'Sharing responsibilities for power supply in 2024 peak dry season'

In 2024, it is forecast that demand for electricity in the dry season will increase higher than planned, especially in the Northern region. Along with the proactive and positive solutions prepared by EVN and its member units, customers' support in using electricity economically and effectively plays an extremely important role.

Electricity consumption is forecast to increase to the highest level on record

At an online talk show: 'Sharing responsibilities for power supply in the 2024 peak dry season' on the afternoon of April 8 organized by VietNamnet, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Trung - Deputy Director of the National Load Dispatch Center (A0) said that the electricity demand of the national power system and the Northern region has been growing by about 11%, higher than the forecast of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's 2024 national power system operation plan of about 9.6%.

Hot weather forecasted to arrive soon and affect power supply of system, especially in Northern region. Illustration photo

In A0's latest report, it is forecast that electricity demand in the North during the peak dry season (April-July) could reach 27,481MW, an increase of 17% compared to the operating record of the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, the total electricity output produced and imported by the Northern power system in this period can only increase by 10% over the same period last year, reaching about 52.3 billion kWh.

“It can be imagined that the demand for electricity in the Northern region includes about 25,000MW of electricity for residential and industrial use; If the growth rate is 10%/year, an additional 2,500MW will be needed. Thus, every year we need to have another Son La hydropower plant put into operation to meet the growth of the electricity demand in the Northern region. This is a big challenge for the electricity industry", Mr. Nguyen Quoc Trung emphasized.

Proactively preparing and deploying solutions for power supply in the dry season

EVN’s Vice President Vo Quang Lam shared that to prepare a plan of power supply for the national power system in 2024, EVN has given very specific instructions to all affiliated units, focusing mainly on 3 solution groups.

Firstly, improving the quality of technical management and operation of the power system, including power plants, power transmission, and distribution grids.

Second, making efforts to ensure the implementation progress of construction investment projects, especially power grid projects to evacuate power and enhance regional connection capacity, and energy centers, as well as increase imports from neighboring countries.

Third, paying attention to implementing demand-side management and electricity-saving programs.

EVN’s Vice President Vo Quang Lam shares at online talk show: 'Sharing responsibilities for power supply in 2024 peak dry season'

On the part of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr. Nguyen The Huu, Deputy Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (Ministry of Industry and Trade), said that balancing power supply in the peak months of the dry season this year is predicted to face many challenges due to the increasing demand and water inflow to hydropower reservoirs likely to be lower than the average for many years. Therefore, right from the end of 2023, the Prime Minister as well as the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Trade have directed many solutions to ensure power supply.

In particular, power corporations and power companies have proactively coordinated with local authorities to communicate and implement electricity-saving programs according to Directive No. 20 of the Prime Minister on electricity saving in the period 2023-2025.

'Sharing responsibilities for power supply in the 2024 peak dry season'

Deputy Director of Electricity Regulatory Authority Nguyen The Huu calls on people and businesses to join hands to use electricity economically and effectively.

Implementing the directions of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, EVN has been closely coordinating with the Departments of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities to plan to well perform the Prime Minister’s Directive 20 on electricity saving in the targeted customer groups. To better ensure power supply, EVN has directed member units to proactively discuss with customers, especially key energy customers, to consider shifting their peak hours away from the normal peak hours of the current power system.