< anchor>
From
tomorrow (16th), electricity and gas prices will all go up. Based on a four-person household, it is expected that you will have to pay about 4,3 won more for electricity and 4,3 won for gas per month than now. However, even if this is done, the deficit is still there, and there is a forecast that rates may rise further in the third and fourth quarters of this year.

Today's first news, reporter Jeongyeon, will tell you.

<Reporter>
From
tomorrow, electricity prices will increase by 4 won per kWh and city gas prices will increase by 8.1 won per MJ.

Both are about 04.5% higher than current rate levels.

For a household of four, you will have to pay an average of about 3,4 won for electricity and 3,4 won for gas per month.

In a situation where an increase is inevitable in order to eliminate the accumulating deficit of energy utilities, the increase was decided to be in the single digits in consideration of the burden on the people.

[Lee Chang-yang, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: International energy prices, which have soared due to the Russia-Ukraine war, are stabilizing somewhat, but they are still higher than usual.]

Initially, the hike was discussed at the beginning of the second quarter, but the decision was made more than a month later than the deadline due to the time required to prepare a plan for KEPCO to calm critical public opinion and the resignation of the president.

The rate hike is expected to reduce KEPCO's deficit by about 400.2 trillion won this year, but it is still not enough to normalize management because of the "reverse margin" structure that loses money as it sells electricity.

As a result, there is a possibility of further hikes in the third and fourth quarters of the year, which are expected to take into account both the general election and the high inflation situation.

[Lee Ho-hyun, Minister of Power Innovation Policy, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy: We are not making any predictions at the moment, but we will review it comprehensively and make a judgment.]

In order to ease the burden on vulnerable groups, basic living recipients, the next highest class, etc., will only be subject to the increased unit price for excess usage until March next year.

In addition, small and medium-sized businesses will be able to pay their electricity bills in installments for a limited time, and the energy cashback system will be expanded to allow general households to receive a 2 won refund depending on the amount of electricity saved, plus an additional maximum of 6 won.

(Video Interview: Park Young-il, Video Editing: Shin Se-eun, CG: Jang Seong-beom, Son Seung-pil, Lee Jae-joon)

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