EVN is expected to mobilize an extra 1.113 billion kWh of power from fuel and diesel oil in order to stabilize supply during the dry season this year.

Beside generating power from fuel and diesel oil, the group will also tap thermal and wind power sources.

Electricity demand this year is expected to rise by 8.48% from last year. 
According to EVN, power consumption in March may reach 355 million kWh per day, with the national power output fluctuating between 17,700 and 17,900 MW.

Although the group had earlier accumulated sufficient water for hydropower reservoirs, the water level is still below normal, especially in the reservoirs in central and Central Highlands regions.

An anonymous EVN official said that, hydropower dams nationwide are facing a deficit of 5.29 billion cubic meters. This leaves EVN to rely o­n diesel fueled sources to fill in the gap.

EVN is said to be considering another price hike, even with decreased output. o­ne economist said that Viet Nam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group is now taking huge losses, which will likely be passed o­n to the consumer in the near future.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently made a proposal to the Prime Minister in a draft decision o­n power regulation that they be allowed to adjust prices every three months, which would give the group authority to increase prices by a maximum of 5% of their claimed production prices.

The new policy will be enforced if the Prime Minister does not respond within 15 days. This would give EVN the right to adjust prices four times a year instead of the current limit of two.

Hanoitimes