High quality of electrical energy will give a stronger boost to socioeconomic development and low quality of electricity will weaken the economy on the contrary. To improve electricity quality, persistent weaknesses must be addressed.
Consumers want high electricity quality
A representative of the Nhat Nuoc Co., Ltd said the electricity sector calls us to economise electricity and we totally also agree and follow with this but many other places are wasting the energy. Besides, the power sector must discuss with businesses for a proper blackout schedule, aiming to minimise losses for them. The sector also needs to improve the electrical energy quality to provide best services for customers. According to him, the power quality is defined by supply for consumers, continuity of supply and safety.
Another company also says rotational power outages must be scheduled properly and each power cut must not too long to avoid unnecessary losses incurred by corporate users. He says his company is an export seaweed jelly manufacturer. “If we know the power cut schedule, we can rearrange production activities.
For instance, if the power is on today, we will manufacture and if it is off, our workers will be sent to packaging workshops. Then, we can minimise our damage and keep up with production schedule,” he said. “If we fail to keep prestige, we will lose on the market.”
Mr Dong Duc Khoi, Deputy General Director of the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), said: The consumer taste has been changed and all related sides should sit together to seek out best solutions. He pointed out that industrial park- based investors randomly cooperate with power companies as they deem the power supply as the natural responsibility of the electricity sector. Before starting in new production investments, investors should discuss with power companies to know electrical supply capacity to have best business plans.
Efforts from power industry
Mr Nguyen Van Ly, Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVNHCMC), said the power sector of Ho Chi Minh City never stops improving the power quality. “For example, we cut a full day to repair or maintain power lines but we try to reduce the time for these works to five hours. Then, living and production activities of consumers will be less affected,” he said.
Currently, EVNHCMC has signed 1.7 million power purchase contracts. This buy/sale is strictly bound to the contract issued by the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to Mr Ly, the buy/selling of electricity is governed by the laws, thus there is no monopoly here. EVNHCMC will have to pay off for unacceptable power supply quality as committed. “We are striving to improve to further benefit both buyers and sellers. You should not think that the electricity sector can do whatever it wants,"- Mr Ly said.
However, Ly admitted that the power industry cannot control everything as some employees may lack responsibility but the number of misconducts is falling.
According to Mr Dong Duc Khoi, to improve the power quality, the presence of electricity market is essential. The Prime Minister decided a roadmap for the electricity market development. Accordingly, the competitive electricity market will be established in 2017 and an electricity retailing market in 2023. When these markets are formed, customers will pay for what they use at reasonable prices. However, this roadmap is rather late and this will slow down the quality improvement and make electricity investments unattractive.
According to Mr Khoi, the construction of electricity market must be regulated by authorities, which will set floor and ceiling prices and regulations to prevent misconducts of power companies.
With a market mechanism, power producers, suppliers and users meet at a point, and the quality of electricity will be surely improved.
Ha Linh
Vietnamese
