The national power system, which has a total capacity of between 26,000 and 28,200 megawatts, is fully capable to serve the rising demand in the north in June, which is the peak of the hot season.

The electricity use this month could reach 478 million kilowatt hours per day, up nearly 13 percent from the same period last year, estimated the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) under the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

Despite the surging demand in the hot summer weather, the EVN has ensured safe and stable provision of power for local daily life and business production across the country.

Last month, the group produced 12 billion kilowatt hours of commercial electricity, increasing the total output to over 55 billion kilowatt hours from January-May, an annual increase of 11.35 percent.

Electricity supply for agriculture saw the highest growth of 23.67 percent, followed by trade (up 20.15 percent), industry-construction (up 11.79 percent) and management and consumption (up 9.75 percent).

Deputy Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Dinh The Phuc said electricity provision in June will be ensured to serve the country’s major political and social events such as the ninth session of the 13 th National Assembly and national examinations.

Hydroelectric plants will regulate the flow of water to supply adequate electricity and water, especially for seriously drought-affected provinces in the coastal south central region. Meanwhile, the use of coal-fired power and gas turbine power plants will be optimised to provide electricity in the south and save water in the southern reservoirs.

The EVN will purchase about 150 million kilowatt hours from China to meet local demand in June.

The EVN in the north has asked power companies not to repair—and therefore cut—electricity in days with temperatures above 36 Celsius degrees, and called on customers to conserve electricity.-VNA