Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung - Photo: Thanh Trung
Reporter: During the recent heat wave, some local overload states are recorded in some residential areas although the Power industry said that they had made adequate preparations in advance. Can you tell me the reasons?
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung: At the peak time in the heat wave, the maximum capacity exceeding 30,000 MW was recorded in the power system.
Given the current total installed capacity of the power system at more than 43,000 MW, the electricity demand of the economy and the people can be absolutely satisfied, however, power outages still occurred in some dotting locations and in a few small customers due to local overload status of the power grid, of low voltage substations or protection circuit breakers of each household.
The major reason is due to power electric consumption demands of customers increased sharply and instantaneously which caused circuit breaker tripping and consequently power outages.
Reporter: It is contemplated that the hot season this year will last longer and fiercer heat waves will keep coming. So how EVN plans to deal with this challenge in order to secure electricity supply to customers?
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung: In order to secure electricity supply to customers, secure stable and safe power grid operation, serve power electric demands for the socio – economic development and residential uses of the people, EVN has requested its subsidiaries to systematically execute solutions as follows: To operate the power system safely, flexibly and promptly following weather and hydrological condition, gas availability, to efficiently mobilize power generation sources; to well prepare emergency responsiveness plans to cope with unfavorable circumstances; to promptly execute load sharing, load balancing, phase changing, transformer interchanging to foster electricity supply capability.
At the same time, we will closely coordinate with the Vietnam Coal – Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam Gas Corporation and generating companies in maintaining generation sources of the power system in high availability.
The national power system recorded the highest ever peak demand in the first heat wave in 2017 – Photo: Hoa Viet Cuong
When the outdoor temperature is equal to or higher than 36 degree Celsius, the Power industry will suspend all the grid works which can cause power outages to customers; arrange a workforce on duty when the outdoor temperature is ≥ 35 degree Celsius in order to promptly remedy faults if they occur and to mitigate power outage time for customers.
Customer Care Centers will arrange a telephonist workforce to receive customer’s calls of power outages, and transfer these calls to Power Departments for promptly remedying and restoring power supply to customers at the shortest time, etc.
Reporter: Based on experiences in electricity supply in the recent heat wave, what recommendations would EVN like to convey to customers?
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung: To limit local power outages and to alleviate the load demand at peak hours, EVN kindly propose that customers should use electricity economically and efficiently via concrete activities such as: using electrical appliance with energy efficiency labels; switching off electrical devices when they are not in service; using cooling equipment such as air conditioners, fans, refrigerators in optimal modes, for example air conditioners should be set at 26 degree Celcius. In particular, during hot scorching days, family members should share a common space at homes in order to optimize operation of air conditioners, contributing to relieving the load demand imposed on the power grid as well as saving electricity costs of customers.
Reporter: Thank you very much!