<Anchor> It
is a friendly economy time.
Today (30th), I will be with reporter Kwon Ae-ri.
January of this year is almost over already.
I think next month will come soon, but I'm worried about the heating bill the next day.
But the problem is that next winter's heating bill will be higher than this year's?
<Reporter>
Yes, you must have heard a lot lately that gas rates will increase.
What is the situation and how much will it rise?
Korea must import all natural gas, the raw material for gas used for heating.
Same with oil.
KOGAS is in charge of most of this income. According to the data submitted by KOGAS to the National Assembly and the government, so far, KOGAS first pays for the gas needed for each household, and the money that has not yet been received is 9 trillion won. It is known to reach
If the money is to be paid off within this year, it is an amount of money that would require raising the gas bill three times as much as it is now.
Of course, even if KOGAS has some receivables, it cannot say that it will immediately liquidate them.
However, it is to ask for liquidation step by step, and in order to do so, it is the calculation of the corporation that this year it must be raised more than last year.
Specifically, it is believed that an increase of 8.4 won per MJ (megajoule), which is a leaking gas unit this year, can be settled by 2027, and an increase of 10.4 won by 26 years.
Last year, the combined cost of gas increased by 5.5 won per MJ.
The heating cost reflected in that is the gas price that came out this month.
However, if the current calculation of the gas corporation is reflected this year, the gas bill to be accepted at this time next year will inevitably be marked with a much higher amount.
<Anchor>
So, it is because the price of gas we import has risen a lot in a short period of time. Can we see it like this?
[Reporter
] Yes, it is.
It is crucial to blame for the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine that started last year, but in fact, natural gas prices have soared since 2021.
At the end of 2021, natural gas prices rose a lot as offshore wind power generation did not work well in Europe, and there was also something that Australia did not sell natural gas to China.
At this time, China once again raised international natural gas prices.
As these things overlap, at the end of 2021, the price has already risen to more than twice that of a year ago, and in September, when the price was highest, it rises to a whopping $1,470 per t (ton).
Even though it is said to have fallen from there now, it is at the level of $ 1,255, which is more than 3.5 times two years ago.
In the meantime, considering that the dollar has become more expensive, the burden has increased.
Even if you look at the annual conversion, you can see that it has risen by a factor of two.
When signing a contract to import natural gas, it may be necessary to make an effort to make a contract that is more favorable to Korea.
In addition, we should continue to develop eco-friendly energy sources, but in fact, this is a very long-term task and we need a lot of natural gas, which is very expensive right now.
The government decided not to raise gas rates further in the first quarter of this year, but the story is that discussions on the increase should begin after the second quarter.
It is a situation where we have to find a way to minimize the shock to households somehow.
<Anchor>
If you look at the current situation, gas rates are also gas rates, but other public utility rates have already risen a lot or are going to rise again?
<Reporter>
Yes, that is the problem.
First of all, since January, electricity rates have risen by more than 13 won per 1kWH (kilowatt hour).
However, looking at the KEPCO normalization plan that the government presented to the National Assembly at the end of last year, the electricity rate that rose this way in January only reflected a quarter of the level that needed to be raised.
It is said that further increases may be promoted in the future.
And transportation costs are also estimated to have risen by nearly 10% last year, and now Seoul is pushing for a plan to raise bus and subway fares that have been frozen for the past eight years.
The extent of the increase is under review, but if the rate increase in Seoul materializes, it is highly likely that similar increases will follow nationwide.
Seoul has already raised the water fee, and there is a movement to raise it nationwide as well.
When public utility bills rise all at once, the burden alone is heavy, but it also stimulates other costs, resulting in a rise in overall prices.
So this year, as well as last year, these public charges are among the key factors that are concerned that the rate of inflation will not be unusual.