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KEPCO was supposed to present a plan to raise electricity rates today (21st), but the announcement was suddenly delayed.
The reason was that consultations with the government were delayed.
It is also analyzed that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's promise to freeze electricity rates may have had an impact.
Reporter Kim Bo-mi covered the story.
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KEPCO abruptly postponed the announcement of the 2Q fuel cost adjustment unit price the day before.
KEPCO had submitted a proposal to raise the price of fuel such as LNG by 3 won per kWh to reflect the rise in fuel prices.
Electricity rate consists of basic rate, electricity rate, fuel cost adjustment rate, and climate and environment rate. Previously, the government decided to raise electricity rate by 4.9 won per kWh per month in April and October for a total of 9.8 won. I decided to round up.
If the fuel cost adjustment unit price increases as KEPCO plans to, the electricity rate in the second quarter will rise by nearly KRW 10 per kWh.
[Kim Ra-yeon / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: Market prices and materials are all expensive.
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KEPCO explained that more consultations between related ministries were needed regarding the rate hike.
It seems that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's pledge to freeze electricity rates also acted as a variable.
[Yoon Seok-yeol/President-elect: First of all, I will completely abolish the plan to increase electricity rates.
Among them, if the electricity rate is raised unreasonably, the public will be severely affected.]
As KEPCO's deficit is expected to reach up to 20 trillion won this year, an analysis suggests that the increase may be delayed rather than frozen continuously.
As this is a rate that will be applied from the 1st of the next month, a decision must be made within this month, whether it is an increase or a freeze.
(Video coverage: Jeon Gyeong-bae, video editing: Choi Hye-young)