Procedures for Suspension and Reduction of Electricity Supply under Circular 04/2025

1. Issuance & Effectiveness

   • Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

   • Effective from February 1, 2025.

   • Replaces Circulars 22/2020, 23/2020, and 34/2011.

2. Scope of Application

   • Electricity distributors and retailers.

   • Electricity customers.

   • Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and national grid dispatch units.

   • Relevant organizations and individuals.

3. Cases Permitting Suspension or Reduction

   • Planned outages: for maintenance, construction, or safety reasons. Advance notice required:
     • At least 5 days in writing for high-consumption customers.
     • 3 consecutive days via media for others, with first notice 5 days in advance.
     • Re-notification required 24 hours before if schedule changes.

   • Force majeure/system risks: grid failures, shortages, safety threats. Cause, scope, and restoration time must be identified and customers notified within 24 hours.

   • Customer violations: overdue payments after two notices, breaches of the Electricity Law, or suspension ordered by competent authorities.

4. Reporting Obligations

   • Monthly summaries of supply interruptions submitted to provincial authorities by the 15th of each month.

   • Emergency reports within 36 hours for major outages or incidents.

   • Weekly and monthly updates on load reduction and power supply plans.

5. Implementation

   • The Ministry of Industry and Trade provides guidance.

   • EVN directs subordinate units.

   • Provincial authorities designate priority customers and monitor compliance.

Conclusion
Circular 04/2025 establishes uniform rules for electricity supply suspension and reduction. It introduces strict notice requirements, detailed procedures for emergencies and violations, and enhanced reporting to strengthen transparency and reliability in power management.