Fines for obstructing competent authorities from inspecting electricity use
Decree 133/2026/ND-CP specifically stipulates penalties for acts of obstructing electricity inspection, using electricity for improper purposes, arbitrarily repairing electrical equipment, stealing electricity or collecting electricity bills from tenants higher than regulations.
According to Article 13 of Decree 133/2026/ND-CP, acts of obstructing competent authorities from inspecting electricity use are fined from 3-5 million VND.
A similar penalty is applied to the act of using vehicles, equipment or performing other acts that damage or cause electrical system problems of the electricity seller.
Electricity users who use electricity for the wrong purpose, in case the actual purpose has a price higher than the price agreed in the contract, are also fined from 3-5 million VND.
In addition to the fine, the electricity buyer must refund the electricity seller the price difference during the violation period, plus the interest as agreed in the contract. If the time of applying the wrong price is not clearly determined, the violation period is calculated as 12 months.
Fines from 3-5 million VND are also applied to cases of not notifying when reducing the number of households sharing meters, reducing domestic electricity use norms or declaring the number of electricity users more than reality to enjoy higher norms.
Arbitrarily repairing the meter, turning on power may be fined up to 14 million VND
People who arbitrarily install, close, cut, repair, move or replace electrical equipment and electrical works belonging to the electricity seller are fined from 5-8 million VND. Violators are also forced to restore to the original state.
The act of arbitrarily turning off electricity for use when the electricity project of the buyer has not been accepted or is in the period of power supply suspension due to legal violations shall be fined from 8-10 million VND.
In case of using electricity measuring equipment and means that are not inspected, calibrated or tested according to the provisions of the law on measurement, the fine is from 10-14 million VND. Tangible evidence and means of violation may be confiscated, and the violator must use equipment that meets technical regulations.
Notably, landlords who collect electricity bills from tenants higher than regulations may be fined from 20-30 million VND if electricity is purchased at retail electricity prices for domestic purposes.
In addition to the fine, the landlord must refund the lessee the surcharged amount, plus the interest as agreed in the contract. In case the person to be refunded cannot be identified, the entire difference must be paid to the state budget.
For customers using large amounts of electricity, a fine of 60-80 million VND is applied if they use connection equipment that does not meet technical requirements; do not perform the operating order of the dispatcher level; do not reduce electricity consumption when requested due to force majeure or do not invest in a system for measuring, collecting and managing data according to regulations.
Electricity theft from 2 million VND may be criminally handled
Decree 133/2026/ND-CP stipulates that acts of electricity theft in any form are penalized according to the value of the stolen electricity output.
Specifically, electricity theft with an electricity output value of less than 1 million VND is fined from 4-10 million VND. If the value of stolen electricity output is from 1 million VND to less than 2 million VND, the fine increases to 10-20 million VND.
When detecting an act of electricity theft worth 2 million VND or more, the person with sanctioning authority must transfer the file to the prosecuting agency for consideration and criminal prosecution.
The file must also be transferred if the value of stolen electricity output is less than 2 million VND but the act falls into one of the cases specified in Article 173 of the Penal Code.
If the prosecuting agency decides not to prosecute, suspend the investigation or exempt criminal responsibility, but the act shows signs of administrative violation, the file is transferred to the competent person for administrative sanctions.
In addition to fines, electricity thieves must return illegal profits and incurred costs to return to individuals and organizations that have been appropriated. Exhibits and means used for violations may also be confiscated.
The above penalties apply to violations committed by individuals.
