Allocating the loss of 44,792 billion to electricity price, a series of ministries and associations 'investigate' the cause

Most ministries, branches and associations believe that it is necessary to clarify and separate EVN's losses, and have clearer regulations on the allocation of losses before and after implementation.

Many ministries and associations have requested clarification of EVN's losses - Photo: M.D.

Synthesizing comments from ministries, branches, units, associations and organizations related to the amendment of Decree 72/2025 of the Government regulating the mechanism and time for adjusting average retail electricity prices sent to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal, many opinions said that it is necessary to clarify the losses of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN).

Need to separate losses?

The draft amendment and supplement to Decree 72/2025 is being developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade , proposing to add regulations related to other expenses not included in electricity prices. Specifically, the ministry determined that EVN's loss in 2022-2023 is estimated at nearly VND48,000 billion.

In the opinion of the Ministry of Justice, the necessity of issuing the decree was reiterated. That is to follow the Prime Minister 's direction on assigning the Ministry of Industry and Trade to propose amendments to the decree.

However, the agency appraising legal documents said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade only stated that the Prime Minister allowed the drafting of a revised Decree 72, but did not state the Prime Minister's direction on amending the decree to recover costs directly serving the production and supply of electricity that had not been calculated and fully compensated in the previous average retail electricity price. Therefore, the ministry requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to clarify further in the submission.

The Ministry of National Defense proposed to review, supplement and clarify the specific causes of the factors leading to the accumulated loss of 44,792 billion VND. From there, determine the accumulated loss contents directly related to the cost of electricity production and supply, and report to the Government for consideration and decision.

The Ministry of Finance believes that the amendment to the decree is mainly aimed at overcoming EVN's accumulated losses, so the Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to review to ensure compliance with the pricing principles of the Electricity Law; and study and propose an appropriate price adjustment mechanism.

In particular, the Ministry of Finance - the agency managing state-owned enterprises - requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct EVN to clearly report the contents.

Specifically, regarding losses, separate losses from social security from losses from production and business activities, and note losses from non-core investments, if any.

Clarify any losses, if any, arising from the implementation of electricity price policies to support the implementation of the State's policies on the development of industries and sectors. The impact of electricity price adjustments on the lives of people, businesses, and the economy. At the same time, it is necessary to propose solutions to limit the impact of electricity price adjustments.

The Ministry of Finance emphasized that, in its role as sector manager, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is fully responsible for reviewing and checking the contents of EVN's reports, supervising the adjustment of EVN's average retail electricity price, and reviewing the responsibilities of ministries and sectors.

Allocating all losses, will electricity prices decrease?

Representing the business community, the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) requested clarification on the content related to allowing the allocation of uncalculated and fully compensated expenses. Is it only applicable from 2022 or effective for future cases?

VCCI also raised a series of questions, requesting clarification on what basis the total of these expenses will be determined, and by whom? This cost allocation is proposed by EVN, but is it applied for each year or is there a general overall allocation plan according to the roadmap?

If after all allocation, this cost is removed from the electricity price calculation formula, will the electricity price decrease or not?

Agreeing with the proposal, the Vietnam Electricity Association (VEEA) said that the draft decree does not clearly and distinctly stipulate the responsibility for making the final decision after EVN proposes allocation.

The draft also does not clearly stipulate costs arising from subjective factors beyond the control of EVN and electricity enterprises when the decree only allows adjustments according to objective conditions and factors.

In the case of ending the arising factors, the adjustment of the average retail electricity price has not been clearly regulated. In particular, the arising factors due to subjective factors, beyond the control of EVN, only occur in a few years.

At the same time, the Consumer Protection Association believes that adding costs from 2022 to the selling price for electricity users from 2025 onwards needs to be studied to be consistent with the principle of Decree 72 currently in effect, which is that EVN publicly announces costs, as well as studying the impact on consumers and businesses using electricity.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phan-bo-khoan-lo-44792-ti-vao-gia-dien-loat-bo-nganh-hiep-hoi-truy-nguyen-nhan-20250908101241336.htm