New changes in electricity pricing for tenants.
(Baonghean.vn) - Students and workers renting accommodation will have their electricity bills calculated according to the regulations in Circular No. 9/2023/TT-BCT. The electricity price calculation is based on residential information at the rental property.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued Circular No. 9/2023/TT-BCT dated April 21, 2023, amending and supplementing several articles of Circular No. 16/2014/TT-BCT dated May 29, 2014, and Circular No. 25/2018/TT-BCT dated September 12, 2018, regulating electricity pricing. This Circular takes effect from June 15, 2023, and is as follows:
According to Clause 2, Article 2 of Circular No. 9/2023/TT-BCT, the Ministry of Industry and Trade amends the regulations on electricity sales to students and workers renting houses (the tenant is not a household). The method of calculating electricity prices for this group is divided into two specific cases:
Firstly, in cases where the tenant has a lease agreement of 12 months or more and has registered temporary or permanent residence (determined by residence information at the electricity usage location), the landlord directly signs the electricity purchase contract or a representative of the tenant signs the electricity purchase contract (with a commitment from the landlord to pay the electricity bill).
Secondly, in cases where the lease term is less than 12 months and the landlord fails to fully declare the number of electricity users, the retail price of electricity for residential use at tier 3 (101-200 kWh) will be applied to the entire electricity consumption measured at the meter.
If the homeowner can fully declare the number of people using electricity, the electricity supplier is responsible for allocating a quota to the homeowner based on the residential information at the electricity usage location. Every four people are counted as one household for the purpose of calculating the quota and applying the retail price of electricity for domestic use.
Specifically, 1 person is counted as 1/4 of the quota, 2 people as 1/2 of the quota, 3 people as 3/4 of the quota, and 4 people as 1 full quota.
When there is a change in the number of tenants, the landlord is responsible for notifying the electricity supplier so that the electricity consumption limit can be adjusted.
Electricity suppliers are permitted to request electricity buyers to provide information about their residence at the electricity usage location as a basis for determining the number of people eligible for the consumption quota when calculating electricity bills.
According to a summary of the electricity supply situation for workers, students, and laborers residing in Nghe An province, there are currently 1,513 rental housing establishments with 8,965 rooms for rent. Through inspections and meetings, 1,512 landlords have committed to collecting electricity fees at the regulated price.
The Nghe An Power Company stated that it regularly coordinates with local authorities to inspect electricity pricing practices at rental properties, handle violations of electricity pricing regulations for students and workers renting accommodation, and prevent landlords from exploiting electricity pricing policies for illicit profit.
According to the leaders of Nghe An Power Company, landlords who charge tenants excessively high electricity prices will be penalized upon discovery. According to Clause 15, Article 2 of Decree 17/2022/ND-CP, landlords who charge tenants for electricity at prices higher than the regulated rate will be fined between 20 and 30 million VND.
