HCM City targets saving 620 million kWh of electricity in 2023

Nguyen Quang Minh, Director of the Power Market Development Research and Training Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Electricity Regulatory Authority, speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City has set a target to save at least 2.2% of total energy consumption this year, which equals to 620 million kWh of electricity.

This information was unveiled at a conference on 2023 electricity supply and saving organised by Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC) on April 11.

According to EVN HCMC, to achieve the above-mentioned target, the corporation will deploy specific solutions such as mobilising resources to install and use rooftop solar power systems as well as solar-powered water heating systems to reduce electricity consumption; issuing rules on electricity use in offices, schools and hospitals and reducing outdoor decorative advertising lighting capacity by half at peak time.

The corporation will also accelerate the implementation of lighting automation based on operational time frame and weather conditions of public lighting works, and build a database of electricity consumption of State agencies and units and key energy users, thereby making timely reports and recommendations to management agencies and customers.

EVN HCMC said it has signed 617 agreements to coordinate the deployment of demand response (DR) adjustment with large electricity users. The maximum capacity that can be reduced is 221 MW. When there is a request from Vietnam Electricity, the corporation will notify customers to support the reduction of load demand.

Last year, HCM City saved 545 million kWh, equivalent to 2.04% of total electricity consumption in the city.

According to Nguyen Quang Minh, Director of Power Market Development Research and Training Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Electricity Regulatory Authority, besides technical and dissemination solutions, it is necessary to amend the Law on Energy Efficiency and Conservation, in the direction of making economical use of energy "mandatory"./.