Professor, Academician and DrSc., Tran Dinh Long
Reporter: How do you evaluate on the electricity price support package with total value of approximate VND11,000 billion for the people, enterprises which are in difficulties due to COVID-19?
Professor, Academician and DrSc., Tran Dinh Long: The support to prevent COVID-19 pandemic is extremely important task, not only in Viet Nam but also all over the world, which has attracted a great participation from enterprises, individuals.
Together with the whole nation, that Ministry of Industry and Trade and EVN proactively proposes the Government to reduce electricity price, electricity expense for the people is worth being appraised.
As regulated on social distancing, the people have to stay at home more, then working online more, which makes the need to use power for daily living activities increase also, leading to significant increase in the electricity expenses. Therefore, in this support package, 100% of households who use electricity for living activities will be reduced by 10% electric expense from grade 1 to grade 4 (below 300 kWh), which is very positive, partially to help households to overcome difficulties. Besides, enterprises and establishments specializing in production and business; facilities used for isolation, medical examination and medical treatment for COVID-19… have are also been exempted or reduced in electricity price at a certain ratio.
Reporter: There are some comments that the reducing by 10% of electricity price for households, production enterprise is not so high. What is your point of view regarding this issue?
Professor, Academician and DrSc., Tran Dinh Long: In the psychology of the consumers, the reduction is never satisfied by them. In spirt of that, we need to study about and see one objective, fair view that Electricity Sector itself are also having to face to many difficulties: The power source of the whole system has no standby, water inflow to hydropower reservoirs is poor that makes this low cost electricity source now all into shortage, leading to the situation that it should be compensated by coal-fired thermal power, oil-fired thermal power sources which are power sources with higher production cost, etc.
In this context, the reducing level of 10% is rather significant in the capacity of EVN and worth being welcomed.
Reporter: The reduction of electricity price will increase pressure on EVN in the assurance of finance balance. In your opinion, what should EVN do to ensure efficient production – business?
Professor, Academician and DrSc., Tran Dinh Long: There is much work that EVN should do to overcome difficulties in 2020 as well as period of 2021-2025.
Besides reducing cost, strengthening science and applying technology to raise production output, EVN should manage well the load needs when power sources is not enough for standby and now facing to the risk of electricity shortage (which has been warned since 1-2 years). At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen mass media on using electricity safely, effectively; program of amending power load.
In 2019, I have known that Northern Power Corporation has coordinated with MOIT to organize the amendment of power load in some Northern cities, provinces that have major needs on power consummation. This activity needs to be promoted because it will contribute bringing about good efficiency for the balancing of supply and demand of power grid system.
Reporter: During the recent period, EVN has proactively speeded up online electricity services and encourage power customers to reduce COVID-19 infection risk. As a power customer, what do you evaluate on this move?
Professor, Academician and DrSc., Tran Dinh Long: It should be said that EVN has taken initiative, promptly conducting the propaganda, speeding up online electricity service in the complicated context of COVID-19 pandemic. The customers do not need to step out of their house for conducting electricity services, avoiding disease infection.
Online transaction is the trend of modern society. Therefore, I think that, the development of online power service and other online services should be further promoted not only in the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in the coming period.
Reporter: Respectfully thank you!