household using electricity shall be applied based on the principle of a common quota of the buyer equal to the quota of each tier multiplied by the number of shared meter households.

3. For electricity buyers using electricity for residential purposes for collective housing of officials, workers, and military personnel, monastic residences; dormitories for students and trainees, the following shall apply:

a) If the number of people can be declared (based on temporary residence certificates or lists of soldiers confirmed by unit leaders for military personnel), every four people shall be considered as one household for applying the retail electricity price for household use;

b) If the number of people cannot be declared, the retail electricity price for household use for the third tier (from 101 to 200 kWh) shall be applied to the entire measured electricity consumption at the meter.

4. For electricity buyers using electricity for residential purposes for rented housing, the following shall apply:

a) At each rental address, the electricity seller shall sign only one electricity purchase contract. The landlord has the responsibility to present temporary residence certificates or confirmation documents from the local police station for tenants;

b) For households renting houses: The landlord directly signs the electricity purchase contract or authorizes the tenant household to sign the electricity purchase contract (with a commitment to pay electricity bills), each tenant household is considered one quota;

c) For renting houses to students and workers (the tenant is not a household):

- The electricity seller is responsible for publicly announcing and setting quotas for landlords based on temporary residence certificates or confirmation documents from the local police station. Every four people are considered as one household for calculating the quota for applying the retail electricity price for household use, specifically: One person is counted as 1/4 quota, two people are counted as 1/2 quota, three people are counted as 3/4 quota, four people are counted as one quota;

- For cases where students and workers rent houses with temporary residence registration for twelve months or more, the landlord directly signs the electricity purchase contract or representatives of workers or student tenants sign the electricity purchase contract (with a commitment to pay electricity bills by the landlord). In cases where the lease period is less than twelve months, the landlord must directly sign the electricity purchase contract;

- If tenants do not sign a direct contract with the electricity seller, the landlord has the responsibility to collect electricity fees from tenants according to the retail electricity price in the monthly electricity bill issued by the electricity retailer plus 10% for energy losses, lighting, and shared water pumping costs.

- When there is a change in the number of tenants renting the house, the landlord has the responsibility to notify the electricity seller to adjust the electricity consumption quota. The electricity seller has the right to inspect and request the electricity buyer to present the monthly temporary residence registration book to determine the number of people for calculating the electricity consumption quota when issuing the electricity bill;

- In cases where the number of people cannot be declared, the retail price of electricity for residential use at tier 3: from 101 to 200 kWh shall apply to the entire measured electricity consumption at the meter;

5. Customers purchasing electricity through their own transformer for residential purposes shall have their electricity prices calculated based on the retail price of electricity for residential use;

6. In cases of force majeure leading to the electricity seller having to shift the meter reading time, the amount of electricity consumption for each tier shall be adjusted according to the actual number of days in the meter reading period;

7. In cases where the meter reading date does not coincide with the electricity price adjustment date, the calculation of electricity charges for residential electricity usage shall use interpolation methods with the following parameters:

a) The actual amount of electricity consumed by the customer during the meter reading period;

b) The actual number of days of electricity usage (the number of days between two meter reading periods, the number of days applying the old price, the number of days applying the new price);

c) The level of electricity usage for each tier calculated based on the actual number of days between two meter reading periods;

8. The retail price of prepaid card electricity meters shall be applied to groups of customers temporarily purchasing electricity and short-term electricity users for residential purposes. When technical and legal conditions permit, the electricity retailer shall be responsible for installing prepaid card electricity meters at locations where customers require electricity for residential purposes;

Article 11. Electricity selling price in industrial zones purchasing electricity from the national power grid while having an on-site power generation plant

Electricity retailers in industrial zones with on-site power generation plants that combine on-site power generation with electricity purchases from the national power grid to sell electricity to electricity users shall be responsible for developing pricing plans for electricity sales to users within the zone, to be submitted to the Department of Industry and Trade for review, sent to the Electricity Regulatory Authority for comments in writing, and then submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for annual approval;

Chapter III

RETAIL ELECTRICITY PRICES

Article 12. Rural wholesale electricity prices

1. Rural wholesale electricity prices shall apply to rural electricity retailers (excluding entities specified in Articles 13, 14, and 15 of this Circular) for the quantity of electricity purchased wholesale measured at the total meter installed at the substation, regardless of whether the substation belongs to the electricity buyer or seller;

2. Rural wholesale electricity prices for residential use

a) Rural wholesale electricity prices for residential use shall apply to the quantity of electricity used for residential purposes by households using electricity in villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods, purchased by rural electricity retailers at the total meter installed at the substation, regardless of whether the substation belongs to the electricity buyer or seller, and regardless of voltage level;

b) The total quantity of electricity subject to rural wholesale electricity prices for residential use at the total meter shall be calculated by multiplying the quota of each tier by the number of households purchasing electricity after the total meter;

c) The number of households using rural residential electricity after the total meter is the number of households with permanent and long-term temporary residency permits within the supply area of the total meter, confirmed by the local police station responsible for household registration and the quota in the electricity purchase and sale contract signed with the rural electricity retailer;

d) The calculation of rural wholesale residential electricity charges during the month of electricity price transition shall be as follows: the quantity of electricity for each tier of rural wholesale electricity prices for residential use shall be calculated based on the daily quota multiplied by the actual number of days before and after the price adjustment in the transition month. The daily quota for each tier is equal to the quantity of electricity for each tier divided by the actual number of days in the calculation month;

