Proposal to install separate meters for electric vehicle charging stations

(Dan Tri) - The Ministry of Industry and Trade is seeking opinions on two options for electricity prices for vehicle charging, depending on whether or not the charging station has its own meter installed.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is drafting a Circular on the implementation of electricity prices, including prices for electric vehicle charging purposes. The agency said that according to the opinions of Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and a number of power corporations, charging stations/posts must install separate meters (except for charging posts of households that have signed contracts to use electricity for domestic purposes).

Since the operation of electric vehicle charging stations has a great impact on the power system, high power consumption will especially affect the power system during peak hours. However, according to the opinion of Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation, it is not necessary to install separate electricity meters for electric vehicle charging stations/posts.

For example, in the case of a coffee shop or cafe that installs an electric vehicle charging station, there is no need to separate the meter; the retail electricity price applied to the coffee shop is the business price for the entire measured electricity output.

Accordingly, the Ministry proposed 2 options to solicit opinions because this is a new purpose of use and can have many forms (charging at home, public charging, charging at shopping malls, parking lots, administrative agencies, business premises...).

According to the electricity authority, the operation of electric vehicle charging stations has a major impact on the power system, and high electricity usage will especially affect peak hours (Photo: Bao Quyen).

Option 1 provides general regulations and requires the installation of separate meters, except for households with charging stations installed. The retail price of electricity for electric vehicle charging purposes applies to electricity buyers using electricity for charging stations/posts serving the charging of electric vehicles, including electric buses, and must install separate electricity meters.

In case of charging electric vehicles of households with contracts for electricity use for domestic purposes, the electricity price for domestic purposes shall be applied to the entire metered output.

Option 2 specifies the pricing and regulations for two cases: with and without separate meters. Electric vehicle charging includes charging stations/posts serving electric vehicles including electric buses and must install separate electricity meters.

If the customer signs a household electricity contract but uses it for vehicle charging, the total electricity output will still be subject to the household price according to current regulations.

For non-domestic electricity use, the retail electricity price will be applied according to each electricity use purpose if there is a separate electricity meter; in case there is no separate electricity meter for the purpose of charging electric vehicles, the electricity price will be according to the main purpose in the electricity purchase contract.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/de-xuat-lap-cong-to-rieng-cho-tram-sac-xe-dien-20250823122823320.htm