According to a report from the Electricity Authority of Vietnam, the cumulative electricity output of the entire power system as of May 22, 2026, reached 18.97 billion kWh, up 8% compared to the same period in 2025, fulfilling 36.8% of the approved 2026 annual plan. Total electricity demand during the first five months of 2026 is forecast to increase by approximately 8.7% year-on-year.

Updated information from the National Power System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO) showed that total nationwide electricity demand in 2026 is expected to grow by around 8.9–9.2%, roughly midway between the baseline scenario of 8.5% and the operational scenario of 11.7% under Decision No. 3477/QD-BCT dated November 28, 2025.

Notably, on May 15, 2026, nationwide electricity consumption reached 1.152 billion kWh, the highest level ever recorded, exceeding the 2025 record by approximately 37.9 million kWh. The national power system’s peak capacity reached 54,654 MW at 2:15 PM, while the evening peak load at 9:30 PM also rose to around 51,900 MW, nearly equal to the afternoon peak.

To meet soaring electricity demand, NSMO has implemented a series of flexible operational measures to ensure the safe operation of the national power system. These include proactive coordination with meteorological agencies and weather forecasting experts to provide early updates on heatwave developments for operational planning.

To reduce peak load demand, Hanoi Power Corporation (EVNHANOI) has signed commitments with more than 230,000 customers in the administrative, industrial, commercial, and service sectors to promote energy efficiency and conservation.

“We have also intensified communication campaigns with concise and memorable messages such as ‘Hanoi 26+’, ‘2 on, 3 off’, and ‘small savings add up’, disseminated through social media, KOLs, TikTok, and digital communication platforms to encourage behavioral changes in electricity consumption during peak hours,” shared Mr. Nguyen Danh Duyen, Chairman of EVNHANOI’s Members’ Council.

Reporting to the Minister on communication activities, Mr. Nguyen Van Minh stated that the newspaper had previously organized seminars on electricity saving and rooftop solar power development in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The newspaper also proposed a communication campaign entitled “90 Days and Nights of Energy Saving,” combining awareness campaigns on electricity conservation with fuel-saving measures in line with government directives.

“The Industry and Trade sector should take the lead in implementing energy-saving models, such as installing rooftop solar systems at government offices to create a spillover effect throughout society. Cong Thuong Newspaper also proposes the development of an ‘energy-saving map’ and a set of indicators to evaluate and rank ministries, sectors, and localities in order to promote accountability and encourage more efficient energy consumption behavior,” emphasized Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Van Minh.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai stressed that, in order to ensure energy security amid rising electricity demand, it is necessary to promptly review and improve mechanisms and policies toward shortening administrative procedures and creating favorable conditions for self-produced and self-consumed rooftop solar power systems as well as urgent power generation projects. According to the Deputy Minister, many current solutions remain largely voluntary and incentive-based; therefore, they should soon be institutionalized into mandatory regulations to improve energy efficiency, especially for high electricity-consuming equipment such as air conditioners, while further strengthening electricity-saving communication efforts.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Le Manh Hung highly appreciated the sense of responsibility, proactive approach, and management methods demonstrated by NSMO and electricity sector units amid earlier-than-expected and rapidly increasing power demand. The Minister emphasized that the units had actively identified issues, coordinated closely, and continuously updated information to optimize operation plans for the national power system.

The Minister requested NSMO, EVN, and relevant units to review and update all electricity supply scenarios for 2026 based on actual load developments, particularly considering the possibility that peak capacity demand in Northern Vietnam may exceed previous forecasts. At the same time, all supply and demand factors must be comprehensively reassessed, with calculations made for load shifting measures, peak-hour adjustments, and the maximum mobilization of available resources to ensure that power shortages do not occur under any circumstances.

In addition to the technical solutions already proposed, the Minister also called for stronger coordination among the Ministry of Industry and Trade, local authorities, the power sector, and provincial Departments of Industry and Trade in managing transmission and distribution grids. Cong Thuong Newspaper has been assigned to coordinate with VTV and other media agencies to intensify communication campaigns promoting economical and efficient electricity use during the peak summer heat season.