In the context of a developing country facing many barriers in technology, capital and management level, the figure of 100% of communes, over 99,47% of households, of which 99,18% are famers supplied power can be considered a “miraculous” achievement under the leadership of the Party, the direction of Government and especially the implementation of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN). According to the evaluation by international organizations, the level of electricity coverage to households in remote areas and islands of Vietnam is an achievement that not many countries in the world have achieved.
Electric light has reached all the remote, and border areas of the country.
Electricity passes high mountains, waves, to light all areas of the country
Over the years, following the electricians, crossing steep, unsteady and bumpy roads, electricity has been lighting up remote villages and hamlets of Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Bac Can, Son La, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Dac Nong, Soc Trang, Khanh Hoa, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, etc.
Electricity not only comes to mountainous areas, but also overcomes waves to the far islands. Starting from Cat Hai Island (Hai Phong) in 1991, EVN’s journey brings electricity to islands across the country such as: Co To (Quang Ninh), Ly Son (Quang Ngai), Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Truong Sa (Khanh Hoa), etc. Up to now, 11/12 island districts, 100% of island communes nationwide have been supplied power.
The report of Vietnam Electricity said that, at present, the electricity coverage level of Vietnam is higher than a number of other countries in the region. EVN has supplied power to 100% of the communes, of which 8.072/8.902 communes (about 90,7%) across the country meet Criterion No. 4 in the New Rural Development, an increase of nearly 46% compared to that of 2010. The number of households using power increased from 97.31% equivalent to 19 million households (in 2010) to 99.47% equivalent to 27.41 million households (June - 2019). In particular, the number of rural households with electricity increased from 96.29% equivalent to 13.26 million households (in 2010) to 99.18% equivalent to 16.98 million households (June - 2019).
The investment in developing rural electrification in the past 10 years has significantly changed the situation of power supply to remote, mountainous areas and islands. EVN’s Deputy General Director Vo Quang Lam said that, 10 years ago, in many rural areas, the grid system was in poor conditions with just bamboo poles, wooden poles, small and substandard wires. After the power grid was taken over and invested by the Power industry in improving and upgrading, the households have been supplied with stable and safe power. Previously, there were many models of rural electricity management being incapable of professional skills such as: commune electricity board, people-founded electricity group, privately-invested form, etc. Up to now, there are over 92% of communes directly purchasing electricity from the Power industry.
Before EVN received and managed to sell electricity directly to the islands, people living in the islands had been only supplied power for a few hours per day, using diesel sources. After the system has been taken over and directly sold by EVN, power is supplied to them for 24 hours per day. Besides, the most important thing is that people just pay the same price as applied nationwide rather than the high electricity price as before (VND4,000/kWh - VND6,000/kWh).
Miracle of Power Industry
EVN’s rural electrification journey has been well recognized and highly appreciated by many international experts. Mr. Ousmane Dione - Director of World Bank (WB) to Vietnam said that the rural electrification by Vietnam is a miracle. Access-to-electricity access rate in Vietnam has increased from 14% in 1993 to over 99% in 2018. Hence, in 25 years, more than 14 million households or 60 million people have been supplied power from the grid. Vietnam has made a global success story in developing the energy sector over the past few decades.
Furthermore, in recent years, with the criterion “Electricity comes to customers”; “Customers are the center of all activities”, EVN has been constantly innovating and improving the quality of electricity services and customer services. EVN serves and takes care of customers 24/7 through the customer care centers. People living in rural or urban areas can access and use EVN’s electricity services in the most convenient and transparent way, with the best quality.
Looking back the long journey to bring lighting to the most remote areas, Mr. Le Thanh Chung - Head of EVN’s Investment Management Board said: Rural electrification has always been a big challenge facing EVN. Bringing electricity to unconcentrated load areas, low power consumption and high investment rate means that the business performance is likely inefficient.
Electric power has helped comprehensively change the aspects of regions in socio-economic development, national defense and security. These social outcomes cannot be measured solely by cash. Therefore, in recent years, EVN has always placed the importance of social welfare goals over corporate interests, striving to overcome all difficulties to successfully fulfill the political tasks assigned by the Party, the State and the Government”.