PM urges electricity saving as power crisis looms

State offices should take the lead by tightening up regulations on electricity use, replacing old electricity devices and making energy savings one of the criteria for staff assessment, Dung said.

The demand for electricity in the first half of this year was forecast to rise by 18 per cent against last year while electricity production would be down by 14 per cent.

The dry season was already taking its toll on the electricity sector. Electricity of Viet Nam reported that major reservoirs in the north were very close to the "dead level" while many thermo power projects were behind their schedule.

Households were required to refrain from using high power-consuming devices, such as air conditioners and water heaters, during power peak hours – 5pm to 9pm.

Big advertising banners would have to be turned off after 10pm.

Dung asked factories and major power consumers to work out plans to save power by at least 1 per cent from this year.