Electricity prices for students and workers renting houses are publicly listed.

Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) said that 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 the implementation of electricity prices. Accordingly, in case the landlord signs the electricity purchase and sale contract (PPA), he/she will be granted 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).

Specifically: The dossier includes a temporary residence book or temporary residence confirmation document from the local police agency. When there is a change in the tenant, the landlord is responsible for notifying the electricity seller to adjust the electricity bill calculation rate; Every 4 people are counted as one household using electricity to calculate the rate applied to the retail price of household electricity, specifically: 1 person is counted as 1/4 of the rate, 2 people are counted as 1/2 of the rate, 3 people are counted as 3/4 of the rate, 4 people are counted as 1 rate.

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.

EVN will inspect, monitor, and impose administrative sanctions on landlords who charge higher prices than prescribed.

Landlord's method of calculating and collecting money: Landlord is responsible for collecting electricity bills from tenants according to the retail price of electricity in the monthly electricity bill issued by the Electricity Company plus 10% for electricity loss, lighting costs and common water pumping.

In case of renting a house to students and workers who have registered for temporary residence for 12 months or more, the electricity purchase contract (EPP) is signed by the representative of the employee or student renting the house (with the landlord's commitment to pay the electricity bill). The Electricity Company issues the bill directly to the tenant.

Inspection and supervision, Administrative sanctions for landlords who charge higher prices than those prescribed in Article 16, Clause 2, Point b of Circular No. 16/2014/TT-BCT also clearly states that the Department of Industry and Trade is responsible for: "Inspecting and supervising the implementation of calculating the number of households using electricity and retail electricity prices at rental locations to ensure that tenants are properly applied the regulations on retail electricity prices prescribed in this Circular."

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 fields 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 retail prices for domestic purposes.

Implementing Circular No. 16/2014/TT-BCT, in recent times, Electricity Companies have coordinated with the Department of Industry and Trade of provinces and cities to periodically organize working groups to inspect the electricity prices of boarding house owners and have taken many measures to handle violations of electricity prices of boarding house owners according to regulations.

Pursuant to the direction of the Prime Minister at the meeting with workers of industrial parks in the Red River Delta on May 20, 2018 in Ha Nam, EVN has directed the Electricity Corporations, Electricity Companies of provinces and cities to immediately implement measures such as: coordinating with local authorities to organize propaganda and guidance on the implementation of electricity prices for landlords. Implementing public posting of electricity prices in rental housing areas, at residential areas, reception places of the People's Committees of Districts, Wards, Communes, Towns and the Management Boards of residential areas, residential groups, Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks.

Electricity companies regularly coordinate with state management agencies and the Department of Industry and Trade to monitor the implementation of regulations on retail electricity prices for residential use; plan, conduct inspections and handle violations of regulations on electricity prices for workers, students and laborers renting houses in the management area to limit cases where landlords take advantage of price policies for profit. At the same time, proactively coordinate with localities to manage, review and unify data on the number of boarding houses, rooms and tenants to promptly report to the Corporation and the People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Hoang Oanh