The procedures for discontinuation of electricity supply due to organizations and individuals violating legal regulations in Vietnam

The procedures for discontinuation of electricity supply due to organizations and individuals violating legal regulations in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

The Minister of Industry and Trade of Vietnam issued Circular 04/2025/TT-BCT on February 1, 2025, stipulating the procedure for suspending or reducing the level of power supply.

1. Cases of discontinuation of electricity supply due to organizations and individuals violating legal regulations in Vietnam

According to Article 7 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BCT, the power supplier is allowed to suspend the power supply when organizations or individuals violate legal regulations in the following cases:

- The electricity purchaser does not perform payment for electricity as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 48 of the Electricity Law 2024.

- The electricity purchaser engages in violations as specified in Clauses 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, and Clause 11, Article 9 of the Electricity Law 2024 (Prohibited acts in electricity activities and electricity use);

- At the request of a competent state agency to implement a coercive measure to suspend power supply according to the regulations of the Government of Vietnam on administrative violations in the electricity sector.

- At the request of a competent state agency in cases where organizations or individuals violate other legal regulations and must apply power supply suspension measures according to the relevant law.

2. Procedures for discontinuation of electricity supply due to organizations and individuals violating legal regulations in Vietnam

The procedures for power suspension due to legal violations by organizations and individuals according to Article 10 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BCT are as follows:

- For cases stipulated in Clause 1, Article 7 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BCT:

+ In the absence of an agreement to defer the payment date and after the electricity purchaser has been notified by the electricity supplier twice with a minimum interval of 3 days, the supplier has the right to suspend power supply. The timing for the suspension must be mutually agreed upon and clearly stated in the electricity sale contract but shall not exceed 10 days from the date of the first notice.

+ In cases where the electricity purchaser requests a deferral and the supplier agrees to a payment delay, if the deferred payment deadline passes without full payment, the supplier is entitled to suspend power supply;

+ When suspending power supply, the supplier must notify the purchaser at least 24 hours prior, and is not liable for any damages resulting from the suspension.

- For cases stipulated in Clause 2, Article 7 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BCT:

The electricity supplier is authorized to suspend power supply upon receipt of an administrative violation report and a request from an authorized person as per the Government of Vietnam's regulations on administrative violations in the electricity sector. The supplier must notify the purchaser at least 24 hours before suspending the supply. If the purchaser fails to cease the violation or rectify the consequences of the violation as required, the supplier may proceed with the suspension as notified.

- For cases stipulated in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 7 of Circular 04/2025/TT-BCT:

The supplier must notify the purchaser of the power suspension at least 24 hours in advance and clearly state the reason for the suspension. After the suspension, the supplier must provide a written notice of the suspension to the state agency that requested the suspension.

- Power supply restoration shall only be carried out under the following conditions:

+ The purchaser has paid the full electricity bill in cases of suspension as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 7;

+ The purchaser has complied fully with the administrative handling decision of the competent state agency, has ceased the violation, and has remedied the consequences of the violation in cases of suspension as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 7;

+ There is a formal request for power restoration from the competent agency in cases of suspension as stipulated in Clauses 3 and 4, Article 7.

Circular 04/2025/TT-BCT is effective from February 1, 2025.

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