Announcement of electricity price hike has startled many users for the whooping bills increased by 6-10%.

Household of Mr. Tran Quoc Khai in Tuong Binh Hiep Commune, Thu Dau Mot Town was shock to pay electricity bill three times higher than normal use. It is worse for household of Mr. Nguyen Van Ngot residing at An Loi, Hoa Loi, Ben Cat when he had to pay five times higher than his normal use of 1 water pump, 3 1.2-m tube lights and 2 electric fans on monthly basis. He was so shock that he had appealed to recheck the power lines.

Meanwhile, household of Mr. Thanh Dung has refused to pay the bill for March by claiming that the calculation has errors.

Under Circular No. 08 of Industry and Trade Ministry on February 24th, 2010, guiding electricity sales to household by 7-step calculation of price as in 2009. However, the each step is adjust to increase the price not exceeding VND 1,890 a kWh but the lowest step is kept at VND 600 a kWh. Therefore, the more people use electricity the more they have to pay.

In replying ton newspaper, Binh Duong Electricity Vice Director Le Minh Quoc Viet explained that the price adjustment of 6.8% is lower than 2009 which stood atn 13-14%. In response to complaints of high prices, Mr. Le Minh Quoc Viet said that users only concentrate on what they have to pay but fail to consider what has been used. He claimed that the electricity use will increase depending on holidays and hot seasons. He quoted statistics of Binh Duong Electricity concluding that over 70% of consumers have consume more electricity in March than in February. Therefore, the demand and using surplus made the prices gone up.

He also confirmed that the new adjustment of prices has not affected poor households. Besides, the prices only increase in peak hours and normal hours not in low hours. He suggested consumers to notice this increase to save the power and prioritize efficiency.

Households have participated in saving electricity in their daily use. However, not all households can make it to save the power due to the weather.

Mr. Viet recommended that consumers should use electric appliances when necessary because Binh Duong Electricity must follow the price roadmap proposed by government to match electricity price to market price by 2010.

Power saving and efficient uses not only reduce the energy burden of the country but also contribute to environment protection.

Reported by Hoa Nhan – Translated by Vi Bao