Circular No. 33/2014/TT-BCT stipulates certain contents regarding shortening the time to access electricity

CIRCULAR

Provisions on shortening the time to access electricity

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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 Some Articles 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;

Implementing Resolution No. 19/NQ-CP dated March 18, 2014 of the Government on key tasks and solutions to improve the business environment and enhance the country's competitiveness; Resolution No. 74/NQ-CP of the Government dated October 4, 2014 on the regular meeting of the Government in September 2014;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Energy Administration and the Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority,

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues this Circular regulating some contents regarding shortening the time to access electricity.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular stipulates certain provisions on shortening the time to access electricity for customers requesting connection to the medium voltage power grid, as follows:

a) Amending and supplementing certain articles regarding the procedures and formalities for adjusting the provincial and centrally-administered city power development plans; confirming compliance with the plan as prescribed in Circular No. 43/2012/TT-BCT dated December 27, 2012 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the contents, procedures, and formalities for preparing, reviewing, approving, and adjusting the Power Development Plan (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 43/2012/TT-BCT).

b) Amending and supplementing certain articles regarding the procedures and formalities for implementing the Connection Agreement as prescribed in Circular No. 32/2010/TT-BCT dated July 30, 2010 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the distribution system (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 32/2010/TT-BCT).

c) Amending and supplementing certain appendices issued together with Circular No. 32/2010/TT-BCT.

d) Prescribing the responsibilities of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities in implementing the provisions on shortening the time to access electricity.

Thông tư này áp dụng đối với tổ chức, cá nhân có liên quan đến hoạt động kinh doanh đối tượng thủy sản nuôi chủ lực trên lãnh thổ Việt Nam.

a) Customers using electricity who request connection to the medium voltage power grid;

b) Distribution companies;

c) Distribution companies and retail companies;

d) Vietnam Electricity Corporation;

đ) Relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 2. Amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 43/2012/TT-BCT

1. Amending point e Clause 1 Article 25 as follows:

“e) Within twenty-five working days from the date of receiving complete valid documents, the Energy Administration shall be responsible for completing the review of the planning adjustment dossier before submitting it to the Minister of Industry and Trade for approval;”.

2. Supplementing point d Clause 2 Article 25 as follows:

“d) Within ten working days from the date of receiving complete valid documents, the Department of Industry and Trade shall be responsible for completing the review of the planning adjustment dossier before submitting it to the Provincial People's Committee for approval;”.

3. Amending point b Clause 1 Article 27 as follows:

“b) Provide comments in writing on the conformity of the National Power Development Plan for power projects within seven working days from the date of receipt of the investor's request;”.

4. Amending point b Clause 2 Article 27 as follows:

“b) Direct the Department of Industry and Trade to provide comments in writing on the conformity of the Provincial Power Development Plan for power projects. Within three working days from the date of receipt of the investor's request, the Department of Industry and Trade shall be responsible for providing written comments on the conformity with the Power Development Plan;”.

Article 3. Amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 32/2010/TT-BCT

1. Amending Clause 2 Article 45 as follows:

“2. In cases of new connection or change in existing connection at medium voltage and 110 kV levels, customers using the distribution network must submit to the Distribution Unit the following documents:

a) Connection application dossier:

- According to the model prescribed in Appendices 2C to 2D issued together with this Circular for customers using the distribution network requesting connection at 110 kV voltage level;

- According to the model prescribed in Appendix 2C and Appendix 2D issued together with this Circular for customers with generating units requesting connection to the medium voltage network;

- According to the model prescribed in Appendix 2E and Appendix 2G issued together with this Circular for customers using electricity with their own substation connecting to the medium voltage network.

b) Schematic diagram of main electrical equipment after the connection point;

c) Technical documentation on the equipment intended for connection or changes expected at the current connection point, the estimated completion time of the project, economic and technical data of the new connection project or changes in the existing connection.”

2. The name of Article 47 is amended as follows:

“Article 47. Time limit for reviewing and signing the Connection Agreement with customers using distribution networks who request connection at 110 kV voltage level and customers with power generation units requesting connection to medium voltage grid.

3. Supplement Article 47a following Article 47 as follows:

“Article 47a. Time limit for reviewing and signing the Connection Agreement with customers having their own substation connecting to the medium voltage grid

For customers having their own substation connecting to the medium voltage grid, within five working days from the date of receiving complete and valid customer files, the Distribution Unit shall be responsible for completing negotiations and signing the Connection Agreement.

