Electricity rates for a household of 4 will rise by more than 4,000 won per month in the first quarter of next year based on a household of 4.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Electric Power Corporation announced that they would increase electricity rates by 13.1 won per kWh (kilowatt hour) in the first quarter of next year.
The appropriate amount for the annual electricity rate hike recently submitted by the Ministry of Industry and KEPCO to the National Assembly is 51.6 won per kWh, and the rate increase in the first quarter of next year is about a quarter of a year's worth.
With this electricity rate adjustment, the monthly electricity bill for an average household of four (307 kWh per month) will increase by 4,022 won (excluding VAT and electricity-based fund).
As a result, the electricity bill for a four-person household is expected to jump from 52,000 won to 57,000 won.
This electricity rate increase is applied equally to household and industrial use.
KEPCO's electricity sales revenue growth rate (9.5%), increase per kWh (13.1 won), and increase for a household of 4 (4,022 won) due to electricity rate adjustments are all the highest and largest in the history of electricity rate hikes so far. is.
KEPCO's annual deficit is estimated to reach 1.3 trillion won next year if the government calculates the appropriate amount for next year's electricity rate increase (51.6 won per kWh), which is equally distributed quarterly and reflected.
KEPCO said, "We will discuss with the government the remaining factors such as some fuel costs that have not been reflected so that they can be reasonably reflected in the future."
While the burden on both households and businesses is increasing, the government has also come up with measures to alleviate the burden, considering that the burden felt by the vulnerable may be greater.
In the case of about 3.5 million households of the vulnerable, such as the disabled and recipients of basic livelihood security, the electricity rate before the increase is applied up to the average monthly consumption (313kWh) as of this year.
The policy is to alleviate the burden by applying increased rates only to usage that exceeds the average.
The electricity rate for agricultural use will be increased by 3.8 won over 3 years for this increase (11.4 won per kWh).
The climate environment fee increase (1.7 won per kWh) is equally applied.
This is to prevent a rapid increase in the rate burden in a short period of time by reflecting the rate increase in a distributed manner.
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We decided to freeze gas rates for the first time in the first quarter.
The government explained that it took into account the fact that it is the winter season when energy demand is relatively high, and that if public utility rates rise drastically at once, the burden on the people may increase.
Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang said at a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex, "In the case of gas rates, we plan to freeze rates in the first quarter of next year, considering the burden of heating costs and electricity rate hikes in the winter, and review whether to raise rates after the second quarter."
In addition, the government decided to expand the scope of gas fee reduction for the vulnerable from 6,000 to 24,000 won to 9,000 to 36,000 won.
The unit price of energy vouchers for the energy vulnerable is raised to KRW 195,000, an increase of KRW 6,800 from this year (KRW 127,000), and the unit price of briquette coupons is increased by KRW 74,000 to KRW 546,000.
The unit price for kerosene voucher support has been decided to be raised to 641,000 won, twice as much as this year.
The budget for energy efficiency improvement projects will also be increased to support facility replacement for 1,000 root companies and 1,800 agricultural customers.