S. Korea to revise electric billing system for summer peak
- 5 years ago
To prepare for yet another scorching summer,... the South Korean government is looking to fix its electricity billing system for the peak months.
Park Se-young has more.
With the worst heat in 111 years, South Korea's household electricity use set a new record in 2018. In August, when electricity consumption was highest, …the average monthly electricity bill in Seoul was double that of December's.
Currently, Korea's household electricity bills are divided into three rates, …so that the heaviest users are billed at a rate three times higher than the lowest users.
Last year, about 40 percent of households were hit with the increased electricity rates of heavy users, …which is why the government is looking to revise the system before July.
Three proposals have been suggested and are under discussion.
Temporarily expanding the usage ceiling for the first two rates during the summer will lower electricity bills for more than 16 million households by around eight dollars each.
Altering the billing system to two rates instead of the current three, will see over six million households benefit from an average discount of about 14 dollars.
However, this revision comes with concerns that it will only benefit those who use the most electricity.
The last proposal calls for a flat-rate system throughout the year.
This will resolve the progressive rate controversy,… but around 14 million households in the first stage will see their electric bills rise by over three dollars.
The trade ministry will finalize the plan after a public hearing of expert discussions and feedback from the public on Tuesday.
If the proposal is approved by the Korea Electric Power Corporation and the energy ministry, the revision will go into effect in July.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.
Park Se-young has more.
With the worst heat in 111 years, South Korea's household electricity use set a new record in 2018. In August, when electricity consumption was highest, …the average monthly electricity bill in Seoul was double that of December's.
Currently, Korea's household electricity bills are divided into three rates, …so that the heaviest users are billed at a rate three times higher than the lowest users.
Last year, about 40 percent of households were hit with the increased electricity rates of heavy users, …which is why the government is looking to revise the system before July.
Three proposals have been suggested and are under discussion.
Temporarily expanding the usage ceiling for the first two rates during the summer will lower electricity bills for more than 16 million households by around eight dollars each.
Altering the billing system to two rates instead of the current three, will see over six million households benefit from an average discount of about 14 dollars.
However, this revision comes with concerns that it will only benefit those who use the most electricity.
The last proposal calls for a flat-rate system throughout the year.
This will resolve the progressive rate controversy,… but around 14 million households in the first stage will see their electric bills rise by over three dollars.
The trade ministry will finalize the plan after a public hearing of expert discussions and feedback from the public on Tuesday.
If the proposal is approved by the Korea Electric Power Corporation and the energy ministry, the revision will go into effect in July.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.