'The electricity industry keeps raising prices and blaming the weather to avoid having to explain'

At the discussion session in the Hall on the morning of May 30 on the socio-economic situation, many National Assembly deputies expressed their frustration about the increase in electricity prices, and at the same time spoke up to request publicity, transparency, fairness, and said that the State Audit must intervene in the electricity business.

The conclusion of the Government Inspectorate needs to be made public.

Delegate Nguyen Quoc Han (Ca Mau delegation) stated: The Government has considered adjusting electricity prices in accordance with regulations. But the issue here is not whether it is in accordance with regulations or not because the Government is always right. However, the Government needs to assess more specifically the impact of increasing electricity prices on people's lives and business activities of enterprises.

The increase in electricity prices will lead to increased input costs for production and business units, increased product prices, reducing people's purchasing power and reducing the competitiveness of domestic goods, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Han assessed.

Delegates of Ca Mau delegation proposedThe State Audit stepped in to clarify the business activities of the electricity industry.

Avoid price increases "following the flow"

Also expressing special concern about the increase in electricity prices, delegate Nguyen Thi Phuc (Binh Thuan delegation) said that this issue is of concern to many voters.

Ms. Phuc emphasized: "According to voters, the increase in electricity prices at this time is not appropriate. Although this adjustment in electricity prices has been calculated and is part of the roadmap, we request that the Government soon announce the conclusion of the inspection on the recent increase in electricity prices, whether it is in accordance with regulations or not, and if it is incorrect, how to handle it so that voters and the government know."

In addition, the increase in electricity prices will lead to an increase in the prices of other goods. The Government should have preventive measures to avoid the situation of price increases "following the rain", and should closely monitor market fluctuations in combination with strict inspection and supervision of price declaration activities of enterprises, Ms. Phuc suggested.

Affirming that electricity prices keep "increasing, increasing, increasing forever", delegate Nguyen Sy Cuong (Ninh Thuan delegation) frankly pointed out: People want transparency in electricity prices, and they have reason to doubt that the 8.36% increase is not accurate when the amount of electricity they have to pay to the "power company" in the first month has increased a lot, even 2-3 times compared to the previous month.

Mr. Cuong said that it is necessary to take the average retail electricity price of the Government as the base regardless of whether there are 6 levels or how many levels.

Delegate Nguyen Sy Cuong also expressed the opinion of voters that, when the country's economy develops and people's lives improve, electricity consumption should also increase. However, in reality, people's electricity consumption is still maintained at a low level, only suitable for poor families in difficult areas.

"The electricity industry just keeps raising prices and blaming the weather to avoid having to explain too much," said Mr. Cuong. This delegate also suggested publicly announcing the Government Inspectorate's conclusion on EVN's operations.

Need to rebuild the electricity price ladder

Previously, discussing in groups about the results of implementing the socio-economic development plan and budget, delegate Nguyen Huu Cau (Nghe An delegation) also emphasized that voters are very interested in the issue of adjusting electricity prices, although the Ministry of Industry and Trade has explained the calculation mechanism, but it needs to be clarified more to reassure people.

"Voters do not know how to calculate prices, but they know that price increases will affect their lives, and compared to other prices, price increases for this item are not suitable for voters," said Mr. Nguyen Huu Cau, who requested the State Audit to re-audit electricity and gasoline prices to see if they are in accordance with the agencies' proposals.

If there is an audit and a response, whether it increases or decreases, people will see transparency. People say that price increases affect their income and life, but the most important thing is trust and transparency in price management. The audit should get involved to reassure voters, Mr. Nguyen Huu Cau suggested.

Delegate Mai Sy Dien - Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Thanh Hoa province said that the recent report confirmed that the electricity price management is in accordance with the law. However, any management that causes dissatisfaction among voters and people should be reconsidered. And currently, the Government is assigning an inspection of the electricity price management process.

According to Mr. Dien, in addition to timely inspection and public reporting on the correctness or incorrectness of electricity price management, he proposed that the National Assembly assign the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to supervise the investment, management, construction of electricity price norms, and adjustment of electricity prices, because this is an issue related to people's lives.

"The electricity industry's viewpoint in using electricity prices from levels 3-4-5 to regulate and support levels 1-2 means that the electricity industry has put money in one person's pocket to put in another person's pocket without their consent. Therefore, it has caused frustration for people and voters in the recent electricity price management," delegate Mai Sy Dien stated his viewpoint and recommended that the electricity industry must rebuild the electricity price ladder./.