Electricity sector ensures safe supply during dry season

Since early March, the southern region has entered the peak of the dry season, pushing electricity consumption here to a record level. Prolonged hot weather also has a risk to cause power grid problems, due to overload. Agencies, offices, production units and people are advised to pay attention to safe, economical and efficient use of electricity, avoiding high usage costs.

Demand for electricity on increase

Le Hong Khanh, Deputy Director of Binh Duong Power Company said that in the first 3 months of 2023, which is also the dry season, hot weather has caused the demand for electricity to increase. However, in February 2023, there were more positive points compared to the same period in 2022 such as a decrease in the number of power grid incidents, less stress in grid operation, due to reduced electricity usage, effective exploitation of 110kV substations put into operation in 2022, online electricity service indicators with positive results.

The project of My Hoa 110kV substation and connection lines contribute to providing enough power for industrial production in ​​​​Bet Cat town

In addition, enterprises have also started production to keep up with export orders, leading to the increase about demand for electricity in production and business. According to the assessment of provincial Department of Industry and Trade, in the first 2 months of 2023, Binh Duong Power Company well ensured the continuous supply of electricity to serve the demand for electricity in people’s daily life, enterprises’ production.

According to Mr. Khanh, in the first 2 months of 2023, the total amount of electricity received by Binh Duong Power Company was 2,060 million kWh, down 9.15% compared to the same period last year (2,267 million kWh). The situation of electricity production and supply of the whole system was well implemented by the company, ensuring to meet the electricity demand for people’s daily life, enterprises ‘production. Besides, the company was proactive to implement a plan to provide stable and uninterrupted power. Power grid failures decreased sharply compared to the same period in 2022. The reliability indicators of power supply (SAIDI, SAIFI) increased over the same period to ensure electricity supply in daily life and production.

Works sped up

Entering the dry season in 2023, in order to improve power quality, reduce losses and enhance reliability and safety in power supply, the Southern Power Corporation (EVN SPC) is implementing procedures for a project to upgrade and develop medium and low voltage power grids in the center of towns and cities in the province.

In 2023, Binh Duong Power Company has registered a plan with total capital of nearly VND 400 billion for investment and construction of electrical works. EVNSPC is implementing a total of 37 investment projects for 110kV transmission lines and substations. Particularly, the company has made compensation and site clearance for 22 works, including 110kV Tan Binh station and connection; 110kV Binh Thuan station and NR connection; is agreeing on location and route to invest in 12 important projects to supply power for industrial parks, including Dinh Hoa 110kV substation and connection lines; 110kV transmission line, 220kV Ben Cat - Ascendas - An Tay station; 110kV VSIP II substation and transmission line, 110kV Tan Hiep substations...

Along with focusing on investing in power projects, Binh Duong Power Company has mobilized the maximum amount of rooftop solar power, actively contributing to reducing the load in the dry season of 2023. Up to now, the whole province has 4,065 rooftop solar power systems, with a total capacity of more than 775,690 kWp. Accumulated output to the grid is more than 132 million kWh, or 14.26% of the estimated output of EVNSPC at the beginning of the year…

Mr. Khanh added that ensuring electricity supply in the peak months of the dry season 2023 still faces many challenges, due to weather factors. Especially during the periods of prolonged heat, demand for electricity may increase suddenly, causing local overload for the power grid, leading to the risk of electrical equipment failures in the distribution grid. For households, prolonged hot weather also affects their daily activities and degrades the performance of electrical equipment. Therefore, electricity bills during hot months, especially in March and April are likely to be higher than other months.

In order to minimize the risk of partial overload of the power grid and improve the reliability of power system operation, households, agencies, offices and businesses using electricity are strongly recommended to apply electricity-saving solutions such as turning off unused devices, using high-efficiency electrical appliances, setting the temperature of air conditioners above 26 degrees Celsius...while changing usage habits by limiting electrical equipment if unnecessary. The above solutions not only help customers reduce electricity costs, but also contribute to reducing power supply pressure on the whole system, operating the power system stably, safely and efficiently.

Reported by Minh Duy-Translated by Kim Tin