Perfecting the electricity price calculation mechanism through amending Decree 72/2025/ND-CP

(Chinhphu.vn) - The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just completed the Draft Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 72/2025/ND-CP dated March 28, 2025 of the Government on the mechanism and time for adjusting average retail electricity prices. The draft aims to supplement reasonable and valid costs that have not been calculated before, removing difficulties for EVN and ensuring national energy security.

The draft Decree replacing Decree 72 aims to supplement reasonable and valid costs that have not been previously calculated, removing difficulties for EVN and ensuring national energy security - Illustrative photo

Previously, on August 15, 2025, the Government Office issued Official Dispatch No. 3673 conveying the Prime Minister's direction, assigning the Ministry of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to develop and propose to the Government a Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 72/2025/ND-CP according to simplified procedures.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the implementation of Decree 72/2025 in recent times has contributed to increasing transparency, timeliness and convenience in calculating and adjusting electricity prices. However, in practice, there are still some contents that have not been fully covered, especially the calculation and allocation of reasonable and valid costs that have not been included in electricity prices. This has caused many difficulties for Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) in balancing finances, preserving and developing state capital in enterprises.

EVN's report said that in the 2022-2023 period, due to the impact of geopolitical fluctuations and rising fuel prices, the unit recorded an accumulated loss of about VND50,029 billion; by the end of 2024, this figure was still about VND44,792 billion. Without a timely cost recovery mechanism through electricity prices, the preservation of state capital invested in EVN will be affected.

The draft Decree amending and supplementing focuses on adjusting Point g, Clause 2, Article 4 of Decree 72/2025. Accordingly, direct costs for electricity production and supply that have not been fully calculated in the previous average retail electricity price will be considered for allocation. This is based on the results of production and business activities and independently audited financial statements from 2022 onwards. If necessary, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will consult the Ministry of Finance to unify the plan.

In addition, the draft also adds a mechanism for handling revaluation exchange rate differences and unrecognized exchange rate differences, paid to power plants under power purchase contracts. The new regulation aims to ensure that all reasonable and valid costs are promptly reflected in electricity prices, increasing transparency and compliance with the Electricity Law 2024.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed that the amendment of Decree 72/2025 aims to improve the mechanism for adjusting electricity prices, ensuring compliance with the Electricity Law and related legal documents. At the same time, the new regulation will help electricity enterprises recover reasonable costs, maintain stable production and business activities, and contribute to ensuring national energy security.

The draft Decree does not create additional administrative procedures, only clarifies the scope of costs allowed to be included in electricity prices, ensuring the principles of publicity, transparency and feasibility in implementation.

Anh Tho

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/hoan-thien-co-che-tinh-gia-dien-trong-qua-sua-doi-nghi-dinh-72-2025-nd-cp-102250817154853575.htm