Lawmakers held group discussions on October 20 on a draft law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Electricity Law. The amendments aim to ensure transparent electricity pricing, accelerate investment procedures and balance the interests of the State, businesses and consumers.
Joining a group discussion during the second session of the 16th National Assembly, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said Electricity Law No. 61, which took effect on February 1, 2025, had revealed practical obstacles. He said the Government had proposed amending and supplementing several provisions to address bottlenecks in investment procedures, improve electricity pricing mechanisms, direct power purchase agreements and offshore wind power development.
He identified five areas for further refinement in the draft law: limiting amendments to urgent bottlenecks while maintaining policy stability; clarifying electricity pricing principles and risk allocation so risks are not shifted to households and businesses; fully assessing the impact of time-of-use pricing and removing cross-subsidies, particularly on electricity bills and business costs; clearly defining provisions on direct power purchase agreements, renewable energy certificates and special mechanisms for urgent power projects instead of giving overly broad powers to subordinate legislation; and tightening cost controls, transparency and accountability to prevent arbitrary ask-and-give practices.
Speaking at another group discussion, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said several key laws on planning, investment, land and bidding had been revised, with many provisions directly affecting the electricity sector. He said further amendments to the Electricity Law were needed to ensure legal consistency and address practical problems.
He noted that Vietnam's goal of double-digit economic growth, driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, would sharply increase electricity demand. This would be particularly true as high-tech industries, foreign investment and data centres expand. The revised law must provide a legal framework for mobilising investment and developing power generation and transmission infrastructure in a coordinated way to meet long-term needs.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to streamline administrative procedures and shorten project preparation and implementation times. He said power generation must be developed alongside transmission grids so that generating capacity is fully used. Power supply and grid investment should be planned together in major economic zones, industrial centres and areas with high electricity demand to ensure stable supplies for production and business.
The amendments must both mobilise resources to meet rising electricity demand and protect national interests and people's rights while ensuring a transparent investment environment, he said. The Government will task the Ministry of Industry and Trade with considering lawmakers' and appraisal agencies' feedback and reviewing draft implementing decrees and circulars to ensure consistency, feasibility and effective implementation once the law takes effect.
Deputy Dao Chi Nghia from Can Tho said electricity price stability was a major public concern. He called for clearer provisions on transmission-grid investment, investor selection and electricity pricing to balance the interests of the State, businesses and consumers.
Meanwhile, Deputy Hoang Van Tuyen from Hai Phong supported a transparent electricity pricing mechanism that accurately reflects costs. He called for a careful assessment of the impact of gradually eliminating cross-subsidies among customer groups and regions, particularly on residents in disadvantaged areas.
That afternoon, National Assembly deputies also discussed in group sessions draft laws amending and supplementing articles of laws on trade, competition, foreign trade management, consumer protection, physical training and sports, tourism, libraries, cinema, cultural heritage, advertising and the press.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
