Global electricity consumption decreased steeply
In the Global Electricity Review 2020, statistics carried out in 30 countries account for 25% of the world’s electricity consumption show that lockdown measures applied every month reduces average electricity demand by 20%, equivalent to 1.5% annually. It is predicted that in 2020, the world’s electricity demand will decrease by 5%, even 10% in some countries.
Energy consumption also recorded a sharp decline at the end of Q1 and in early Q2 of 2020. In the latest report of the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity demand in Q1/2020 dropped by 2.5% compared to the same period in 2019, the largest drop on record since the World Economic Crisis in 2008. It is due to shelter-in-place policies and lockdown measures implemented for a long time in most countries.
National electricity consumption increasing dramatically
According to data from the National Load Dispatch Center, the total electricity consumption in the first two months of 2020 was 36.2 billion kWh. The average daily electricity consumption in the first two months of the year was 615 million kWh/day, up 7.5% compared to 2019. Despite many manufacturing businesses and service sectors were affected by the COVID-19 from the beginning of February, the national consumption still increased over the same period.
Signs of the decline in electricity usage began in the middle of Q1/2020, but it was not until April that the daily average of electricity consumption fell to a record low. The amount of electricity consumed decreased by 9.5% year over year. This is the effect of the implementation of Directive 16/CT-TTg about social distancing that started from April 1st and ended in early May.
Nationwide average daily electricity consumption in the first half of 2020
Source: VIRAC
In Hanoi, the heatwave that lasted long in May has led to a soar in electricity exploitation this month. Commercial electricity consumption across the city increased by 11.3% compared to April 2020. The highest daily average power level reached 66 million kWh, an increase of 33.4% compared to this index in April when there were no prolonged high heat periods.
Hanoi commercial electricity consumption in 2020
Source: VIRAC
Electricity consumption in manufacturing and business lessened
The demand for electricity declined sharply in the first half of the year due to crowd-limiting measures. That led to many companies, restaurants and hotels stop operating owing to the lack of customers. During the disease outbreak, many enterprises have to cut down on electricity usage to reduce business energy costs.
The amount of electricity consumed in daily life upraised
As a consequence of the pandemic, students are suspended from school for long period of time, office worker are required to work from home, and people are encouraged not to go out. Hence, the energy consumption surged abnormally. Specifically, the amount of electricity consumed domestically in March 2020 increased 8.55% over the same period last year, of which Hanoi’s consumption increased by 17% and Ho Chi Minh City by 13% year over year.
As researched in many households, electricity bills have risen exceedingly in recent months, even though the pandemic has been mainly constrained and the demand for going to school has been stabilized as usual. To justify, the North of Vietnam weather has switched to the hot phase, hence, demand for home cooling devices is increasing rapidly.
In conclusion, during the period of a serious outbreak in our country, energy consumption tended to fall off due to delaying production and business activities. However, the electricity demand continues to escalate when it comes to the summertime of the year. Meanwhile, the pandemic situation complicated in many countries around the world makes energy demand seem volatile.
