Home » Business » Upcoming announcement on elecricity and gas rate hikes due to last-minute negotiations.

Upcoming announcement on elecricity and gas rate hikes due to last-minute negotiations.

[앵커]

Electricity and city gas rates, which will take effect next month, will be announced later this week.

The deficit of KEPCO and KOGAS is large, so it will rise, but last-minute adjustments are being made over the range of hikes.

This is Reporter Park Hong-gu on the sidewalk.

[기자]

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the price authority, and the Ministry of Industry, the energy authority, are discussing how much to raise electricity and gas rates to be applied in the second quarter.

KEPCO submitted an increase proposal to the Ministry of Industry on the 16th and KOGAS on the 17th, but a decision has not yet been made.

While the Ministry of Industry is in the position that the timing of the increase should be advanced to alleviate the insolvency of KEPCO and KOGAS, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance is advocating a speed control theory, fearing that an increase in public rates will lead to an increase in prices.

Electricity rates rose by 13.1 won per 1 kW in the first quarter of this year, recording the largest increase ever, but the more electricity is sold, the more it loses.

This is because the unit price of electricity purchase by KEPCO in January was 162.59 won per 1 kW, while the unit price of electricity sales was 147 won.

Considering the Ministry of Industry’s target for this year’s increase of 51.6 won, it is argued that the rate increase in the second quarter should be at least as much as the first quarter.

[유승훈 / 서울과학기술대학교 에너지정책학과 교수 : 작년의 한전 적자 32조6천억 원은 지금 그대로 살아있는 거고 올해도 1, 2, 3월이 여전히 적자인데요. 1~3월의 적자를 털어내고 또 앞으로 적자가 발생하지 않으려면/ 50원 정도 올라야 하는 거죠.]

Gas rates, which were frozen in the first quarter, are also expected to rise.

As the weather gets warmer and demand for heating decreases, even if prices rise, the burden on bills may not be large.

However, as the impact of the heating cost bomb this winter was too great, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance is concerned about the side effects of the simultaneous increase in energy rates.

Most experts see April as the month when electricity and gas usage is at its lowest point of the year, as a good time to raise rates.

The third quarter, when air conditioner usage is high, and the fourth quarter, when international energy prices rise, plus next year’s general elections are ahead, so if you miss this second quarter, it is highly likely that rate hikes will be more difficult.

This is Park Hong-gu of YTN.

YTN Park Hong-gu ([email protected])

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