Mr. Quach Lam Hung, Chief of Technical Board - Southern Power Corporation says that the annual peak load of EVN SPC usually occurs in the dry season because the southern hydro-power plants must limit generation due to lack of water. During this time of the year, the operation of grid system is very strained.

Currently, the 110 kV stations in Western provinces such as Can Tho, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang have been fully loaded because the region is in full swing of rice milling, food processing, irrigation and other production. In the Eastern provinces, it is the industrial load with the 110 kV substations operating well above 80% load.

In the forecast projected by EVN SPC, in the second quarter of 2015, during the peak months of the dry season, the highest capacity can reach 7,765 MW, an increase by 11.5% compared with 2014, the highest output is estimated at 160 million kWh for certain days.

In the areas encountered with load spike, the Corporation closely monitors the situation every hour through operation of parameters reading program at 110 kV stations. The Company works in coordination with local units to determine the load demand and immediate execution of measures such as increasing the capacity of the substations, enhancing power compensation and operating the new electric power schemes. In addition, the Corporation is also cooperating closely with the units in the electricity sector to continue the construction of many medium and low voltage work of 110 kV network, especially the 220 kV substations in Tay Ninh and Vung Tau to put them into operation soon.

To cope with power shortages during the dry season, EVN SPC is also promoting power-saving programs. From the beginning of 2015, EVN-SPC sets the targets to achieve and exceed the target of 2% energy saving compared with commercial power production, and to accomplish the power savings plans and programs assigned by EVN. Along with those activities, it is the public communication on economical and efficient use of energy conducted in the area of ​​business management of EVN-SPC; with mass media activities in power-saving linked to practice of electric safety and improvement of customer service.

One of the highlights is the development and expansion of power-saving models in the community. Specifically, the Company continues its wide-scale deployment of numerous models under the program "Cultural hamlet/residential living quarters with electricity savings" and "Street Saves Power" to hit the criteria that over 50% households achieve the title of 5% power savings in comparison with previous year consumption. In addition, "Power Savings Day 2015" in Dong Nai in May and the Program "Enterprises with economical and efficient use of Energy in 2015" may also be quoted as the highlights of the power savings communication.

The Chief of Technical Board EVN SPC, Mr. Quach Lam Hung reveals that currently there are about 30,000 customers in 21 provinces from Ninh Thuan, Lam Dong southbound (except Ho Chi Minh city) with output of over 5,000 kWh /month who register for power consumption reduction according to the actual situation of their production (about 2% of the actual output).

In case of supply and demand imbalance, and upon the request for moderation, these customers' reduction probably increases by 10-15%. This output varies depending on the characteristics and processes of each client technology. As for big electricity users, such as: enterprises in iron, steel and cement, the  committed power saving output is 500 million kWh /year.

As Mr. Hung says, these customers with registered reduction also express their share of the common constraints with the electricity sector. In many localities, the enterprises and businesses strongly commit to reduce power consumption. Dong Nai province represents the key industrial area in which businesses are willing to share the difficulties during the peak season.

Mr. Pham Viet Ai, Head of Business Office of Dong Nai Power Company Limited (PC Dong Nai) reveals that 1,072 of its customers with large power consumption signed power consumption reduction agreement during peak time of the dry season. For example, the TON PHUONG NAM (Southern Tole Company) in Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 1, Dong Nai will reduce 5% of the electricity consumption during peak hours.

As similar as Dong Nai province case, many large manufacturing companies in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province have also pledged to support the electricity sector, in the case of supply and demand imbalance, the businesses will arrange production in the low-peak time and perform power consumption reduction as committed with the electricity sector.

Though demanding, with the overall plan in place, especially the electricity saving measures, EVN-SPC will ensure the reliable and constant power supply for its customers, without load reduction in the dry season as well as during the whole year of 2015.