Landlords who charge tenants electricity above regulatory limits face fines of up to 30 million dong

A fine ranging from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 VND will be imposed on landlords who charge tenants electricity at a rate higher than the regulated level when the landlord purchases electricity at the retail price for domestic use.

Decree sets administrative penalties in the electricity sector

The Government issued Decree No. 133/2026/ND-CP dated April 6, 2026, defining administrative penalties in the electricity sector, including fines for violations related to electricity usage regulations.

Key fines for electricity usage and compliance

Under the decree, several violations carry fines in the 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND range, including:

• Failure to notify the electricity seller when reducing the number of households using a shared meter: 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND.
• Obstructing an authorized inspector from checking electricity usage: 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND.
• Other specified violations, including:
  • Using devices and other actions that damage or cause faults in the supplier’s electricity system.
  • Using electricity for purposes other than those agreed in the contract, or charging at a price higher than agreed.
  • Failing to notify the electricity seller when reducing the number of households using a shared meter, reducing the residential electricity quota, or declaring the number of electricity users inaccurately to obtain a higher quota than actual usage.

Additional penalties include:

• Up to 14,000,000 VND for using metering equipment not tested, calibrated, or inspected as required by metrology law.
• 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 VND for unauthorized installation, connection, disconnection, repair, movement, or replacement of electricity supplier-owned devices and installations.
• 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND for energizing electricity before the consumer’s installation has been accepted or during a power outage due to regulatory violations.
• 10,000,000 to 14,000,000 VND for using metering equipment not tested, calibrated, or inspected in accordance with metrology regulations.

Penalties for electricity theft

The decree provides fines for electricity theft depending on the theft value:

• Up to 10,000,000 VND where the theft value is below 1,000,000 VND.
• 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 VND for theft valued at under 1,000,000 VND.
• 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 VND for theft valued at 1,000,000 VND to under 2,000,000 VND.

In addition, landlords who charge tenants electricity above the regulated rate when purchasing electricity at the domestic retail price face fines of 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 VND.

Large electricity users and potential criminal referral

For large electricity users, the decree sets fines from 60,000,000 to 80,000,000 VND for violations including:

• Non-compliant electrical equipment and wiring.
• Failure to follow dispatch orders.
• Failure to reduce electricity when required.
• Failure to invest in metering and data management systems as regulated.

If electricity theft is detected with a value of 2,000,000 VND or more, or under certain conditions specified in the Penal Code, cases may be referred to criminal prosecution authorities.

Legal basis

The administrative penalties are issued under Government Decree No. 133/2026/ND-CP and related regulations referenced in the article, citing PV and Government of Vietnam sources.