▲ Early closed Wolseong nuclear power plant #1
There is controversy over the government's decision to conserve some of the costs incurred in accordance with the post-discharge policy using the Electric Power Industry Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Electric Power Fund).
It is because some people are concerned that the use of the electricity fund, which is removed from the electricity bill, will eventually increase the burden on the electricity bill.
Since the Ministry of Industry is executing within the scope of the already raised funds, there will be no additional public burden such as an increase in electricity rates.
According to the Ministry of Industry, on the 3rd, the amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Electricity Business Act, which was recently announced, added that the Electricity Fund can be used for projects to conserve electricity by the Minister of Industry.
The government has prepared legal grounds for the government to partially compensate for losses incurred by operators, such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, due to the early closing of Wolseong Unit 1 and the construction of new nuclear power plants (Cheonji Units 1 and 2 and Daejin Units 1 and 2). Will.
The Electric Power Fund is accumulated by removing 3.7% of the monthly electricity bill.
The total size is 4,474.7 billion as of the end of last year.
With this in mind, some claim that the government is passing the losses from the de-war on to the people.
It is also pointed out that the government is using the electric power fund in a way that does not match the original purpose.
On the day, Congressman Han Moo-kyung of the Future Unification Party proposed a partial amendment to the Electricity Business Act that prevents the use of the power fund as compensation for losses due to the post-discharge policy.
One lawmaker pointed out that there is no legal basis for compensation for losses caused by the post-discharge policy.
One lawmaker said, "(Amendment to the Enforcement Decree) is that we will pay the receipts generated by de-discharge to the public." We will not use the power fund as a cost of the de-discharge policy, but lower the burden rate to reduce the burden on difficult industries and small businesses I said."
In response to this controversy, an official from the Ministry of Industry said, “There is no additional public burden, such as an increase in electricity rates, because the maintenance of business expenses will be enforced within the spending limit of the already established electric power fund.”
There is no plan to increase the power fund or raise the electricity bill to spend on pre-discharge costs.
On the basis of using the Electric Power Fund, he explained, "The energy conversion policy aims to expand clean and safe energy, and is consistent with the'continuous development of the electric power industry'," the purpose of which is to install the Electric Power Fund.
Article 48 of the Electricity Business Act stipulates that'the foundation for the power industry will be established to secure the resources necessary for the continuous development of the power industry and the foundation of the power industry'.
An official from the Ministry of Industry said, “In the past, we continued to spend power funds on related businesses in the process of converting from coal to oil and renewable energy.”
The government has yet to determine the amount to be paid to each operator.
After the revision of the Enforcement Decree, the specific conservation targets and scope will be determined through notification, so that each operator can estimate the correct amount and take steps to maintain.