Xeset Hydropower Plant / Vientiane Electricity Rates

The Xeset Hydropower Plant is a run-of-river scheme utilizing about 1.5 kilometers of the river with a drop of 157 meters. As this type of scheme has only limited storage capacity, the energy production will in general vary with the river discharge from day to day.

The intake pond is created by a 10 meter high gravity dam. From the intake pond to the powerhouse the water is conveyed through underground tunnels which are partly steel lined to withstand the high water pressure. The powerhouse is built in the open air with 5 generating units; 3 units with 13 mega watt capacity each, and 2 units with 3 mega watt capacity each.

The powerhouse supplies the provinces of Saravane and Champasak with electricity, and surplus power is exported to Thailand. The project took 32 months to complete and the erection time of the generators was 10 months. Units 1 and 2 were commissioned in February/March 1991. The first transmission of electricity took place on 1 May 1991.

Are You Paying The Right Monthly Rate?

Residential consumers:
Less than 100 kwh: 8 kip/kwh
Between 101 to 200 kwh: 15 kip/kwh
More than 201 kwh: 25 kip/kwh
(minimum charge: 150 kip)

Embassies/Foreign Institutions
All kwh usage: 60 kip/kwh
(minimum charge: 1,500 kip)

Business and Service Companies
All kwh usage: 47 kip/kwh
(minimum charge: 700 kip)

Government Office
All kwh usage: 30 kip/kwh
(minimum charge: 700 kip)

Irrigation Pumping
All kwh usage: 7 kip/kwh
(minimum charge: 1,000 kip)

Industries and Handicrafts
All kwh usage: 30 kip/kwh
(minimum charge: 1,000 kip)

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