The new regulation, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade under Decision 963, took effect on April 22 and sets out revised time bands for peak, off-peak and normal electricity usage across the national grid.

Under the new framework, peak hours apply from Monday to Saturday between 5:30pm and 10:30pm, totaling five hours per day. Sundays are excluded from peak-hour pricing.

Normal hours from Monday to Saturday are divided into two periods: from 6am to 5:30pm and from 10:30pm to midnight, totaling 13 hours per day. On Sundays, normal pricing applies continuously from 6am to midnight.

Off-peak hours remain unchanged, running from midnight to 6am daily.

The Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) is responsible for implementing the new schedule, while coordinating with the National System and Market Operation Company (NSMO) to monitor load data, capacity and consumption patterns. Both entities are required to report annually, or when necessary, to propose further adjustments based on changes in electricity demand.

The shift comes as daily electricity consumption in Vietnam has consistently exceeded 1 billion kWh, reflecting growing demand from both industry and households.

Under the current pricing structure, electricity costs for production and business customers vary significantly depending on usage time and voltage level.

For commercial users, peak-hour prices can reach as high as VND5,422 per kWh (US$0.22), compared to just VND1,609 per kWh (US$0.06) during off-peak hours at higher voltage levels. For manufacturing, peak prices range from VND3,266 per kWh (US$0.13) to VND3,640 per kWh (US$0.15), depending on the voltage tier.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade explained that the adjustment reflects major shifts in Vietnam’s power system since 2019, particularly the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

At the same time, the structure of electricity demand has evolved. Industrial consumption has risen from around 30 percent to more than 50 percent of total load, while residential demand has declined from about 50 percent to roughly one-third. These changes have significantly altered the national load curve.

By moving peak hours away from daytime - when solar generation is strongest - the policy is designed to better match supply and demand. It also creates incentives for energy storage development and encourages users to shift consumption to lower-cost periods.

Authorities emphasize that a well-defined pricing framework can help flatten the load curve, reduce pressure during peak demand, and improve overall system efficiency. It may also limit the need to activate high-cost power sources during peak periods.

The Vietnam Electricity Group noted that if consumers adjust their usage patterns in line with the new schedule, overall electricity bills may not increase. The absence of morning peak hours could also benefit industrial operations by allowing more stable daytime production aligned with solar energy availability.

Ultimately, the revised framework is intended to send clearer price signals, encouraging more efficient energy use while supporting the stability of Vietnam’s rapidly evolving power system.

Tam An