An EVN staffer checks the 500kV Pleiku transformer which serves electric power demand in the central highland region. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha

This was the figure audited by independent accounting firm Deloitte Viet Nam. The electricity tariff and other business figures were also reviewed by the team established by the MOIT, the finance ministry, electricity associations and the Viet Nam Standards and Consumer Association. The results were based on checks at EVN and some of its member units.

The previous estimated profit announced by EVN in early 2015 was VND300 billion ($13.3 million) due to increasing input costs.

Statistics from the audited report released at the conference to announce the electricity input cost held in Ha Noi on Tuesday revealed that power output in 2014 was 128.63 billion kWh while the power lost was 8.49 per cent, which was 0.9 per cent lower than the set target of 9.39 per cent.

The total cost for power production and trading was VND198 trillion ($8.8 billion), or VND1,539 for every one kWh.

The total amount for power generation was VND152.9 trillion ($6.79 billion) while the total cost for power transmission wasVND10.5 trillion ($466.6 million).

The EVN spent VND33.6 trillion ($1.49 billion) for electricity distribution and retail. Meanwhile, the total cost for supporting services and management was VND905.1 billion ($40.2 million).

The power sector earned VND197.1 trillion ($8.76 billion) from power sales while turnover from other related activities wasVND1.69 trillion ($75.1 million) in 2014.

Of this, the turnover from financial activities from EVN and National Power Transmission Corporation and power corporations was VND1.15 trillion ($51.1 million), and turnover from investment into its corporations was VND101 billion ($4.48 million).

However, EVN's Deputy General Director Dinh Quang Tri said the profit was too low when compared with their charter capital of VND160 trillion ($7.1 billion).

Tri added that the figure did not take into account the exchange rate difference.

"If EVN had brought in VND5 trillion in the exchange rate difference, we would have been in a loss in 2014," he said, and added that EVN was asked to pay back the losses in instalments of 10 years to 15 years.

This is the special mechanism for EVN as its power tariffs are stipulated by the government.

According to the report, expenses not accounted for in the electricity cost price was about VND4.78 trillion ($216.48 million), as of 2014. This includes losses of VND1.68 trillion ($74.6 million) due to exchange rate fluctuations from the National Transmission Corporation, and VND642 billion ($28.5 million) from Power Generation Corporation 1.

No tariff increase

Tri also confirmed that EVN has no plans for a power tariff increase this year based on estimates of production costs in 2016 as well as supply and demand. In January, the power demand was increased between 6 per cent and 7 per cent.

However, he noted that in the summer of 2016, EVN would need several solutions to save power as they could not forecast the weather and power capacity.

"We will strive to prevent power tariff rise this year. We always expect stability in our business, and EVN could increase the price only if it is unavoidable," he said.

Following Decision 69/2013/QD-TTg that took effect on January 10, 2014, the average electricity tariff can be revised every six months, following the Government's price frame. There will be at least a 7 per-cent increase, compared with the current average level.

If input costs increase from seven per cent to less than 10 per cent, compared with the current level, EVN is allowed to raise electricity tariffs correspondingly after receiving the approval of the MOIT.

Every year, EVN will prepare an electricity pricing scheme to submit to the MOIT and the finance ministry. After considering the production costs, business and production situation of EVN and socioeconomic conditions, the ministries will decide a specific price scheme.

If the electricity tariff needs to be increased by 10 per cent or more or higher than the Government's price frame, the MOIT must report the case to the Government after discussing it with the finance ministry. — VNS