Posted July. 06, 2001 20:33,
A household, which uses the air conditioner more than three hours per day, will receive the 3-time higher electricity bill beginning at the end of July. It is anticipated that 3 million households will be charged with over 100,000 won electricity fee, which is 2 to 3 times higher than before.
The reason for such a skyrocketed electricity charge is the progressive stage system on the electricity charge, which began last November. This system divides the household electricity charge into 7 stages, and it charges the household, which exceeds the 500 kWh, 18.5 times higher than those whose amount of electricity usage are under 50 kWh. Moreover, it charges the household, which exceeds the 300 kWh per month, especially more. This system was introduced by the Electricity Committee last November, and seems to take `effect` beginning at the end of this month in which the use of the air conditioner increases.
Once the progressive stage system is applied, if a household with 30-40 pyong-size living room, which used to pay 41,100 won per month (300 kWh per month), uses the 15 pyong type air conditioner 3 hours everyday for one month, it has to pay 116,460 won, which is 183 percent increase (75,360 won), although the total amount of electricity usage increases 60 percent (180 kWh).
Korea Electric Power Corporation said yesterday that ``2.572 million households exceeded the 300 kWh last August. Considering the expansion of the air conditioner supply, more than 3 million households will be applied by the progressive stage system in July and August.``
As the high electricity charge is anticipated, economical housewives are having the `war of sweat`, without being able to readily turn on the air conditioner. A housewife complained that ``although my high school senior son is studying while sweating, we are not able to turn on the air conditioner. His study is not making progress.`` Since quite a number of household are not aware of this charge system, it seems that protest over the electricity charge will become stronger after they receive the bill. An official of the Electricity Committee said that ``we raised the charge 20-40 percent if the amount of the usage exceeds 300 kWh in order to reduce the over consumption of energy since the oil prices exceeded $ 30 per barrel last year.``