Talking to reporters of Binh Duong Newspaper, Binh Duong Electricity Company’s Deputy Director Mr. Le Minh Quoc Viet hoped to receive sympathy of customers, because the increase of electricity price would impact more or less on production and cost of living of consumers. Mr. Viet said:
On a positive side, the increase in electricity prices would raise awareness of electricity saving, contributing to climate change fighting, forming the habit of sparing and efficient using of energy. To businesses, the increase in electricity prices would directly impact on costs, thus restructuring operations, eliminating unnecessary phases, innovating technologies in order to improve production efficiency, save costs and energy, enhance product competitiveness…
- Sir, in your opinion, does the increase in electricity prices affect social security, especially poor households, policy families?
- On October 30th 2014, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 28/2014/TTg that stated: Poor households according to criteria set by the Prime Minister are supported electricity expense for domestic purposes. Monthly support amount is equivalent to 30kWh multiplying with current electricity retail price.
Policy families defined by the Prime Minister and having a monthly electricity consumption of no more than 50kWh for domestic purposes will be supported the expense of 30kWh. Both cases have to pay electricity bills like other customers. Supported amount will be paid back later by competent authorities.
- Binh Duong province is a province having a large number of migrant labors with low incomes. Therefore, does the application of new electricity price affect cost of living of this subject, sir?
- Binh Duong province has over 500,000 lodging rooms. Binh Duong Electricity has still implemented Circular No. 16 of the Ministry of Trade and Industry in terms of 4 persons/room would have the quota of 1 normal family. Therefore, cost of living of this subject would not be much affected.
This Circular also permits lodging house’s owners to add 10% power loss to total consumption. This has been implemented and inspected by electricity companies in collaboration with relevant agencies, such as: trade and industry; labor, invalid and social affairs, local government… Lodging room renters could also inform local authorities for intervention and treatment, if detecting price violations of lodging house owners.
Reported by P.Sa – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
