Electricity Demand in Northern Vietnam Reaches Historic Record

Electricity consumption across Northern Vietnam surged to an all-time high on the afternoon of August 4 as a prolonged heatwave pushed temperatures to extreme levels, overloading many power lines and transformer stations in the region.

According to the National Electricity System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO), Northern Vietnam has been experiencing intense heat since August 1 following a heatwave that began in late July. On August 4, temperatures in Hanoi approached 40°C, with Lang weather station recording highs between 39.1°C and 39.7°C. The real-feel temperature soared to 47°C, making it one of the hottest areas in the country.

Record-Breaking Power Demand

The sweltering conditions led to a significant spike in electricity demand, including during the weekend and holidays. From August 1 to August 4, the Northern region’s peak electricity consumption reached 25,761 MW—about 25% higher than typical holiday usage and nearly double the capacity of the Son La Hydropower Plant.

Nationally, electricity consumption peaked between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on August 4, hitting 54,500 MW—the highest level recorded so far in 2025. This marks an increase of 5,000 MW, or 10%, compared to the same period in 2024. The Northern region alone consumed 28,500 MW, up 3,000 MW (12%) year-over-year.

In Hanoi, data from the Hanoi Electricity Corporation (EVNHANOI) shows that power demand also hit a record high. At 1:20 p.m. on August 4, the city’s power consumption peaked at 5,988 MW—an increase of nearly 14% over the highest recorded capacity in 2024.

Power Infrastructure Under Pressure

The unprecedented surge in electricity demand pushed several key transmission lines and transformer stations to full or overloaded capacity. These include the 500kV Son La – Viet Tri line and 220kV Thanh Cong – Ha Dong line, as well as multiple high-voltage stations across provinces such as Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Viet Tri, Tay Ha Noi, Pho Noi, Thuong Tin, Hiep Hoa, Dong Anh, Mai Dong, Chem, Thanh Cong, Bac Ninh, Dong Hoa, and Ha Dong.

At 1:46 p.m., an incident occurred on the 220kV Hoa Binh – Ha Dong line, prompting NSMO to reduce the load on the grid by temporarily cutting power to some areas. By 3 p.m., full power had been restored.

Continued Strain Expected

NSMO forecasts that electricity demand in the North will remain extremely high during the evening hours (9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) on August 4, potentially reaching 29,000–29,500 MW—surpassing the afternoon peak and placing further stress on the regional power grid.

In response, NSMO has mobilized all available generation resources, implemented technical solutions, and coordinated closely with the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and related power and transmission units to ensure grid stability and uninterrupted service.

Public Urged to Conserve Power

To reduce strain on the grid and prevent outages, NSMO is urging households, businesses, and public agencies to use electricity efficiently, particularly during peak hours. Recommended measures include:

• Using energy-efficient appliances

• Turning off unnecessary equipment

• Unplugging devices when not in use

• Avoiding simultaneous use of multiple high-capacity devices

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Source: Vietnam Insider