Aug. 11 – The Ministry of Industry and Trade has submitted a proposal that will allow businesses that operate only during the day to be qualified for a 20 percent discount on electricity costs during peak hours of the morning.
Currently, business power users are charged double in the peak hours between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. as well as 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. If approved, the discount will begin on September 1 and will last for only 6 months until new rates are determined for next year.
Only companies operating in the daytime and purchasing power at medium voltage levels of 35 kilovolts or less will be given the discount.
The double charging of electricity during the peak hours of the morning was a hotly contested issue among businesses that felt it was unreasonable to be charged extra during an important key production time slot.
A recent ministry survey found 56,000 businesses operating only during the day were the most affected by the new pricing policy with an estimated 15 to 17 percent of them paying more than 20 percent for power, reports VietNamNet.
