(binhthuan.gov.vn) Recently, due to the influence of El Nino phenomenon, hot weather, drought, and water shortage have occurred in many localities, making hydropower reservoirs seriously affected.

As of May 11, 2023, the whole country has 11/47 large hydropower reservoirs which water level has reached dead water level or near dead water level; 21/47 large hydropower reservoirs have a residual capacity of less than 20% and 16 have water levels lower than the minimum water level of the Inter-Reservoir Operation Procedure.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, due to the influence of El Nino phenomenon, the risk of water shortage will continue until the end of the dry season 2023. The total flow to large reservoirs in the North Central region is forecasted to be 15-35% lower, the Middle Central and South Central regions 15-40% lower, the Central Highlands region from 10-20% compared to the multi-year average.

Besides, the demand for electricity is tending to increase in May, June and July. In particular, on May 6, 2023, the electricity demand of the national power system has increased to a new record level at nearly 895 million kWh, the highest since the beginning of the year and up by 12.34% over the same period in May 2022; maximum consumption capacity reached 43,300 MW, the highest since the beginning of the year and increased by 9.12% over the same period in May 2022.

In order to implement Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 7, 2020 on enhancing electricity saving in the period of 2020 - 2025 and Official Dispatch No. 397/CD-TTg dated May 13, 2023 of the Prime Minister on the proactive implementation of urgent measures to cope with the risk of heat, drought, water shortage and saltwater intrusion, Vietnam Electricity has proposed the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to promote communication on difficult electricity supply situation in 2023 on local mass media so that organizations, agencies, businesses and people to know, share difficulties and strengthen practice of saving electricity.

Strengthening solutions on power saving and non-commercial voluntary load adjustment. Accordingly, administrative and non-business units shall save monthly electricity consumption by 10% over the same period last year; schools, hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, sanatoriums shall save monthly electricity consumption by 5% over the same period; public lighting units shall apply measures to save monthly electricity consumption by 50% over the same period; restaurants, hotels, commercial service establishments, office complexes and apartment buildings shall reduce 50% of their outdoor decorative advertising lighting capacity at night, complying with regulations on economical and efficient lighting, be ready to cut and reduce electricity demand upon notification of the local power unit in case of electricity shortage. At the same time, notifying industrial production customers, especially customers with large electricity consumption, to implement voluntary load adjustment programs in accordance with Circular No. 23/2017/TT-BCT dated November 16, 2017 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Strengthening communication for households using domestic electricity so that they can actively reduce consumption demand, do not set the air conditioner temperature below 26^oC. Regularly monitoring the page https://sudungdien.evn.com.vn to update information on electricity consumption situation/month/year of administrative agencies, public lighting and large energy-using facilities to manage electricity saving activities in the locality.

Enhancing the inspection and examination of compliance with the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy and Directive No. 20/CT-TTg dated May 7, 2020 to take action against non-compliant individuals and organizations. Directing relevant departments, agencies and units to coordinate with Electricity companies to prepare plans and implement shutdown and reduction of electricity supply in the area according to Circular No. 22/2020/TT-BCT dated September 9 2020 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Nguyễn Phương