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Tenants protected by new regulation
Tenants in HCM City can register for electricity supply independent of their landlords under a new regulation passed by the city to safeguard lessees from being gouged by house owners.
Though the rule took effect on March 1, not many have registered, with some owners – who should register on behalf of their tenants – pleading ignorance.
| The current electricity and water price
Electricity price
From 1 to 50 kWh VND600 per kWh
From 51 to 100 kWh VND1,004 per kWh
From 101 to 150 kWh VND1,214 per kWh
From 151 to 200 kWh VND1,594 per kWh
From 201 to 300 kWh VN1,722 per kWh
From 301 to 400 kWh VND1,844 per kWh
From 401 kWh or more VND1,890 per kWh
Water price
4 cu.m per person per month VND4,000 per cu.m
4-6 cu.m per person per month VND7,500 per cu.m
6 cu.m per person per month or more VND10,000 per cu.m | Dinh Van Kien, who owns a row of houses in District 12, said even electricity company staff who come to collect monthly charges have not informed him about the new regulation.
Some landlords have registered their tenants but not informed them in order to continue collecting higher tariffs, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported. Many collect up to six times the actual electricity prices.
Le Van Phuoc, Director of HCM City Electricity Company, said punishing landlord who gouge their tenants is the responsibility of State agencies, not his company's.
Last year inspectors had discovered many tenants being forced to pay many times higher electricity prices than levied by the supply company. They then recommended to the Department of Industry and Trade to deal more sternly with violators, he said.
But Tran Van Hoa, Deputy Head of the department's Energy Management Office, admitted that violators have merely been reprimanded so far. He promised they would be penalised from this year.
The maximum penalty is VND20 million (US$1,086), the department said.
Gouged
Meanwhile, following a hike in water and power tariffs on March 1, many owners of boarding houses have hiked rates, especially affecting students and workers.
Nguyen Thi Thu, who rents a house in Khanh Hoi Street, District 4, said her landlord collects VND12,000 for a cubic metre of water and VND3,000 for a kWh of electricity.
Even following the price hikes, the highest rate, for consumption of 401 kWh and more, is VND1,890.
Water costs VND4,000/cu.m. for the first 4cu.m., with the highest rate being VND10,000.
Duy, a worker who rents a house in Thu Duc District, said there are rules stipulating that house owners should only collect the actual electricity charges payable to power supply companies. Though violations are punishable, authorities have yet to do so, he said.
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