Directive No. 19/2005/CT-TTg on Implementing Electricity Saving Measures

 DIRECTIVE

On the implementation of energy conservation in electricity usage

From the beginning of this year until now, weather conditions have been unfavorable, widespread drought has occurred and persisted, and water inflow to hydroelectric reservoirs has been very low, with hydroelectric reservoirs only accumulating between 25% and 50% of their designed capacity. Particularly, the water inflow to Hoa Binh Reservoir is the lowest in the past 40 years, while hydropower accounts for approximately 40% of annual electricity production. In addition, some power investment projects have not met their schedules, power grids lack synchronization in certain areas; gas supply does not meet the demand for electricity production; meanwhile, recent power consumption has surged by over 20%, making electricity supply even more difficult, especially in northern provinces.

Due to the main reasons mentioned above, in 2005 and the following few years, before the completion of power industry development according to the plan, the country may still face electricity shortages during dry months, particularly during prolonged droughts. To ensure national energy security, implement the policy of efficient and economical energy use, reserve energy for essential production and consumption, the Prime Minister requests strict implementation of electricity conservation measures, especially during dry months (from April 1 to June 30 each year) with specific measures as follows:

1. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated agencies, provincial People's Committees, centrally-administered city People's Committees, state-owned enterprises shall immediately implement the following solutions:

a) For offices and administrative units:

Turn off unnecessary electrical devices when leaving rooms and at the end of working hours. Disconnect power completely when not using devices.

Maximize natural light and ventilation, reduce lighting when the number of people working in a room decreases. Reduce common lighting in corridors, courtyards, gardens, and fences by at least 50%.

Only use air conditioning when absolutely necessary and set it to cooling mode (above 25°C); use fans instead of air conditioning when the weather is not too hot.

b) For public lighting:

Reduce the number of lights on streets, squares, parks, and public flower beds by 50%, except for traffic signs and safety signals.

Units managing public lighting systems adjust street lighting times reasonably: turn on lights at 7 PM and turn them off at 4:30 AM.

Minimize the number of bulbs on radio and television tower columns, keeping only signal lights at the top.

c) For household and service business electricity use:

Households limit the use of large power-consuming devices (air conditioners, hot water tanks, electric irons...) during peak hours from 6 PM to 10 PM; turn off electrical devices and lights when not needed; encourage households to use energy-saving bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps or fluorescent lamps.

Restaurants and commercial service establishments reduce advertising and decorative lighting by at least 50%, using only one bulb for sign illumination.

2. Production enterprises shall immediately implement the following electricity conservation measures:

Use electricity according to the agreed power capacity and load curve in the electricity purchase contract.

Turn off unnecessary electrical devices and lights during production breaks.

Avoid operating electrical devices without load. Minimize the use of high-power lights for advertising.

Prepare backup power sources to meet production needs during power shortages.

3. Vietnam Electricity Corporation shall be responsible for:

Strictly implement specific regulations on electricity conservation in generation, transmission, and distribution.

Operate the power system stably and safely; schedule maintenance plans for power plants reasonably; enhance technical management, improve equipment utilization; minimize accidents, save fuel costs, reduce power losses, and maximize and effectively utilize all power sources; rationally allocate the capacity and power of hydropower plants, independent power plants, and customer backup power sources.

Take specific measures to accelerate the implementation of power investment projects according to schedule.

Reasonably arrange power cuts without affecting enterprise production and business activities; avoid wide-scale and prolonged residential power cuts.

Closely cooperate with the National Hydro-Meteorological Center to update weather forecasts and water resources to proactively develop effective operation plans and conserve water for power generation.

4. The Ministry of Industry shall direct Vietnam Electricity Corporation and independent power plants (IPP), BOT-operated power plants to optimize operations, contributing to overcoming current power shortages; expedite construction progress of power projects; coordinate with mass media to widely publicize and educate cadres and people about power-saving measures, especially during peak hours.

5. Each ministry, sector, and locality shall conserve at least 10% of daily electricity usage. Prioritize ensuring electricity for essential production and living needs. Vietnam Electricity Corporation will base its reduction plan on available power and demand, adhering to the aforementioned target. The Ministry of Finance will guide and inspect a minimum 10% reduction in electricity consumption by budget-funded agencies and units.

6. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairmen of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, and State-owned enterprise General Directors shall be responsible for strictly implementing the provisions of this Directive and Decree No. 102/2003/NĐ-CP dated September 3, 2003 of the Government on efficient and economical energy use; simultaneously strengthen inspections and promptly address cases of non-compliance with electricity conservation measures.

7. The Ministry of Culture - Information shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Industry, Vietnam Electricity Corporation, and other electricity units to widely publicize measures for conservation; at the same time, direct relevant mass media organizations to allocate appropriate time to publicize the State's policies on implementing electricity-saving solutions.

8. This Directive takes effect from the date of signature. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, Chairpersons of Management Boards, General Directors of Vietnam Electricity Corporation, Heads of agencies and units, and organizations and individuals involved in electricity operations and usage shall be responsible for enforcing this Directive.