On May 24 at the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) headquarters, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai worked with relevant agencies, including the Electricity Authority, the National Power System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO), the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), Northern Power Corporation (EVNNPC), Hanoi Power Corporation (EVNHANOI), and other units on ensuring electricity supply in the context of severe heatwaves and continuously rising power demand.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Can Dung

Strengthening flexible operation to ensure sufficient electricity in all scenarios

According to a report from the Electricity Authority, total electricity output of the entire system as of May 22 (cumulative for 2026) reached 18.97 billion kWh, 8% higher than the same period in 2025, accounting for 36.8% of the approved 2026 plan. Forecasts show that cumulative electricity demand in the first five months of 2026 is expected to increase by about 8.7% compared to the same period in 2025.

Pham Nguyen Hung, representing the Electricity Authority, reports on the power supply situation over recent times. Photo: Can Dung

Updated information from NSMO indicates that total system-wide electricity demand for 2026 is projected to grow by approximately 8.9 - 9.2% (between the base scenario of 8.5% and the operating scenario of 11.7% under Decision No. 3477/QD-BCT dated November 28, 2025).

Notably, on May 15, 2026, national electricity consumption reached 1.152 billion kWh, the highest level ever recorded, exceeding the 2025 record by about 37.9 million kWh. The national peak capacity reached 54,654 MW at 14:15, while the evening peak load at 21:30 also rose to around 51,900 MW, nearly equivalent to the afternoon peak.

Nguyễn Duc Ninh, Chief Executive Officer of NSMO, reports on solutions for operating the power system in recent times. Photo: Can Dung   

To meet the rising electricity demand, NSMO has implemented a range of flexible operational measures to ensure the safe operation of the national power system. The agency has proactively coordinated with meteorological authorities and weather forecasting experts to update early heatwave developments for operational planning.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from May 23 to 28, 2026, the Northern region and North Central region are expected to experience a prolonged and severe heatwave. In Hanoi, temperatures on May 25 - 26 may reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. Based on this, NSMO forecasts that Northern load demand could rise to 28,200 - 28,500 MW, an increase of 1,800 - 2,100 MW compared to the mid-May 2026 heatwave period.

According to Do Nguyet Anh, Chairwoman of the Members’ Council of EVNNPC, the corporation has coordinated with provincial Departments of Industry and Trade to submit electricity supply plans to provincial People’s Committees, including multiple demand response scenarios of 5% to 30% in case of local power shortages.

Do Nguyet Anh, Chairwoman of the Members’ Council of EVNNPC. Photo: Can Dung   

In addition, EVNNPC has coordinated with small hydropower plants to adjust generation schedules in line with updated system peak periods, adding approximately 2,000 - 3,000 MW during evening peak hours. Electricity saving activities and rooftop solar development have also been strongly promoted.

To reduce peak load pressure, EVNHANOI has expanded its demand response (DR) program to customers consuming from 500,000 kWh per year. More than 1,000 customers have joined the program so far, with the ability to shift around 100 MW of load capacity. The corporation has also signed commitments with more than 230,000 customers in the public administrative, industrial, and commercial-service sectors to promote efficient and economical electricity use.

“The unit has also strengthened communication with concise and easy-to-remember messages such as ‘Hanoi 26+’, ‘2 on, 3 off’, and ‘small actions make a big difference’, through social media, KOLs, TikTok, and other digital platforms to change public electricity consumption behavior during peak hours,” said Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of EVNHANOI.

Nguyen Van Minh, Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper of Industry and Trade, reports on electricity-saving communications at the working session. Photo: Can Dung

Reporting to the Minister on communications efforts, Editor-in-Chief of the Newspape of Industry and Trade Nguyen Van Minh said the newspaper had previously organized seminars on electricity saving and rooftop solar development in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and proposed a “90-day campaign on energy saving”, combining electricity conservation messaging with fuel efficiency in line with Government directives.

“The industry and trade sector should take the lead in implementing energy-saving models, such as installing rooftop solar systems at public offices to create a spillover effect in society. The Industry and Trade Newspaper also proposed building an ‘energy saving map’ and a set of indicators to evaluate and rank ministries, sectors, and localities to promote responsibility and behavioral change toward efficient energy use,” Nguyen Van Minh emphasized.

Strengthening communication on electricity saving

In his directive speech at the meeting, Deputy Minister Truong Thanh Hoai stressed that to ensure energy security amid rapidly rising electricity demand, it is necessary to review and improve mechanisms and policies in the direction of shortening administrative procedures and facilitating the development of rooftop solar for self-production and self-consumption, as well as urgent power generation projects. He noted that many solutions currently remain at the level of encouragement and advocacy, and therefore must be institutionalized into mandatory regulations to improve energy efficiency, especially for high-consumption devices such as air conditioners, along with stronger electricity-saving communications.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai delivers directive remarks at the meeting. Photo: Can Dung   

Concluding the meeting, Minister Le Manh Hung highly appreciated the sense of responsibility, proactive approach, and management methods of NSMO and other power sector units in the context of earlier-than-expected and higher-than-forecast demand growth. He emphasized that agencies had proactively identified issues, closely coordinated, and continuously updated information to optimize national power system operation plans.

Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung delivers concluding remarks at the meeting. Photo: Can Dung  

The Minister requested NSMO, EVN, and relevant units to review and update the entire 2026 electricity supply scenarios based on actual load developments, especially the possibility that Northern peak capacity could exceed previous forecasts. At the same time, a comprehensive reassessment of both supply and demand sides is required, including load shifting measures, adjustment of peak hours, and maximum mobilization of available resources to ensure no electricity shortages under any circumstances.

He also stressed the urgent need to remove institutional and procedural bottlenecks to promote investment in new power sources, rooftop solar, direct power purchase agreements, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Issues under their authority must be resolved immediately, avoiding responsibility shifting among agencies.

Regarding system operation, the Minister called for stronger control of power plant operation and maintenance, close monitoring of coal, gas, LNG fuel supplies, and spare materials, while accelerating key baseload power projects, especially urgent projects to supplement capacity for the Northern power system.

Alongside technical solutions, he also requested enhanced coordination among the MoIT, local authorities, the power sector, and Departments of Industry and Trade in managing transmission and distribution grids. A national electricity-saving program should be developed soon, linked with a synchronized communication strategy from central to local levels. The Industry and Trade Newspaper was assigned to coordinate with Vietnam Television (VTV) and other media agencies to promote electricity-saving and efficient energy use during peak heat periods.

Minister Le Manh Hung emphasized that the entire sector must strengthen risk management capacity, build a coordinated mechanism among generation, transmission, dispatch, and state management units, ensuring national energy security and sufficient electricity supply for socio-economic development in all situations.