Okinawa Electric Power applied to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on the 28th for a price increase from April next year for a plan called "regulated rate" due to soaring fuel prices.
The average increase in electricity bills for households is 39.3%, and for households with average usage, the monthly payment will be 3473 yen higher than before.
On the afternoon of the 28th, Okinawa Electric Power Company President Hiroyuki Motonaga held a press conference in Naha City and announced that he had applied for a price increase to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
According to this, the price increase will start from April next year, and the average price increase for the main plan called "regulated rate", which about 70% of household electricity bills are contracted, will be 39.3%.
If the price increase is approved as requested, the monthly payment for households with average electricity usage will increase by 3,473 yen to 12,320 yen.
On the other hand, from January to August next year, the government will provide a subsidy of 7 yen per kilowatt hour for households as a measure to reduce the burden.
The increase in the "regulatory rate" is due to a review of the electricity rate itself.
President Motonaga said, ``If we continue to bear the burden of soaring fuel costs, it will put pressure on management and interfere with the company's mission of providing a stable supply of electricity. was talking
In addition, regarding the fact that the price increase is larger than other electric power companies that have already applied for price increases, President Motonaga said, "In Okinawa, there is almost no energy power generation other than thermal power, and the price of coal, which is mainly used, has risen sharply. because of that,” he explains.
After receiving the application, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will examine it and determine whether the price increase is appropriate or not. is noticed.