3. Rural wholesale electricity prices for other purposes, purchased after the total meter, shall apply to the quantity of electricity used for purposes other than residential use;

4. The quantity of electricity subject to rural wholesale prices for other purposes at the total meter shall be determined by multiplying the total quantity of commercial electricity used for other purposes measured at the retail meters by a factor of 1.1;

5. The quantity of electricity subject to rural wholesale residential electricity prices shall be calculated by subtracting the quantity of electricity subject to rural wholesale prices for other purposes from the total quantity of electricity sold wholesale at the total meter;

6. Within three days from the meter reading date at the total meter of a payment period, the rural electricity retailer must provide the wholesale electricity seller with:

a) A list of the quantity of electricity used for other purposes;

b) The number of households purchasing retail residential electricity after the total meter, confirmed by a legal representative of the rural electricity retailer;

c) A list of additional or reduced households (if any), confirmed by the local police station responsible for household registration;

Beyond this deadline, if the rural electricity retailer fails to provide all the above documents, the wholesale electricity seller may apply the rural residential wholesale electricity price for tier 4: from 201 to 300 kWh to the entire quantity of electricity at the total meter;

7. In cases where substations of agricultural farms and forestry farms in rural areas supply electricity for residential and other purposes, the rural residential wholesale electricity price shall apply to the entire quantity of electricity measured at the total meter.

Article 13. Wholesale electricity prices for collective residential areas and community clusters

1. The wholesale electricity price for collective residential areas and community clusters shall be applied to the following entities:

a) Retail electricity units at collective residential areas of agencies, companies, factories, plants, construction sites, agricultural farms, and forest farms (regardless of the geographical location of the collective residential area being in rural or urban areas);

b) Retail electricity units in rural areas purchasing electricity through total meters installed at the branch point of low-voltage power lines;

c) Retail electricity units at community clusters in urban areas within cities, towns, and townships.

2. Wholesale electricity price for residential use in collective residential areas and community clusters

a) The total electricity consumption at each tier of the total meter will be calculated based on the tariff for residential use at each tier multiplied by the number of households using electricity after the total meter;

b) The number of households using residential electricity in collective residential areas and community clusters after the total meter refers to the number of households with permanent and long-term temporary residency permits within the supply range of the total meter, confirmed by the local police responsible for household registration, and the quota stipulated in the electricity purchase and sale contract signed with the retail electricity unit in collective residential areas and community clusters;

c) Calculation of wholesale electricity price for residential use in collective residential areas and community clusters during the month of tariff transition: the electricity consumption at each tier of the wholesale electricity price for residential use in collective residential areas and community clusters will be calculated according to the old and new tariff levels based on the daily quota multiplied by the actual number of days before and after the adjustment in the transition month. The daily quota for each tier equals the consumption at each tier divided by the actual number of days in the calculation month.

3. Wholesale electricity price for other purposes purchased after the total meter in collective residential areas and community clusters shall apply to the amount of electricity used outside the residential purpose.

4. The quantity of electricity subject to rural wholesale prices for other purposes at the total meter shall be determined by multiplying the total quantity of commercial electricity used for other purposes measured at the retail meters by a factor of 1.1;

5. The total electricity consumption applying the wholesale electricity price for residential use in collective residential areas and community clusters is calculated as the total wholesale electricity consumption at the total meter minus the electricity consumption applying the wholesale price for other purposes.

6. Within no more than three days from the date of recording the index at the total meter of a billing period, the retail electricity unit in collective residential areas and community clusters must provide the wholesaler with:

a) A list of the quantity of electricity used for other purposes;

b) The number of households purchasing retail residential electricity after the total meter, confirmed by a legal representative of the rural electricity retailer;

c) A list of additional or reduced households (if any), confirmed by the local police station responsible for household registration;

Beyond this deadline, if the retail electricity unit does not provide the above documents, the wholesaler may apply the wholesale electricity price for residential use in collective residential areas and community clusters at Tier 4: from 201 to 300 kWh for the entire electricity consumption at the total meter.

7. In areas where there is a decision by the competent authority to transfer from rural areas to urban areas within towns, townships, or cities, or a decision to transfer from town areas to city or township areas, the retail electricity unit in these areas may temporarily continue to apply the electricity tariff specified for the old area for no more than twelve months from the date of the administrative boundary adjustment decision. After this period, the retail electricity unit must switch to applying the electricity price specified for the new area.

Article 14. Wholesale electricity price for commercial-service-residential complexes

1. The wholesale electricity price for commercial-service-residential complexes shall be applied to retail electricity units in apartment buildings; urban areas; shopping centers; rental office buildings (regardless of the geographical location of the commercial-service-residential complex being in rural or urban areas).

