Consolidated Document number 65/VBHN-BCT stipulates certain contents regarding shortening the time to access electricity.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON SOME CONTENTS REGARDING SHORTENING THE TIME TO ACCESS ELECTRICITY

Circular No. 24/2016/TT-BCT dated November 30, 2016, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade on some contents regarding shortening the time to access electricity, which took effect from January 16, 2017, has been amended and supplemented by:

1. Circular No. 42/2019/TT-BCT dated December 18, 2019, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade amending and supplementing some provisions on periodic reporting regimes in Circulars issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade or jointly issued, which took effect from February 5, 2020;

2. Circular No. 13/2020/TT-BCT dated June 18, 2020, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade amending, supplementing, and abolishing some provisions on investment conditions in the field under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which took effect from August 3, 2020.

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. 19-2016/NQ-CP dated April 28, 2016, of the Government on main tasks and solutions to improve the business environment and enhance national competitiveness for the years 2016-2017 with a view to 2020;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Energy Administration,

The Minister of Industry and Trade issues this Circular regulating some contents regarding shortening the time to access electricity.^[1]

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular regulates some contents regarding shortening the time to access electricity, including:

a) Amending and supplementing some articles related to the implementation procedures for accessing electricity stipulated in Circular No. 43/2013/TT-BCT dated December 31, 2013, issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade on the content, procedure, and formalities for establishing, examining, approving, and adjusting the Power Development Plan (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 43/2013/TT-BCT).

b) Prescribing the responsibilities of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities in implementing the contents regarding shortening the time to access electricity.

Article 2. This Circular applies to the following entities:

a) Customers using electricity who request connection to the distribution network;

b) Distribution companies;

c) Distribution companies and retail companies;

d) Vietnam Electricity Corporation;

đ) Relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 2. Amend and supplement Article 25 of Circular No. 43/2013/TT-BCT

"Article 25. Procedures and formalities for adjusting the provincial power development plan not according to the cycle

1. For adjustments to the Component of the Power Development Plan for the 110 kV system:

a) Project investors or the People's Committee of the province that have the need to supplement or adjust the Component of the Power Development Plan for the 110 kV system shall organize the preparation of adjustment files according to the content prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 22 of this Circular;

b) During the process of preparing the adjustment of the planning component, the investor shall be responsible for soliciting opinions from the provincial electricity company to complete the content of the planning component adjustment before submitting it to the Department of Industry and Trade for review and reporting to the People's Committee of the province to issue a document to the Energy Administration for examination and reporting to the Minister of Industry and Trade for approval;

c) Within five working days from the date of receipt of the file, the Energy Administration must issue a document requesting supplementation if the planning file is incomplete or invalid;

d) Adjustment files for the planning component:

- A report proposing the adjustment and supplementation of the planning component by the People's Committee of the province;

- Five copies of the Report on the adjustment of the planning component;

- Written comments from the provincial electricity company, the People's Committees of districts/cities, and relevant departments and agencies.

đ) Within twenty-five working days from the date of receipt of valid files, the Energy Administration shall be responsible for completing the examination of the adjustment files for the planning component before submitting them to the Minister of Industry and Trade for approval;

e) During the examination process, the Energy Administration shall solicit written opinions from the Electricity Corporation of the region and the National Power Transmission Corporation (if necessary).

2.^[2] (Repealed)

Article 3. Amending and supplementing Article 27 of Circular No. 43/2013/TT-BCT

“Article 27. Regular reporting regime on access to medium voltage power grid

Before July 15 and January 15 each year, the Distribution Unit shall be responsible for submitting regular six-monthly and annual reports in writing through postal service to the Department of Industry and Trade regarding the situation of investment in construction of power projects and implementation of connection of customers using distribution networks with their own substations according to Form No. 01 attached hereto.”

Article 4. Connection at medium voltage level

The procedures and formalities for agreement and implementation of connection at medium voltage level shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Circular No. 39/2015/TT-BCT dated November 18, 2015 issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade on distribution systems.^[4].

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

The People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for ensuring:

a) The processing time for the procedure of agreeing on pole/substation positions and power line corridors (if any) shall not exceed five working days for overhead medium voltage power lines and ten working days for underground medium voltage power lines.

b) The processing time for the procedure of granting construction permits for power projects (if any) shall not exceed seven working days for overhead medium voltage power lines and ten working days for underground medium voltage power lines.

2.^[5] Annually, the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for submitting written reports through postal service to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Electricity and Renewable Energy Department) on the results and evaluation of the implementation of electricity access time according to Form No. 02 attached hereto.

Article 6. Implementation Organization

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

2. The General Department of Energy shall be responsible for disseminating, guiding, and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular shall take effect from January 16, 2017.

2. This Circular replaces Circular No. 33/2014/TT-BCT dated October 10, 2014 issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade on certain contents to shorten electricity access time.

3. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties, organizations and individuals shall reflect them to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for consideration and resolution./.

ANNEX

(Issued together with Circular No. 24/2016/TT-BCT dated November 30, 2016 issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade on certain contents to shorten electricity access time)

Periodic Report of Provincial Power Company on the Implementation of Electricity Access to Medium Voltage Power Grid

Form No. 01

TOTAL COMPANY OF ELECTRICITY…….

Respectfully submitted to: Power Company … summarizes information to report on the situation of electricity access in the province as follows:

- Number of customers applying to connect to the medium voltage power grid.

1. Results:

- Details of processing time for each customer applying to connect to the medium voltage power grid. Average processing time for one customer.

- Number of customers whose processing time exceeds the total prescribed time.

2. Difficulties and obstacles:

- Reasons for customers whose processing time exceeds the total prescribed time.

- Other difficulties and obstacles.

3. Recommendations and proposals:

- Recommendations to resolve related issues to ensure compliance with prescribed processing times.

- Proposals for measures to further reduce processing times.

- To be filed: ………

Form No. 02

PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE…

Respectfully submitted to: Department of Industry and Trade … summarizes information to report on the situation of electricity access in the province as follows:

- Details of processing time for each customer applying to connect to the medium voltage power grid. Average processing time for one customer.

1. Results:

- Details of processing time for each customer applying to connect to the medium voltage power grid. Average processing time for one customer.

- Number of customers whose processing time exceeds the total prescribed time.

- Summary from reports of provincial power companies.

- Reasons for customers whose processing time exceeds the total prescribed time.

- Reasons for customers whose processing time exceeds the total prescribed time.

- Proposals for measures to further reduce processing times.

3. Recommendations and proposals:

- Recommendations to resolve related issues to ensure compliance with prescribed processing times.

- Proposals for measures to further reduce processing times.

Circular No. 42/2019/TT-BCT amending and supplementing certain provisions on regular reporting regimes in Circulars issued by the Minister of Industry and Trade or jointly issued has the following basis for issuance: