Ho Chi Minh City saved 520 million kWh or 2.7 percent of its commercial electricity output with an elasticity coefficient of 0.6 last year, a local newspaper reported.

For three consecutive years (2011-2013), the Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC) took the lead among localities nationwide in the attempt to reduce the elasticity coefficient of electricity consumption, contributing to increasing the efficiency of the use of electricity throughout the city.

The result was attributed to the corporation's efforts such as guidance for power companies in the city to encourage their customers to implement power saving solutions, according to Nguyen Anh Vu, Director of the EVN HCMC’s Community Relations Department.

It coordinated with the city’s steering committee for power supply and conservation and the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (HEPZA) to inspect the use of electricity at large businesses and those based in export-processing and industrial zones in the city, Vu was quoted by the online Vietnam Economic News as saying.

In addition, the corporation held meetings with businesses to disseminate power saving solutions.

The city has been the first locality nationwide to establish an energy safety and efficiency information office responsible for providing energy saving solutions and basic knowledge about electrical energy. This office also introduced power saving products to all dwellers, especially students.

Vu said i n early 2013, the EVN HCMC launched the Power Saving Family programme for the period from 2013-2015. O ther models include Power Saving Streets programmes implemented in 25 streets, which saved more than 334,500kWh, and another programme that promoted the use of solar water heaters, with 6,335 solar water heaters installed, exceeding the target by 19.5 percent. A power saving programme has been implemented with the participation of over 24,000 students in the city.

In addition, the corporation has provided each power company with five LCD monitors for residential and public areas to promote power safety and efficiency information. It has coordinated with media organisations to produce public information broadcasts on power saving. In association with the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, it organised an international fair and exhibition on power saving technologies, energy efficient products and green energy.

Last year, it trained 700 officials from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Ho Chi Minh City chapter, 300 officials from the city’s Women’s Union and War Veterans’ Union, and 800 members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to advocate power savings. The corporation also opened 32 classes with more than 5,100 attendants to train grassroots-level activists in 24 districts.

In 2014, the EVN HCMC continues to modernise the power grid in the city and build a smart power grid to ensure its flexible and safe operation. This year, the city’s commercial electricity output is expected to reach 19.22 billion kWh and the power loss rate to be less than 5.3 percent, down 0.3 percent compared with 2013.

In 2013, the country saved an estimated 2.62 billion kWh, equal to 2.3 percent of the commercial electricity output, and the elasticity coefficient of electricity consumption with respect to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) stood at 1.69.-VNA