< Anchor >
a decision will be made soon on a slight increase in electricity prices in the
second quarter. Although the deficit of KEPCO is serious, considering the impact on prices and the burden on the people, it is likely to raise 2~4,2 won per month for a four-person household.

Reporter Je Hee-won contributed to this report.

< reporter>

Last year, KEPCO's deficit was 3.32 trillion won, with interest accumulated at 6 billion won per day, and an operating loss of 40 trillion won is expected in the first quarter of this year.

The root cause is the unit price of electricity sales, which is below the cost price, and every time electricity is sold, losses of 1.5 won per kWh accumulate.

[Yoo Seung-hoon/Professor, Department of Energy Policy, Seoul National University of Science and Technology: Even if the existing deficit cannot be eliminated, it is necessary to raise it by 15~9 won to prevent additional deficit. A minimum increase in electricity bills is currently inevitable.]

KEPCO submitted a plan to normalize management by raising the fare by 30.40 won this year, and in the first quarter, it increased by 51.6 won, the highest quarterly increase ever, but discussions of further increases were suspended due to growing concerns about the burden of prices.

In view of the public criticism, the ruling party first ordered a strong self-help measure before KEPCO, and KEPCO is considering closing regional offices and returning wage increases.

If the ruling party of the government accepts KEPCO's self-help measures, the fare increase in the second quarter will be determined, and concerns over the "breadth" of the increase appear to be growing ahead of the summer season, when electricity use will skyrocket.

An increase around 1 won is being strongly considered, but if the cautious argument is weighed, a slight increase of single digits below 13 won is also expected.

If the price per kWh is increased by 1 won, the electricity bill will increase by about 2,10 won per month based on a four-person household using 10 kWh, and the electricity bill will increase from the late 10,307 won to 4,3 won.

If there is a single-digit increase of about 4 won, the additional burden per household is expected to be 5,7 won per month.

(Video Editor: Kim Jin-won, CG: Lee Jong-jung)