Boarding house owners collect more than the regulated level on electricity prices
From May 10, 2025, the average retail price of electricity will be adjusted to VND 2,204.0655/kWh (excluding value added tax). Immediately after the increase in electricity prices, in many boarding houses - where workers, unskilled laborers and students live - the selling price of electricity was also pushed up uncontrollably.
At a boarding house in Tu Liem ward (Hanoi), the landlord is charging an electricity price of up to 4,000 VND/kWh, nearly double the prescribed price.
Mr. Pham Thanh Tuan (character's name has been changed) shared: "Last month, I used 125 electricity numbers, which was charged 4,000 VND/number. A total of 500,000 VND in electricity bills. While salaries do not increase, everything increases. I don't know if I can survive."
Similar to Mr. Tuan, Mr. Cuong - shared: "I am renting a house in Thien Loc commune (Hanoi). Last month, I used 72 electricity numbers, the landlord calculated the total electricity bill at 262,000 VND. Thus, the landlord has collected nearly 3,500 VND/kWh. We know that the landlord collects high fees, but we have no other place to live. If you report it, the owner can use the excuse of increasing the room fee or chasing you away."
Workers become "double victims"
According to a survey by a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, the situation of landlords collecting higher electricity bills than the regulations has existed for many years, especially in industrial parks, where there are many workers and students. Although Circular 25/2018/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade clearly stipulates: "Rental homeowners are only allowed to collect electricity bills not higher than the retail price of household electricity level 3 (currently VND2,380/kWh), inspection, supervision and fines are still not really effective.
Lawyer Chau Duy Nguyen - An Dang Law Office (under the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association) - analyzed: "The act of collecting electricity bills higher than the regulations is illegal. However, tenants are a vulnerable group, have little knowledge of the law, and are afraid of conflicts because they are afraid of losing their homes, so most of them have to accept it. Without the drastic participation of the government, the electricity industry and the inspection agency, workers will continue to be "double victims" - both affected by the official increase in electricity prices and charged additional unreasonable fees".
Lawyer Nguyen also cited legal regulations: Clause 6, Article 12 of Decree 17/2022/ND-CP of the Government clearly states: A tenant who collects electricity from a tenant at a price higher than the prescribed price in case of purchasing electricity at retail electricity prices to serve the purpose of living, production, business, and services will be fined from 20 million VND to 30 million VND.
What is the solution for workers?
Lawyer Nguyen believes that adjusting electricity prices is necessary in managing the economy. However, the price increase policy needs to be accompanied by measures to monitor, support and protect vulnerable groups. "If we only focus on collecting but lack inspection and supervision, then every time electricity prices increase, poor workers are the first and most vulnerable group."
Lawyer Nguyen also proposed: electricity companies and commune-level People's Committees need to strengthen inspection, examination and supervision of electricity bill collection in boarding houses. This is not simply an economic story, but also a matter of social security. At the same time, it is necessary to promote the development of social housing and accommodation for workers managed by the State or trade unions, with reasonable and transparent electricity collection levels. If the market is completely self-regulated, workers will forever be stuck in the spiral: doing a lot - spending a lot - not saving anything".
