On the afternoon of August 19, the National Assembly Standing Committee continued its 36th session, commenting on the draft Electricity Law (amended), which is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for the first time at the 8th session next October.
Presenting the Electricity Law project (amended), Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai said that the draft Law has 9 chapters and 121 articles (an increase of 51 articles compared to the current Law). In particular, 01 Article remains unchanged compared to the current Law.
The draft Law inherits and amends mainly 62 articles on general regulations, licensing of electricity operations, electricity market, electricity trading, electricity prices, rights and obligations of electricity units and customers. Use electricity, protect electricity projects and electrical safety.
The provisions in the draft Law are built on the basis of review and assessment to overcome loopholes and inadequacies in relevant policies and laws and specific issues that inspection, supervision and inspection and audit have pointed out.
In addition, ensure increased effectiveness and efficiency in controlling power to prevent and combat corruption, negativity, group interests, and local interests.
Preliminarily examining the draft Electricity Law (amended), Chairman of the National Assembly's Science, Technology and Environment Committee Le Quang Huy said that the Standing Committee basically agreed with the addition of the contents. Regarding the State's policies on electricity development, the provisions in Article 5 basically inherit the provisions of the current Electricity Law.
However, the drafting agency is requested to clarify the concretization of policies specified in Article 5 of the draft Law or other relevant laws to ensure feasibility in implementing the policies of the Government. State.
Mr. Le Quang Huy said, the Standing Committee found that the process of restructuring the electricity industry to serve the competitive electricity market is very slow compared to the prescribed schedule.
Therefore, it is recommended that the drafting agency should clarify and supplement principle regulations related to the electricity market development roadmap; electricity industry restructuring plan; electricity retail price reform plan and comply with the direction in Resolution 55-NQ/TW.
Regarding electricity purchase contracts and electricity supply services, it is recommended to consider identifying the agency or organization with the authority to organize conciliation of disputes on electricity payment as the Department of Industry and Trade, ensuring consistency with the Department of Industry and Trade. Consumer Protection Law, Commercial Arbitration Law.
As for electricity prices and electricity service prices, according to Mr. Le Quang Huy, Standing Committee, the Committee proposed to study and supplement specific regulations on ensuring a stable electricity price structure .
At the same time, it stipulates clear principles and roadmaps for electricity price reform, such as: Eliminating cross-subsidy between customer groups, implementing two-component electricity prices, electricity prices to encourage electricity saving, electricity prices import and export to create a good signal and attract investment in the electricity industry.
The inspection agency also noted that it is necessary to clearly define the responsibilities of each state management agency in the field of electricity prices.
