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Electricity and gas rates will rise one after another from the second quarter of next year. Previously, the government froze rates in the first quarter of next year due to inflationary pressures, but within a few days, plans for the next increase were released one after another.
This is reporter Jang Hoon-kyung.
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Electricity and gas rates will rise in stages after the presidential election in April next year.
Electricity rate is 4.9 won per kilowatt-hour in April next year, and it will rise by the same amount in October, and the climate environment rate, which reflects environmental policy costs, will also increase by 2 won per kilowatt-hour from April next year.
Based on a four-person household, you will have to pay an average of 1,950 won more per month, up 5.6% from now.
Gas rates will also be increased sequentially from May next year, and from October, a 2.3 won increase from the current unit price will be applied.
Based on the average monthly usage of 2,000 megajoules, it is an increase of 4,600 won from the current 28,450 won to 33,50 won.
Earlier, the government also decided to freeze rates in the first quarter of next year, implying the possibility of a rate hike after the second quarter.
[Lee Won Lee / 1st Vice Minister of Strategy and Finance (last 17th): In the end, the important thing seems to be the dispersion of the (rate increase) period. In the case of prices, if the prices are concentrated at a certain time at once, the price burden becomes very large.]
Although a gradual increase was announced, it seems difficult to avoid consumer confusion as the rate increases are announced a few days after the announcement of the freeze.
The government said, "It is unfortunate," saying, "If I had been conscious of the election, I would have postponed the announcement of this increase."
(Video editing: Jeong Seong-hoon)