Many landlords are illegally "charging" tenants for electricity bills.

Currently, the peak of the hot season, the amount of electricity consumed is very large, so the issue of electricity costs is always a concern for everyone. Not paying electricity bills directly to the electricity company, most students in Vinh City use the sub-meter of the landlord and have to pay the landlord for electricity at an exorbitant price.

Currently, the electricity price in student dormitories is mostly 3,000 VND/kWh, much higher than the general electricity price applied to households in Vinh City. Photo: Quang An

According to research at more than 10 student dormitories in Hung Dung and Ben Thuy wards (Vinh City), the electricity price charged by the landlord is one price, ranging from 2,500 - 3,500 VND/kWh.

Le Van Thanh, a student at Vinh University of Technical Education, said: We rent a room for 2 people, only using lights, rice cookers, fans, and computers, and each month we spend 150,000 - 200,000 VND on electricity. Previously, the landlord charged 2,500 VND/kWh, but then we heard that the electricity price increased, so now the price is 3,000 VND/kWh.

Each room has an electric meter to calculate the monthly electricity bill. Photo: Quang An

Phan Thi Hien, a student at Vinh University, shared: Most students do not know the retail electricity price list according to the State's regulations, they just listen to whatever the landlord says. Not to mention when paying the electricity bill, there are no bills or documents, most of us only know how to "read the electricity number and pay".

Referring to this issue, a landlord on Phong Dinh Cang Street said: My family has 10 closed rooms for rent, the electricity consumption is large so we have to pay the highest price, so collecting electricity bill from 3,000 VND/kWh for each room is also understandable.

Current electricity price list in Vinh City. Photo: Quang An

Meanwhile, according to the retail electricity price list applied in Vinh City (according to Decision No. 4495/QD-BCT dated November 30, 2017 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade), the retail price of electricity for domestic purposes is specifically: level 1 from 0 - 50 kWh is 1,549 VND/kWh; the highest is level 6 for consumption over 401 kWh is 2,701 VND/kWh (excluding VAT).

According to Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), the electricity price policy for workers, students and employees renting houses for accommodation is specifically regulated in Article 10 of Circular No. 16/2014/TT-BCT, dated May 29, 2014 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Guidelines for implementing electricity prices. In case the landlord signs the electricity purchase contract (PPA), he/she will be given a quota or apply 01 price according to the retail price of household electricity of level 3 (if the number of households cannot be determined).

And also according to the regulations, every 4 people are counted as a household using electricity to calculate the standard number of people applying the retail price of household electricity. In case the number of people cannot be declared, the retail price of household electricity of level 3 (from 101 - 200 kWh: 1,858 VND/kWh excluding VAT) will be applied to the entire electricity output.

Therefore, the electricity price for student dormitories from 3,000 VND/kWh or more is too high compared to the general regulation, causing disadvantages for students.

Students are the ones who have to pay high electricity prices while their electricity consumption is low and they do not have a stable income, depending on their family. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Nguyen Phuc Trang - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hung Dung Ward, one of the localities with many rental houses, said: Electricity prices are often agreed upon by the landlord and the tenant before checking in, so it is difficult to control everything in the conditions where more and more rental houses are springing up.

Currently, the problem of arbitrary electricity price increase compared to the general regulations by landlords is still happening at the boarding houses in Vinh City, especially in student boarding houses. This price increase will significantly affect the living expenses of students, especially during the hot season because this is a force that most of them do not have a stable income but mainly depend on their families.

Article 12, Clause 6 of Decree No. 134/2013/ND-CP dated October 17, 2013 of the Government stipulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of electricity, safety of hydroelectric dams, and economical and efficient use of energy: Fine from VND 7,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 for landlords who collect electricity bills from tenants higher than the prescribed price in the case of purchasing electricity at the retail price for domestic purposes.