<Anchor>
KEPCO was supposed to announce a plan to raise electricity rates yesterday (21st), but it was suddenly postponed.
The reason is that the consultation with the government has been delayed, and it seems that it has nothing to do with the promise to freeze electricity rates made by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol.
This is reporter Kim Bo-mi.
<Reporter>
KEPCO abruptly delayed the announcement of the 2Q fuel cost adjustment unit price.
KEPCO had submitted a proposal to raise the price of fuels such as LNG by 3 won per kilowatt-hour.
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 in April and October for a total of 9.8 won, and the climate environment rate was also 2 won. I was going to upload it.
If the fuel cost adjustment unit price increases as KEPCO plans to, the electricity rate in the second quarter will rise by close to 10 won per kilowatt-hour.
[Kim Ra-yeon / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: Market prices and materials are all expensive.
.]
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, analysts say that it may delay the raise rather than keep freezing it.
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.