Explainer · June 7, 2024
Electricity Bill in Vietnam: How to Read the Tier Rates
Electricity bill in Vietnam is worked out in steps. A home pays a low price for its first units and a higher price for each step above that. Since 9 November 2023, a household meter has six steps, from 1,806 dong per kWh up to 3,151 dong per kWh. So a home that burns more power in one month pays a bigger rate on its last units.
This guide shows the six rates, works through one bill, and lists what to check on your own.
The six household rates
Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade set the current rates in Decision 2941/QD-BCT, dated 8 November 2023. It took effect on 9 November 2023 and replaced Decision 1062/QD-BCT of May 2023. The same day, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) said the average retail price rose 4.5 percent to 2,006.79 dong per kWh, before value-added tax.
For homes, the decision sets these prices per kWh, also before value-added tax.
- Step 1, kWh 0 to 50: 1,806 dong
- Step 2, kWh 51 to 100: 1,866 dong
- Step 3, kWh 101 to 200: 2,167 dong
- Step 4, kWh 201 to 300: 2,729 dong
- Step 5, kWh 301 to 400: 3,050 dong
- Step 6, kWh 401 and above: 3,151 dong
The 2,006.79 figure is an average across all customer groups. It is not a home rate, so do not multiply your usage by it.
How the steps add up
The steps are not a single price for all your use. Each price applies only to the units inside its band. Say a home uses 250 kWh in a month.
- First 50 kWh at 1,806: 90,300 dong
- Next 50 kWh at 1,866: 93,300 dong
- Next 100 kWh at 2,167: 216,700 dong
- Last 50 kWh at 2,729: 136,450 dong
The total is 536,750 dong before value-added tax, or about 2,147 dong per kWh on average. A home that uses 450 kWh would pay 1,135,750 dong before tax. That is 80 percent more units than the first home, but the bill is more than double. Heavy air conditioner use in the hot months is a common reason a bill jumps.
These sums use only the published rates. Your own bill also carries tax and any other charge on it.
Prepaid meters and rented rooms
Not every home is billed by steps. The same decision sets one flat price of 2,649 dong per kWh for homes with a prepaid card meter. Check which type of meter you have, because the two systems produce different totals for the same use.
If you rent a room, ask your landlord how the meter is billed and how the cost is shared among tenants. Keep a copy of the bill you are asked to pay.
Support for low-income homes
EVN also noted that poor households and families on social policy support keep getting help under Prime Minister's Decision 28/2014/QD-TTg. Poor households get a monthly support equal to 30 kWh. Social policy households that use under 50 kWh a month get the same 30 kWh of support.
If your home may qualify, ask your local authority or your electricity company about it. The help comes off the bill, so it should show up as a line you can see.
A line-by-line check of your bill
Take your bill and a calculator. The steps below take about ten minutes.
- Find the meter readings at the start and end of the billing period. Subtract one from the other to get the units used.
- Split those units across the six bands in the table above, filling each band in order.
- Multiply each band by its price and add the results.
- Compare your total with the amount before tax on the bill. A small gap can come from rounding or from a billing period that crosses a price change.
- If the gap is large, or the units used look too high, ask your electricity company to check the meter and the reading. Keep the bill and photos of the meter display.
A price change part way through a billing period is the one case that needs extra care. The rates above started on 9 November 2023. A bill that covers days on both sides of that date uses two sets of rates.
Rates can change again. EVN posts its tariff notices on its website, so check there for the latest before you rely on any figure here.
Sources
- Ministry of Industry and Trade, Decision 2941/QD-BCT of 8 November 2023 on electricity prices (English text, english.luatvietnam.vn).
- EVN, "Adjusting average retail electricity price from November 9, 2023" (en.evn.com.vn, 9 November 2023).
- Vietnam Government News, "Electricity price picks up 4.5%" (en.baochinhphu.vn, 10 November 2023).
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