electricity bill

Since the first day of the new year, utility bills have risen one after another. Electricity tariffs per household have risen by more than 4,000 won a month, and Gangwon-do, cities and counties have announced plans to raise tariffs for buses, gas bags, water and sewage. Since most of the price increases are closely related to real life, the perceived price burden of ordinary people is expected to increase further.

■The highest electricity tariff ever =The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) have announced that they will raise electricity tariffs by 13.1 won per kWh (kilowatt-hour) starting in the first quarter of this year. The rate of increase is 9.5%, the highest ever. The electricity tariffs consist of basic tariffs, energy tariffs (standard fuel tariffs), tariffs for the climate environment and tariffs for fuel cost adjustment. Of these, electricity and climate environment tariffs increased by 11.4 won and 1.7 won, respectively. As a result, the electricity bill charged for a family of four has increased by more than 4,000 won this month to 57,000 from 52,000 won a month.

■City bus fare from KRW 1,400 to KRW 1,700=Since midnight on the 1st, the fares for the city buses in the province have also increased. The regular bus fare increased from 1,400 won to 1,700 won, and the per-seat bus fare increased from 2,000 won to 2,400 won. This is the first increase in four years since October 2018. The rate of increase is 21.43% for regular buses and 20% for seated buses. The province explained that rising transportation costs due to inflation, such as the increase in the minimum wage, and a sharp decline in bus users and sales due to Corona 19 were the contributing factors to the increase. . However, in the case of Jeongseon, which operates a fully public bus system, the existing fare (generally 1,000 won) will be maintained.

The price of water bills and consumer bags has increased =Water and sewer rates and pay-as-you-go envelopes have not escaped the rate hike. Gangneung city will raise water and sewage tariffs by an average of 10% starting with this month’s notice. The monthly payment for households using 15 tons of water per month jumped by 1,610 won from 17,540 to 19,150 won. Jeongseon-gun has increased the price of garbage bags by volume since 1st. In the case of the best-selling 20-litre bag, the price jumped 50% from 280 won to 420 won. Therefore, items closely related to daily life, such as electricity, gas, public transport and utility bills, are increasing one after another, and the price situation people perceive is bound to get even worse.