4. The name of Article 50 is amended as follows:

“Article 50. Provision of documents on conditions for energizing the connection point for customers using distribution networks who request connection at 110 kV voltage level and customers with power generation units requesting connection to medium voltage grid”

5. Supplement Article 50a following Article 50 as follows:

“Article 50a. Provision of documents on conditions for energizing the connection point for customers having their own substation connecting to the medium voltage grid

1. Before the expected first energization and trial run date, the customer requesting connection must provide the Distribution Unit with two sets of documents for checking the conditions for energizing the connection point (in Vietnamese or English for technical documents confirmed by the customer requesting connection and certified copies of legal documents), including:

a) Completion and acceptance documents for the project according to the regulations of the Ministry of Construction;

b) Technical design documents after completion of the design agreement with the Distribution Unit and reviewed by the competent authority, including general description, main electrical connection diagrams, layout plan of electrical equipment, protection and control system principle diagrams, related diagrams and technical specifications of main electrical equipment;

c) Operation and management manuals provided by the manufacturer;

d) Acceptance records for individual and overall parts of the connection equipment of the transmission line and substation connected to the distribution network in compliance with Vietnamese technical standards or internationally recognized standards accepted by Vietnam and meeting the technical requirements for connection equipment specified from Article 34 to Article 44 of this Circular;

đ) Scheduled trial run and operation plans;

2. After receiving all documents, the Distribution Unit shall be responsible for providing the customer requesting connection with the following documents:

a) Equipment numbering diagram;

b) Requirements for customer relay protection settings from the connection point towards the customer; relay setting sheets and related setting values for customer relay protection devices controlled by the dispatching authority issuing the distribution network dispatching orders;

c) Testing and calibration requirements for equipment;

d) Requirements for receiving dispatching orders;

đ) Requirements for establishing communication systems serving dispatching;

e) Requirements for collecting and transmitting SCADA/DMS system data (if applicable);

g) Automatic control methods (if applicable);

h) List of relevant procedures related to national electricity system operation, distribution system operation, and coordinated operation procedures;

i) List of relevant staff and system operating engineers along with contact phone numbers and fax numbers;

3. Before the expected first energization and trial run date, the customer requesting connection must provide the Distribution Unit with the following contents:

a) Schedule for trial run and energization of electrical equipment;

b) Agreement on responsibilities of each party regarding management and operation of the connection equipment;

c) Internal regulations for safe operation of the connection equipment;

d) List of customer's operating personnel including names, professional positions, responsibilities along with contact phone numbers and fax numbers.

6. Supplement Article 53a following Article 53 as follows:

“Article 53a. Time limit for completing energization for electricity customers with their own substation connected to the medium voltage grid

Within ten working days from the date of receiving all valid energization point registration documents, the Distribution Unit shall be responsible for completing the trial energization, acceptance, and official energization operation for the customer requesting connection.

Article 4. Amend and supplement some appendices issued together with Circular No. 32/2010/TT-BCT

1. Amend the name of Appendix 2C as follows:

"GENERAL INFORMATION FOR CONNECTION REGISTRATION FOR CUSTOMERS USING DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS (CONNECTION TO THE 110 KV GRID AND ABOVE)"

2. Amend the name of Appendix 2D as follows:

"INFORMATION ON CUSTOMER'S ELECTRICITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONNECTION REQUEST (CONNECTION TO THE 110 KV GRID AND ABOVE)"

3. Supplement Appendices 2E and 2G after Appendix 2D of Circular No. 32/2010/TT-BCT according to Appendix I issued together with this Circular.

4. Amend Appendix 3 of Circular No. 32/2010/TT-BCT according to Appendix II issued together with this Circular.

Article 5. Responsibilities of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities

Based on relevant legal documents, the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for:

1. Issuing regulations on the time limit for handling procedures for agreeing on pole/substation positions and power line corridors: not exceeding five working days for overhead medium voltage grids and not exceeding ten working days for underground medium voltage grids.

2. Issuing regulations on the time limit for handling construction permit procedures for power projects: not exceeding seven working days for overhead medium voltage grids and not exceeding ten working days for underground medium voltage grids.

Article 6. Implementation

1. Vietnam Electricity Corporation shall be responsible for directing its subordinate units to implement this Circular.

2. The National Energy Administration and the Electricity Regulatory Authority shall be responsible for disseminating, guiding, and supervising the implementation of this Circular.

3. The People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for directing specialized agencies:

a) Reviewing and drafting, amending related administrative procedures; announcing related administrative procedures in accordance with this Circular, encouraging the application of information technology when implementing administrative procedures;

b) Annually reporting to the Ministry of Industry and Trade the results and evaluation of shortening the time to access electricity as stipulated in this Circular.

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from November 25, 2014.

2. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, units shall be responsible for reporting to the Minister of Industry and Trade for consideration to amend and supplement this Circular./.