The cost cutting measure was included in an agreement which was sealed this morning between the EVN General Director and leaders of its member enterprises. The agreement also embraces their efforts to save electricity and reduce power losses.

 

Addressing the singing ceremony, Finance Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said this was a measure to reduce price acceleration pressures.

 

The Government was determine to manage prices according to the market, he explained. Electricity prices would continue to rise to make up for production costs because the Government could not offer subsidies forever.

 

A 5 per cent rise in electricity prices would push CPI up by 0.37 per cent, headded.

 

“With this action, EVN is sharing difficulties with the Government and businesscommunity,” he said.

 

The primary method that EVN intends to use to decrease production costs is to lower the amount of electricity that is consumed by 1 per cent, equivalent to one billion kWh. This change will reduce costs by 1.3 trillion dong ($62million).

 

EVN’s member enterprises will have to co-operate with local authorities to persuade households and businesses to save power. They will continue encouraging people to use compact light bulbs and electric appliances with “energy saving” labels.

 

Users of solar – powered devices to boil water will receive 1 million dong ($47) in support from the corporation. About 30,000 devices are estimated to be in use.

 

The Finance Minister also urged the sector to cut its own expenses because the 1.3 trillion dong in savings would depend heavily on how much energy households consumed.

 

EVN’s expenses on materials, services, stationery, seminars and others items will therefore be lowered by 5 per cent. The corporation also plans to cut electricity by 0.2 per cent for production, transmission and distribution.

 

To meet the target, EVN asked its member enterprises to prepare electricity provision projects for this year, including safely operating the North – South 500kV national grid, putting new turbines into operation and completing key electric transmission and distribution works as scheduled.

 

Improving the grid network in rural areas to reduce power losses by 5 per cent to 15 per cent is another measure.

In terms of investment, EVN will only allocate capital to projects which will be completed for use in 2012 and which are able to start within the year.