Small actions save 200 million kWh of electricity

01/10/2011

HCM City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC) organized a conference reviewing the “Power saving family 2011” movement. 24 typical households received certificates of merit of the City People's Committee for their effective participation in the program.

Measures like no turning on air conditioners all night, using compact lights, turning off TV screen when not in use ... are widely applied.

HCM City Power Corporation (EVN HCMC) organized a conference reviewing the “Power saving family 2011” movement. 24 typical households received certificates of merit of the City People's Committee for their effective participation in the program.

Saving for yourself and the community

Mr. Nguyen Minh Loi, 505/15 Nhat Tao, Ward 7, District 10, is happy to know that his family has been rewarded. Mr. Loi said that since his family joined the program, its monthly electricity bill has decreased 30% -40%. "After receiving the consultancy from the electricity industry, I have replaced some obsolete electrical equipment which consumed much power. Light bulbs have been replaced with compact lamps, unnecessary devices are always turned off "- said Mr. Loi.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Kho, 3/4 De Tham, Co Giang Ward, District 1, said he had decided to join the program as soon as he was encouraged by the electric industry. First, he discussed with family members about how to save electricity. Air conditioner is no longer turned on all night, lights are turned off the in places where enough light, TV screen is turned off when not in use... these are the measures that have been implemented immediately. It has resulted that, although the electricity price has increased, his family only has to pay about VND 400,000 per month instead of VND 700,000 as before.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ha Buu Hoi’s family, 29/9/1 Hoang Van Thu, Ward 8, Phu Nhuan district, has an admirable determination on saving power. Specifically, he has replaced the electric wire system in his home to suit the capacity of equipment. Washing machine, water heater, air conditioner, refrigerator ... all use large capacity wires; fans and lamps use smaller wires.

"I am a physics teacher, so I have some knowledge of electrical engineering. The use of big wires for large capacity devices helps reducing heat emitted from the wires when devices are in operation, which saves power while ensuring safety. Also, the neon lights have been replaced with compact bulbs; air conditioner is turned on only for 1-2 hours and then I switch to using fans at the lowest gear... "- said Mr. Hoi.

A practical program

86 million kWh (approximately VND 119.5 billion) was the amount of electricity the city saved in three months of the dry season. In the first six months of the year, the whole city has saved nearly 200 million kWh.

According to statistics, the amount of electricity used in HCM City is 20 million kWh per day, accounting for 40% of total production. Early in 2011, the electricity industry forecasted that in the peak of the dry season, the city would lack 2 million kWh per day. To actively cope with this situation, City People's Committee has issued many documents directing the electricity industry to make plans to mobilize the people to save about 10% of power consumption.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Deputy Head of Business of EVN HCMC, said: "The results achieved from the “Power saving family” movement were very promising. Thus, in the dry months, the power supply situation in the city was not as tense as before. This shows that this program is practical and has actually, not just formally, come into people's lives".

The program to mobilize the people to use electricity efficiently has been carried out regularly by EVN HCMC since 2006. In addition to the announcement of the program on mass media, meeting the people face to face and organizing residential group meetings to mobilize people to participate in the program have promoted effectiveness. This approach will continue to be applied in the near future.

Since early this year, 10,000 households in the city have been recognized as power saving families at district level. There have been 240 households accredited as power saving households at city level. The families reaching the district level have received a voucher equivalent to VND 200,000; families reaching the city level have received a voucher equivalent to VND 500,000. The total prize value for households is more than VND 2.1 billion.

By Duc Minh

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