From April 1, the gas rate for housing will increase by 0.43 won or 3% from the current 14.22 won per megajoule (MJ) to 14.65 won.
In addition, the general rate applied to restaurants, etc. will increase by 0.17 won.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the price of city gas for housing and general use will rise by an average of 1.8% in accordance with the adjustment of the standard raw material cost due to the increase in cost.
For general use rates, which vary depending on the location of use, Business 1 will be raised by 1.2% from the current 14.09 won to 14.26 won, and Business 2 will be raised by 1.3% from 13.09 won to 13.26 won, respectively.
Business use 1 includes restaurants, cafeterias, e-beauty businesses, lodging businesses, swimming pools, etc., and business use 2 includes public baths, waste treatment plants, and garbage incinerators.
As a result of this measure, the average gas bill per household is expected to rise by 860 won per month throughout the year.
This increase is in accordance with the standard raw material cost adjustment.
The Ministry of Industry, in consultation with related ministries, sets the standard raw material cost for housing and general use every two months, taking into account the factors that fluctuate raw material cost.
Gas rates for residential and general use have been frozen since July 2020, when they were cut by an average of 13.1%.
In the meantime, there were factors such as a sharp rise in the import unit price of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is the cost of raw materials, but the increase was suppressed in order to stabilize prices.
"As international gas prices have risen sharply since the second half of last year, the receivables for housing and general use, which were 1.8 trillion won as of the end of last year, increased sharply," the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy explained.
However, he emphasized that the rate increase was reflected to the minimum level in consideration of the burden on the public.