2. Wholesale electricity price for residential use in commercial-service-residential complexes

a) The wholesale electricity price for residential use in commercial-service-residential complexes applies to the electricity consumption for residential purposes of households using electricity purchased by the retail electricity unit at the total meter installed at the substation, regardless of voltage level;

b) The total electricity consumption at each tier of the total meter for calculating electricity charges is equal to the quota of each tier multiplied by the number of households using electricity for residential purposes after the total meter;

c) The number of households using residential electricity in commercial-service-residential complexes after the total meter refers to the number of households with permanent and long-term temporary residency permits within the supply range of the total meter, confirmed by the local police responsible for household registration, and the quota stipulated in the electricity purchase and sale contract signed with the retail electricity unit;

d) Calculation of wholesale electricity price for residential use in commercial-service-residential complexes during the month of tariff transition: the electricity consumption at each tier of the wholesale electricity price for residential use will be calculated according to the old and new tariff levels based on the daily quota multiplied by the actual number of days before and after the adjustment in the transition month. The daily quota for each tier equals the consumption at each tier divided by the actual number of days in the calculation month.

3. The wholesale electricity price for other purposes in commercial-service-residential complexes applies to the amount of electricity used outside residential purposes, regardless of voltage level, and is applied according to the three-tier pricing system stipulated in Article 5 of this Circular.

4. Calculation of electricity consumption at the total meter is carried out as follows:

a) Both parties purchasing and selling electricity base their agreement on the actual electricity usage situation to determine the ratio of electricity consumption applying the wholesale electricity price for residential use and electricity consumption applying the wholesale electricity price for other purposes as the basis for applying the electricity price at the total meter;

b) In cases where commercial-service-residential complexes have separate meters installed for residential purposes and other purposes after the total meter, the calculation of electricity consumption for residential purposes and other purposes is based on the ratio of consumption determined by the meters installed for each purpose after the total meter;

c) In cases where commercial-service-residential complexes do not have residential purposes, the wholesale electricity price for other purposes is applied to the entire electricity consumption measured at the total meter.

5. Within no more than three days from the date of recording the index of the total meter, the retail electricity unit must provide the wholesaler with:

a) A list of electricity consumption for other purposes;

b) The number of households purchasing retail residential electricity after the total meter, confirmed by a legal representative of the rural electricity retailer;

c) A list of additional or reduced households (if any), confirmed by the local police responsible for household registration, for calculating the electricity bill.

Beyond the aforementioned deadline, if the electricity retail unit fails to provide the required documents, the electricity wholesaler is permitted to apply the wholesale electricity price for other purposes to the entire portion of electricity measured by the master meter.

Article 15. Wholesale Electricity Price for Industrial Zones

1. The wholesale electricity price at the 110 kV busbar of the 110 kV substation in the industrial zone applies to the case where the electricity retail unit purchases wholesale electricity at the 110 kV busbar of the industrial zone (the 110 kV substation invested by the buyer) to sell retail electricity to end-users within the industrial zone. The wholesale electricity price applicable to each 110 kV substation is determined based on the total capacity of the 110 kV transformers installed in the industrial zone.

2. The wholesale electricity price at the medium-voltage busbar of the 110 kV substation or at the branch point of the medium-voltage line entering the industrial zone applies to the case where the electricity retail unit purchases wholesale electricity to sell retail electricity to end-users within the industrial zone at the medium-voltage level.

3. Wholesale electricity prices sold by the Power Company to retail electricity units at the medium-voltage side of low-voltage substations are set at the retail electricity prices applicable to production sectors at the medium-voltage level.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 16. Implementation Organization

1. The Electricity Regulatory Authority is responsible for submitting to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's leadership for issuance of the Decision stipulating the electricity selling prices applicable to various categories of end-users and electricity retail units according to the provisions of Decision No. 28/2014/QD-TTg dated April 7, 2014 of the Prime Minister regarding the structure of the retail electricity pricing schedule.

2. The Department of Industry and Trade is responsible for:

a) Inspecting and supervising electricity retail units under its jurisdiction in implementing the electricity selling prices as prescribed in this Circular. In cases where it identifies that electricity retail units do not meet the conditions stipulated in Article 6 of this Circular, the Department of Industry and Trade shall report to the provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision to transfer the power grid under the management of such unit to the State Grid Corporation or affiliated Power Companies to directly supply electricity to end-users.

b) Inspecting and supervising the implementation of household consumption quotas and retail electricity prices at rental housing locations to ensure that tenants are correctly applying the residential retail electricity pricing regulations as prescribed in this Circular.

Article 17. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from June 1, 2014, replacing Circular No. 19/2013/TT-BCT dated July 31, 2013 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on electricity selling prices and guidance on their implementation.

2. During the implementation period, any issues encountered should be directly reported by relevant units to the Electricity Regulatory Authority for examination and resolution within its authority, or reported to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for resolution./.