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New peak-hour power policy not to be changed
The new peak-hour power pricing policy is meant to reduce consumption and will not be rolled back, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Huu Hao has said.
Since March 1, commercial users are charged almost double the normal tariff between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Previously, only use between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. was subject to peak rates.
Many businesses have since protested the extension of peak hours, adding it is unreasonable since the 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. slot is a key period for production.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade is reviewing proposals from several localities and industry associations asking to amend the policy, Hao said.
But the ministry can only help businesses that find it impossible to schedule their working hours to avoid the 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. slot, he said.
It is setting up a task force to go to localities and consider the difficulties that businesses are facing on a case-by-case basis, he said.
“The extension of the peak hours is aimed to encourage businesses to reduce power use,” he said. “While many steel companies have already switched to night shifts and managed to cut power costs, the majority of other businesses have not though they can.”
“If there is no incentive for businesses to avoid using electricity during peak hours, power cuts will occur at many places,” he warned.
The average power price was increased by 8.9 percent to VND948.5 (5 US cents) per kilowatt-hour.
But it does not mean an end to power shortages in the country, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said, noting there would still be power cuts this year, especially in the north.
Tuoi Tre, thanhnien
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