Hot issues of rural electricity infrastructure and electricity prices

Overview of the questioning session Photo: Thanh Cuong

Frustration about electricity quality and price...

At the question and answer session, delegates Ngo Thi Thu Hien (Vinh City), Dinh Thi An Phong (Nghi Loc), Lang Thi Hoai (Tan Ky) and many other delegates expressed their opinions on the issue of slow repayment of low-voltage grid fees, low quality of electricity in some areas, slow relocation of electric poles on the road, high electricity prices in urban areas and apartment buildings, etc. These issues have been proposed many times but have not been satisfactorily resolved, the Electricity industry has promised many times but still has not resolved. Delegate Hoang Thanh Binh (Vinh City) said that in recent months, Electricity workers have been reading and recording meters on different days, leading to cumulative increases in electricity prices, causing disadvantages for electricity users.

Delegate Dinh Thi An Phong questioned the issue of slow repayment of rural low-voltage grid fees.

Explaining the issues raised by the delegates, Mr. Hoang Van Tam - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said: Regarding the degraded rural power grid, weak electricity, and slow repair, we have coordinated to develop a plan and roadmap to report to the Northern Power Corporation to arrange capital for handling. Regarding the replacement of electric poles in the traffic safety corridor, during the process of infrastructure construction, it is recommended that project owners discuss and agree with the Electricity Department to have a timely relocation plan to avoid causing unsafety. Regarding the return of the rural low-voltage power grid, the Department of Industry and Trade is coordinating with the Electricity industry to try to remove obstacles in preparing the return dossier according to Circular 32...

At the questioning session, Mr. Trinh Phuong Tram - Director of Nghe An Electricity Company said: There are 3 reasons for weak electricity: The power grid when received was still weak and dilapidated; The power grid corridor when received still had many trees leading to poor operation of the power grid; Because some customers used electricity, when using electricity, they did not use it economically.

The Director of Nghe An Electricity Company said: The renovation and upgrading of the power grid, due to limited capital, has led to slow investment, the Electricity industry has tried its best. We are trying to find capital for the renovation, we will apply and renovate as much as possible.

The rural low voltage grid has been upgraded but is still incomplete. In the photo, the rural grid in Quynh Thanh commune (Quynh Luu)

Currently, the rural power grid has been renovated over 8,000 km, with about 3,000 km remaining to be renovated. We will find the fastest and earliest source of capital for renovation. This year, capital is also difficult and the investment in renovation is only 25% of 2017. In the immediate future, we focus on low-voltage stations (30 low-voltage stations have been installed this year) to upgrade the quality of electricity.

Regarding the relocation of electric poles in the traffic safety corridor, if the Electricity sector builds power lines and electric poles, the Electricity sector is responsible for the relocation. When opening roads for new rural areas, localities will coordinate with the Electricity sector to do so.

Mr. Trinh Phuong Tram - Director of Nghe An Electricity explained at the questioning session.

The Electricity Director also requested local authorities to coordinate to clear the power grid corridor, ensure good and safe power supply; prevent electricity theft, and strengthen inspection and handling of violations in electricity use.

Regarding meter readings, the regulation is to be recorded once a month, the recording date can increase or decrease by 1 day, clearly stated in the electricity purchase contract. If the person recording is wrong, he/she must take responsibility, if a specific address is provided, the Electricity industry will handle it.

Regarding the opinion of voters that some communes have been merged into Vinh City but still use the power grid of Nghi Loc district, Mr. Tram said that the main power line stretches from one district to another, one line can supply many districts, so it is impossible to separate the power lines supplying each locality. Not every administrative boundary has its own power grid, it is impossible to separate the power grid.

Regarding electricity prices, the Electricity Director said: Currently, the whole province has 950,000 customers with direct contracts with the Electricity Company, applying the State price. The price is not suitable for apartment buildings, collective houses, boarding houses, farms... because investors buy electricity from the Electricity Company and resell it at a higher price, because when they calculate the electricity price, they also calculate the operating costs and losses. To completely overcome this problem, it is necessary to transfer assets to the Electricity industry, and if the Electricity industry sells directly, it will ensure prices to consumers.

Voter Lang Thi Hoai (Tan Ky) asked: Currently, the power grid has been handed over to the electricity company, but the rural power grid in mountainous areas is seriously degraded, with a high risk of insecurity. In case of an incident caused by the grid, will the Electricity industry be responsible? In response to this issue, the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said that the Director of Nghe An Electricity Company is primarily responsible. The Director of Nghe An Electricity Company said that it is necessary to determine the cause of the accident before determining specific responsibilities.

Difficult to make refund according to Circular 32

At the questioning session, Mr. Trinh Phuong Tram said that to carry out the dossier of returning the rural low voltage grid according to Circular 32 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, it is necessary to carry out 5 contents that the property owner must have. We almost cannot do these 5 criteria, we have sent documents but the Ministry has not responded clearly. Therefore, the return according to Circular 32 will not be implemented.

Currently, the Electricity industry is trying to find ways to apply for refunds to the people. Property owners make a list of households that have contributed investments with confirmation from the district and commune, to apply for refunds to the people. Currently, Nghe An Electricity Company has sent a document instructing the communes, striving to complete the documents in July, but currently out of 86 units, only 15 units have transferred the documents.

Mr. Tram also noted that, in addition to the records of households contributing capital that can be flexibly applied in the above way, other organizations and units that return must have complete records and procedures according to Circular 32.

Speaking at the question and answer session, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Huynh Thanh Dien said: Regarding the value of the rural low-voltage grid, the whole province currently has about more than 31 billion VND. The province is directing to handle the problem. The province also proposed that the Electricity Group manage the grid according to administrative boundaries, for more convenience. The province also issued a document directing urban and apartment projects to be handed over to the Electricity industry for management and electricity sale. The handover of the low-voltage grid helps us have the conditions to upgrade and renovate the grid, manage it more professionally and safely. So we are very determined to hand it over. During the handover process, it was very difficult, even some places did not want to hand it over, but the province directed to do it resolutely. Up to now, the whole province still has 2 localities, Nghi Lien (Vinh City), Quynh Ba (Quynh Luu), which still have problems with the documents but have basically agreed.

Concluding this question, Comrade Nguyen Xuan Son - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council acknowledged the responsible and open-minded responses of the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, Director of Nghe An Electricity. Acknowledging the enormous contributions of the Electricity sector to the development of the province, however, voters still have many concerns about rural electricity infrastructure, electricity prices, and electricity quality.

To date, the Electricity industry has invested more than 3,400 billion VND in rural low-voltage grids. More than 1,600 transformer stations have been built and 8,640/10,500 km of rural low voltage grid received.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Council also highly agreed with the assessment of the current situation, analysis of causes, tasks and solutions presented by the Director of the Department of Industry and Trade. He requested the Electricity sector to pay attention and take better care of electricity customers. The return of the power grid needs to clearly establish the investment donation money; continue to remove obstacles in Circular 32, the applied dossier must be focused on completing before July 30, 2018 to submit to the Northern Power Corporation for resolution.

Regarding the safety of the power grid corridor, there are still many problems: land allocation violating the power grid safety corridor, shops under the power lines, etc. The responsibility of local officials needs to be considered for correction. In places where voters have opinions about high electricity prices, local authorities and the Electricity industry should be requested to inspect to ensure consumer rights and avoid illegal profiteering.