A worker of the Vietnam Electricity checking the power system. Power bills have been reduced until the end of this year as an effort to ease the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: VNA)On June 2 ,theGovernment issued Resolution No 55/NQ-CP to reduce electricity prices inresponse to the EVN’s proposal to support those heavily affected by theprolonged COVID-19 pandemic, including hotels as well as medical and quarantinecentres.
Facilitieswhich were used for isolation, and examinations related to COVID-19, wouldenjoy 100 percent reduction, while 20 percent reductions would be provided formedical facilities which were used to test and treat COVID-19 patients, whichwas estimated to total 100 billion VND.
Touristaccommodation facilities would enjoy retail electricity prices equal to thoseapplied for production and was estimated to total 1.47 trillion VND.
The reductionswould be applied in seven months, for power bills from June to December thisyear.
This was thethird reduction in electricity prices after two similar discounts offered lastyear.
The first ranfrom April 16, 2020 to July 17, 2020 and supported more than 27 millioncustomers with the total reduction totalling around 9.3 trillion VND.
The second wasfrom October to December 2020 with more than 25.4 million customers enjoyingthe reductions worth 3 trillion VND.
At theGovernment press conference on June 3y, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade DoThang Hai said that any adjustments in electricity prices would be consideredcarefully to prevent any possible impacts on production and business as well aslives of residents while ensuring stable macroeconomy.
Adjustments inretail electricity prices were studied from 2018 and the Ministry proposed theadjustments to the Government at the most suitable point of time this year tolimit its impacts, Hai said, adding that electricity prices were a sensitiveissue and being studied carefully./.
VNA
