Procedures for issuance and modification of an electricity license in Vietnam

Deadline for submission of application for an electricity license in Vietnam

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 11 of Circular 21/2020/TT-BCT, at least 15 working days before its planned date of official commercial operation, the entity engaging in electricity distribution must submit an application for electricity license which must have adequate documents as required.

 An applicant for issuance or modification of an electricity license shall submit an application which includes adequate documents as required to the competent licensing authority and assume responsibility for the accuracy and truthfulness of the submitted application.

Forms of application submission:

- Applications under the licensing authority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade or the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam shall be submitted through the online public service portal by accessing https://dichvucong.moit.gov.vn.

Documents of large-size files or documents which cannot be sent electronically as prescribed by law may be submitted directly or by post.

- Applications under the licensing authority of provincial people’s committees shall be submitted directly or by post or through the websites of the licensing authorities (if available). 

 Procedures for issuance and modification of an electricity license in Vietnam

(i) Procedures for issuance and modification of an electricity license online

- The online application shall be prepared according to guidelines available on the online public service portal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. To be specific:

+ The applicant shall register for a user account on the online public service portal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and use the registered account to make required declarations and submit the application online;

+ Within 60 working days from the receipt of the request for modification of the application from the licensing authority, the applicant shall complete the application or provide additional documents as requested on the online public service portal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Over the said time limit, if the applicant fails to modify the application as requested, the licensing authority is entitled to return the received application;

+ Within a maximum period of 15 working days from the receipt of the satisfactory application through the online public service portal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the licensing authority shall examine and verify the received application and issue the electricity license to the qualified applicant;

- In case of modification of an electricity license, within 07 working days from the receipt of the satisfactory application, as prescribed in Article 10 of Circular 21/2020/TT-BCT, through the online public service portal of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the licensing authority shall examine and verify the received application and issue the electricity license to the qualified applicant.

- Provincial people’s committees shall give guidelines for online issuance of electricity licenses within their competent (if applicable) in conformity with regulations herein.

(ii) Procedures for issuance and modification of an electricity license not through the online public service portal:

- Within 03 working days from the receipt of the application for issuance or modification of electricity license, the licensing authority shall inform the applicant in writing if the application is inadequate or unsatisfactory.

Such written notification should indicate reasons and documents to be modified or additionally provided, and other necessary information; 

- Within 60 working days from the receipt of the request for modification of the application from the licensing authority, the applicant shall give a written response and provide additional documents as requested.

Over the said time limit, if the applicant fails to modify the application as requested, the licensing authority is entitled to return the received application;

- Within 15 working days from the receipt of the satisfactory application, the licensing authority shall examine and verify the received application and issue the electricity license to the qualified applicant, except the case of modification of an electricity license

- In case of modification of an electricity license, within 07 working days from the receipt of the satisfactory application as prescribed in Article 10 of Circular 21/2020/TT-BCT, the licensing authority shall examine and verify the received application and issue the electricity license to the qualified applicant.

An electricity license shall be issued in 03 originals of which 01 original is delivered to the license holder and 02 others are kept by the licensing authority.

If an electricity license is lost or damaged, the license holder must submit an application which is made according to Form No. 01 in the Appendix enclosed with Circular 21/2020/TT-BCT and should indicate reasons for re-issuance.

Mai Thanh Loi

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE