Article 1.- To approve the 2006-2010 electricity-saving program with the following principal contents:

I. The program's objectives:

To raise community awareness, build up a sense of using electricity thriftily and efficiently for the sustained development of the country, to carry out activities of thrifty and efficient use of electricity in the daily life of every family and the society.

To ensure the thrifty and efficient use of electricity, the stable supply of electricity for production, business and consumption and minimize the stoppage and reduction of electricity supply.

II. The program's contents:

1. To mobilize the entire population to participate in electricity saving

a/ Objectives:

To enhance the work of propagation, information dissemination, education and community mobilization so as to raise people's awareness and change their electricity-using habits, step up the thrifty and efficient use of electricity in the entire society.

b/ Contents:

- To develop radio and television programs on thrifty use of electricity to be broadcast on the Radio Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television Station as well as local radio and television stations with appropriate time volumes in forms of direct talks, technology information, reportages on electricity-saving activities, introduction of typical electricity-saving models,...

- To develop a specialized television program in order to introduce electricity-saving products, to supply necessary information on electricity-saving products, to orient and encourage the habit of using electricity thriftily, concentrating on the use of lighting equipment, air conditioners, refrigerators, office equipment and other electric equipment.

- To open training courses on electricity saving for managerial officials, technical and technological officials, propagators... throughout the country.

- To launch movements and create conditions for the entire society to participate in the electricity-saving program, such as organization of contests, emulation movements, introduction of typical examples, models of electricity-saving families, units, enterprises, buildings....

- To distribute leaflets, posters, advertisements, manuals with instructions on thrifty and efficient use of electricity, introduction of typical electricity saving models of localities, enterprises... for widespread dissemination and application.

- To launch a website on energy saving, which is placed under the Industry Ministry's management and operates as from 2006.

c/ Organization of implementation:

- The Industry Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Radio Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television Station and the Electricity of Vietnam in, elaborating specific plans with detailed contents and schedules for implementation of specialized radio and television programs on electricity saving;

- The Ministry of Culture and Information shall direct provincial/municipal Services of Culture and Information, the mass media of provinces, centrally-run cities and localities to actively propagate the State's policy on electricity saving and mobilize the entire population to apply electricity-saving measures.

- The Electricity of Vietnam shall coordinate with the mass media in intensifying activities of propagation for electricity saving, drawing up and implementing plans on propagation for electricity saving suitable to the electricity supply situation, recommending electricity-saving measures, guiding the rational use of electricity, announcing timetables for electricity cut in case of electricity shortage.

- Provincial/municipal People's Committees:

+ To coordinate with the Industry Ministry, and the Electricity of Vietnam in directing provincial/municipal Industry Services and local Energy-Saving Centers to organize communication activities in localities.

+ To direct the inclusion of electricity-saving contents in the public-addressing programs in districts, communes, villages.

2. Electricity saving at public offices, head-quarters of agencies

a/ Objectives:

To put the thrifty and efficient use of electricity at agencies and units into order, saving at least 10% of annual electricity expenditures of agencies, units.

b/ Contents:

To formulate regulations on electricity use, on replacement and repair of electric equipment at agencies, units, abiding by the following principles:

- To switch off unnecessary electric equipment upon leaving rooms and after working hours. To turn off all electricity sources if equipment are not in use after working hours.

- To make the fullest use of natural light and air ventilation, to reduce the number of lighting lamps when the number of people working in rooms decreases. To design and install common lighting systems in a rational manner, reducing at least 50% of the lighting bulbs at corridors, yard areas, gardens, fences.

- To use air conditioners only when really necessary and set the temperature at 250C or over. To use electric fans instead of air conditioners when it is not too hot.

- As from 2006, only to use T8 and T5 high-effect fluorescent lamps (36W/32W, 18W) to replace the out-of-order T10 low-effect fluorescent lamps (40W, 20W), compact lamps in replacement of filament lamps at proper places in order to ensure that within a short period of time only electricity-saving lamps and lighting equipment (including electric current controllers). Upon replacement of electric equipment, it is encouraged to use electric equipment stuck with energy-saving labels.

c/ Organization of implementation:

- Leaders of agencies and units shall have to promulgate regulations on thrifty and efficient use of electricity at their respective agencies and units with a view to saving at least 10% of the electric power consumed annually by their agencies or units, appoint responsible officials to draw up plans, to urge and regularly inspect the electricity use at their agencies or units; quarterly and annually report to ministries and provincial/municipal People's Committees on the thrifty use of electricity at their establishments.

- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of Government-attached agencies, and presidents of provincial/municipal People's Committees shall have to direct the elaboration of plans, deploy and supervise the application of measures to save energy at public offices in areas under their respective management; quarterly and annually review the application of electricity-saving measures for report to the Prime Minister.

- The Finance Ministry shall guide and inspect the cut of at least 10% of expenses for electricity consumption by agencies and units enjoying the state budget.

3. Electricity saving in daily life and service business

a/ Objectives:

To establish the patterns and habits of using electricity thriftily and efficiently, to enhance the sense of using high-effect electric equipment, reduce the use of high-output electric equipments during peak hours, to be willing to cooperate with the electricity industry in cutting off electricity, reducing electricity consumption upon the occurrence of electricity shortage.

b/ Contents:

To mobilize households using electricity in daily life and/or service business to respond to the campaign for electricity saving by the entire population for the benefits of families and communities, ensuring the following principles:

- Households shall restrict the use of high-output electric equipment (air conditioners, water heaters, electric irons...) during peak hours, are encouraged to use electricity-saving electric bulbs such as compact or T8, T5 fluorescent lamps, high-effect ballasts, electric equzipment stuck with energy-saving labels, to unplug unused electric equipment from electric sources.

- Restaurants, trade service establishments... must strictly observe local regulations on thrifty and efficient lighting, be ready to cut, reduce their electricity-using demand upon receiving notices from local electricity offices in case of electricity shortage; use energy-saving lamps; are encouraged to shift to use equipment consuming other energies such as gas, new energy,...

- As of 2006, to study, formulate and step by step apply electricity prices during, off-peak hours to households.

c/ Organization of implementation

- The Industry Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches in, organizing the formulation of detailed plans and the implementation thereof.

- The Ministry of Culture and Information shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Industry Ministry, the Electricity of Vietnam and the mass media in, stepping up the propagation for electricity saving among the population.

- The Electricity of Vietnam shall coordinate with provincial/municipal Industry Services in conducting surveys and reaching agreement with service-providing customers on additional charge diagrams and on the possibility of power cut or demand reduction in case of electricity shortage.

4. Electricity saving in industrial production

a/ Objectives:

To manage and supervise the levels of electricity consumption in production and business activities of industrial establishments, to encourage then proceed to compel the application of advanced energy consumption norms per product unit for a number of industries greatly consuming energy.

b/ Contents:

Short-term solutions:

- To formulate solutions to efficient electricity use, ensuring the use in accordance with the registered output and additional charge diagrams in electricity trading contracts.

- To arrange rational production plans, minimizing the use of equipment consuming high electricity amounts such as grinding machines, water pumping stations, air compressors during peak hours, not to operate electric equipment unloaded.

- To prepare reserve sources in order to satisfy production demands in the event of electricity shortage, to draw up plans on cut of additional charge upon electricity shortage.

Medium-term solutions:

- To formulate and promulgate energy consumption norms per product unit for a number of industries greatly consuming energy for use as a basis for the management and supervision of energy consumption by industrial factories.

- To build and develop systems of management of thrifty and efficient use of energy at enterprises after the model suitable to Vietnamese conditions, creating positive changes in the management of energy use in enterprises.

- To compile and disseminate energy management documents, popularize experience from successful models on thrifty and efficient energy use at home and abroad.

- To organize training courses for specialized energy managing officials of industrial production enterprises and officials of provincial/municipal Services of Industry, Services of Science and Technology.

- To support industrial production enterprises in formulating their respective energy management systems, to put into routine operation the energy-saving management model for at least 40% of the number of key energy-using enterprises nationwide in the 2006-2010 period.

c/ Organization of implementation:

- The Industry Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and direct provincial/municipal Industry Services in, coordinate with consultancy organizations, energy-saving centers and industrial production enterprises in, formulating specific contents and organizing the implementation thereof.

- Heads of production establishments shall have to draw up plans and apply measures to save electricity at industrial production enterprises; to formulate electricity consumption norms, regulations on electricity consumption reduction in case of electricity shortage; to quarterly and annually report to provincial/municipal People's Committees on the use of electricity at establishments.

- The Electricity of Vietnam shall direct electricity offices to coordinate with provincial/municipal Industry Services in reaching agreement on practical electricity-using charge diagram and additionally sign electricity trading contracts or make written agreements on the possibility of electricity consumption reduction upon receipt of notices on electricity supply stoppage or reduction.

5. Electricity saving by units engaged in electricity production and business

a/ Objectives:

To step up and regularly maintain the application of measures to save electricity in electricity production, transmission, distribution and trading.

b/ Contents:

- Vietnam Electricity Corporation shall step up the implementation of power loss reduction programs, ensuring to bring down the power loss to 11% in 2006 and 9% in 2010.

- For electricity bodies having the Pmax/Pmin > 2.5 times, electricity units shall coordinate with provincial/municipal Industry Services in working with production establishments in order to draw up three-shift working timetables among local industrial enterprises, submit them to provincial/municipal People's Committees for approval, then implement them with a view to properly adjusting the additional charge diagrams, avoiding output and electric energy restriction in localities.

- The electricity bodies of provinces or centrally-run cities shall have to coordinate with provincial/municipal Industry Services in advising provincial/municipal People's Committees on directing the application of electricity-saving solutions upon electricity shortage under the Prime Minister's Directive No. 19/2005/CT-TTg of June 2, 2005; to make lists of production households in the priority order of limiting electricity supply stoppage or reduction under electricity shortage conditions, submit them to provincial/municipal People's Committees for approval, then implement them according to the provisions of the Electricity Law.

- The electricity bodies shall assist provincial/municipal People's Committees in monitoring and reporting on the situation of electricity use in public offices, agencies, state enterprises in localities, making comparison with the electricity use level of the same month of the previous year and with the norm of saving 10% of electricity output used by public offices or agencies in order to promptly inform the customers thereof and report such to provincial/municipal People's Committees for taking measures against the customers who fail to practice electricity thrift.

c/ Organization of implementation:

- The electricity bodies shall advise provincial/municipal People's Committees on supervising the application of measures to save electricity in the localities.

- The Electricity of Vietnam shall direct electricity bodies under its management to realize the above contents, monthly organize the assessment of applied measures to save electricity, and make review reports to the Prime Minister.

6. Electricity saving for electric equipment

a/ Objectives:

To formulate mechanisms to encourage, stimulate producers and importers to introduce into the market high-effect electric equipment, gradually getting rid of low-effect ones.

To disseminate information on and guide customers in recognizing and selecting electricity-saving products on the market.

b/ Contents:

- The Industry Ministry shall promulgate circulars guiding the labeling to certify high-effect electrical products; from 2006 to 2010 stick energy-saving labels for five kinds of selected target products including electric motors, electric fans, air conditioners, fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamp ballasts.

- To work out technical support measures and financial mechanisms aiming to encourage investment in change of technological chains, testing systems... in production and import of electricity-saving products, restricting the production, import and use of low-effect electric equipment.

c/ Organization of implementation

- The Industry Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and branches in, drawing up detailed plans and organizing the implementation thereof.

- The Ministry of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for elaborating and promulgating sets of energy efficiency standards for target products; coordinate with the Industry Ministry in surveying and evaluating electric equipment being circulated on the market to serve the labeling of energy-saving products.

- The Finance Ministry shall coordinate with the Industry Ministry in formulating proper financial mechanisms to encourage the production and import of various types of energy-saving products.

7. Economical and efficient lighting program

a/ Objectives:

To use electricity thriftily and efficiently through saving electricity in lighting, to encourage the production and use of electricity-saving lighting products in order to step by step reduce the number of incandescent bulbs to only 10 million on the market by 2010.

b/ Contents:

- To public lighting, some following solutions shall apply:

+ To inspect and evaluate the public lighting regime under the current lighting standards, ensuring the principle of efficient and thrifty lighting (Vietnam Standard TCXDVN 259: 2001).

+ To apply the automatic control system with output-regulating regime to reduce the lighting capacity at night when traffic density reduces. To invest in automatic control systems for main street lighting systems, to use high-effect lighting equipment upon replacement of broken lamps: to use high-pressure and low-pressure natri lamps for street lighting; low-pressure natri lamps of low output and compact lamps for small alley and footpath lighting; metal halide lamps for public-square lighting.

- In daily life, service business, industrial production: to encourage the use of lighting sources, energy-saving lighting equipment such as T8 (36W, 32W, 18W) and T5 fluorescent lamps, compact bulbs, high-effect ballasts.

- At public offices, headquarters of agencies, enterprises: To make the fullest use of natural light for lighting, to design and install artificial lighting systems in a rational manner, using only T8 (36W, 32W, 18W) and T5 fluorescent lamps and compact bulbs in replacement of broken T10 fluorescent lamps and incandescent bulbs.

- To work out and realize the time schedule for replacement of incandescent bulbs with assorted electricity-saving fluorescent lamps (T8 and T5 high-effect fluorescent lamps and compact bulbs) so as to reduce the number of incandescent electric bulbs to only 10 million on the market by 2010.

- To work out and apply technical support measures and financial mechanisms, aiming to encourage investment in change of technological chains, evaluating and testing systems... in manufacture of lighting equipment, production of high-effect fluorescent lamps and limiting the production of incandescent bulbs.

c/ Organization of implementation

- The Industry Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with provincial/municipal People's Committees, Vietnam Urban Lighting Association, lighting equipment manufacturers... in, formulating detailed schemes for implementation of the program.

- The Finance Ministry shall coordinate with the Industry Ministry in formulating appropriate financial mechanisms in order to encourage domestic manufacturers to produce assorted energy-saving lamps.

- The Electricity of Vietnam shall:

+ Continue with the program on replacement with one million electricity-saving lamps in cooperation with the World Bank, monitor the results and draw implementation experience for report to the Prime Minister in June 2006.

+ Improve the quality of systems of national power grids, particularly those in rural, deep-lying, remote regions; ensure technical conditions on voltage quality for electricity-saving fluorescent lamps.

8. To disseminate the use of water heating equipment operated by solar energy and the use of other substitute energies

a/ Objectives:

To accelerate the research into, production, import and use of, water-heating equipment in daily life, which are operated by solar energy or other types of energy, for households and big buildings (trade centers, condominiums, hospitals, schools, offices of state agencies...).

b/ Contents:

- To elaborate and promulgate circulars guiding financial preference measures in order to encourage the development of power sources using renewable energy in general and the application of technologies using renewable energy as substitute for electricity in particular.

- To boost the research into, production, import and use of water-heating equipment in daily life and service activities in order to step by step remove barriers, establish markets for the development of this technology.

- To formulate programs for research into the manufacture and testing of water-heating equipment of different capacities, which are operated by solar energy and other types of energy, suitable to Vietnamese conditions.

- To formulate and promulgate technical standards for the manufacture and installation of water-heating equipment operated by solar energy or other types of energy.

- Demonstration projects: To install for demonstration water-heating equipment operated by solar energy or other types of energy at a number of hospitals, health stations, schools and people's houses in some urban centers, townships and towns throughout the country.

c/ Organization of implementation

The Industry Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries and/or branches in, organizing the elaboration of detailed plans and performing the following tasks:

- Coordinating with the Ministry of Culture and Information and concerned ministries, branches, social organizations in elaborating programs for raising the awareness and directing the use of assorted water-heating equipment through the mass media such as newspapers, radio, television, training establishments...

- Coordinating with the Ministry of Science and Technology and concerned ministries and branches in formulating programs for research into the manufacture and testing of, for promulgation of standards on, water-heating equipment operated by solar energy or other types of energy.

- Coordinating with provincial/municipal People's Committees in formulating demonstration projects.

Article 2.- Organization of implementation of the 2006-2010 electricity-saving program.

1. Task assignment

a/ The Industry Ministry shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with concerned ministries, branches and/or organizations in, realization of the program's contents.

b/ The Finance Ministry:

- To coordinate with the Industry Ministry in formulating appropriate financial mechanisms aiming to encourage domestic producers and importers to manufacture, import energy-saving products.

- To balance capital sources for the contents of the electricity-saving program, including them in the 2006-2010 five-year plan and allocating necessary funds as from 2006 for timely realization of the above-mentioned contents.

c/ The Ministry of Culture and Information, Vietnam Television Station and the Radio Voice of Vietnam shall coordinate with the Industry Ministry and the Electricity of Vietnam in directing provincial/municipal Services of Culture and Information, radio stations, television stations to draw up radio and television programs on electricity saving; at the same time direct mass media agencies to reserve appropriate time volumes for propagation of the State's undertaking to apply electricity-saving measures.

d/ The Electricity of Vietnam

- To direct electricity offices to advise provincial/municipal People's Committees on supervising the application of electricity-saving measures in localities.

- To realize the contents prescribed for electricity production and business units, monthly organizing the evaluation of applied electricity-saving measures.

e/ Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Government-attached agencies, and provincial/municipal People's Committees shall have to coordinate with concerned agencies in implementing this program.

2. Financial solutions:

Coordinating, integrating state budget capital sources, financial assistance of international organizations, individuals at home and abroad, contributed capital of participating enterprises for implementation of the program.

- Capital sources allocated by the state budget as support for programs on propagation and raising of community awareness for participation in electricity saving, organization of implementation of the program.

- Preferential loans as support under the Government's Decree No. 106/2004/ND-CP of April 1, 2004, on the State's development investment credit.

- Financial assistance of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals for integration of schemes on cooperation with international organizations on energy efficiency and conservation, which are being formed and implemented as part of the program.

- Capital sources of participating enterprises as contributions to programs on communication and propagation on electricity saving, electricity-saving lighting; contributions to the realization of contents of the program at enterprises.

3. Administration, supervision, evaluation

- The Industry Ministry shall have to coordinate and inspect all activities of the program in order to achieve the objectives set for each subject; biannually supervise and evaluate electricity-saving measures and report thereon to the Prime Minister.

- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of Government-attached agencies, and presidents of provincial/municipal People's Committees shall have to direct the elaboration and implementation of plans; and at the same time intensify the inspection and handling of violations according to the provisions of law.

Article 3.- This Decision takes implementation effect 15 days after its publication in "CONG BAO."

Article 4.- Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of Government-attached agencies, and presidents of provincial/municipal People's Committees shall have to implement this Decision.