Electricity support for poor households and social policy households

The beneficiaries of electricity support for domestic use are one of the following households:

a) Poor households with income according to the criteria approved by competent authorities as prescribed in Decision No. 59/2015/QD-TTg on promulgating multidimensional poverty standards applicable for the 2016-2020 period and amendments, supplements or replacements, if any;

b) Households with members receiving monthly social allowances are not classified as income-poor households according to the provisions of law and have the amount of electricity used for living purposes in a month not exceeding 50kWh in areas with grid electricity (called social policy households living in areas with grid electricity);

c) Households with members receiving monthly social allowances who are not classified as income-poor households according to the law and live in areas without electricity grid (social policy households living in areas without electricity grid);

d) Ethnic minority households not classified as income poor households according to the law living in areas without electricity grid (social policy households living in areas without electricity grid).

Regarding the level of support, the draft clearly states: Each poor household and social policy household is entitled to only one level of electricity support. The monthly electricity support level is equivalent to the actual amount of electricity used, not exceeding 30 kWh/household/month, calculated according to the current level 1 retail price of household electricity. For poor households and social policy households living in areas without grid electricity, the maximum support level is not more than 30 kWh/household/month, calculated according to the current level 1 retail price of household electricity.

When the competent authority decides to adjust the retail price of household electricity level 1 up or down compared to the current level, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall promptly adjust the monthly electricity support level equivalent to the actual amount of electricity used, not exceeding 30 kWh/household/month, calculated according to the adjusted retail price of household electricity level 1.

Method of electricity support for poor households and social policy households: Monthly payment through the Electricity Company or electricity retailer (hereinafter referred to as the electricity agency) for poor households and social policy households living in areas with electricity grid;

Quarterly, direct payments in the form of cash support to poor households and social policy households living in areas without electricity grid.

The policy of supporting electricity bills for poor households and social policy households will be implemented from January 1, 2019.