At the press conference on the afternoon of May 9, EVN announced that the average retail price of electricity increased from VND 2,103.11 to VND 2,204.07 per kWh (excluding VAT), equivalent to an increase of 4.8%.
According to regulations, for students and workers renting houses to live in cases where the rental period is less than 12 months and the homeowner cannot fully declare the number of electricity users, the retail price of household electricity of level 3 will be applied: From 101200 kWh for the entire electricity output measured at the meter.
In case the landlord declares the full number of electricity users, the electricity seller shall issue the norm for the owner to base on the temporary residence book or the temporary certificate of temporary residence of the local police agency; For every 4 people are counted as a household using electricity to calculate the number of norms for the application of the electricity retail price.
However, immediately after EVN increased electricity prices, many landlords adjusted electricity prices to increase. Instead of applying the prescribed price, many homeowners have increased the electricity price by 1-2.1 thousand VND/kWh to 4-5 thousand VND/kWh.
In an interview with Lao Dong, Lawyer Nguyen Pho Dung - Director of OPIC Law Firm and Associates, Hanoi Bar Association assessed - the fact that landlords charge electricity bills of VND45 thousand/kWh is higher than the maximum price prescribed and violates the provisions of law.
Lawyer Nguyen Pho Dung said that according to Clause 6, Article 12, Decree No. 17/2022/ND-CP stipulates: a fine of VND 2030 million for tenants who collect electricity bills from tenants higher than the prescribed price in the case of purchasing electricity at retail electricity prices to serve the purpose of living, production, business, and services.
"The electricity collection from 4–5 thousand VND/kWh of the hostels is a violation of the law. The renter may reflect this to the Chief Inspector of the Department of Industry and Trade, the head of the specialized inspection team, the head of the specialized inspection team of the state management agency assigned to perform the specialized inspection function in the field of electricity" - Lawyer Nguyen Pho Dung.
