HCMC – New electricity pricing time frames will not be applied immediately, as the average retail tariff has yet to be adjusted.
The revised peak, off-peak and normal hours for the national power system will only take effect in tandem with the next adjustment of the average retail electricity price, according to the Electricity Authority of Vietnam (EAV) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. As the tariff has not been revised since May 10, 2025, the current time frames remain applicable.
The information was included in a document sent by EAV to Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and its subsidiaries regarding the implementation of daily electricity usage timeframes.
Previously, the ministry issued Decision No. 963 dated April 22, setting new time-of-use (TOU) hours. Under the decision, peak hours are defined from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., from Monday to Saturday, with no peak hours on Sundays.
Normal hours from Monday to Saturday include two periods, from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 10:30 p.m. to midnight, while on Sundays they apply from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. Off-peak hours are set from midnight to 6:00 a.m. for all days of the week.
Although Decision 963 took effect upon issuance, EAV said implementation of the new time frames will be tied to the timing of the next retail electricity price adjustment, in line with Decision No. 14/2025 issued by the prime minister on the retail pricing structure. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is reviewing and amending relevant regulations to provide a legal basis for the rollout, which is expected during the dry season of 2026.
So, the authority has asked EVN to instruct its power corporations and provincial utilities to step up communication with electricity users, especially those subject to TOU pricing. Utilities are also required to prepare personnel, materials and equipment to update and reconfigure electricity meters, ensuring synchronized implementation once the new rules take effect.
