Security guards outside a government building in Seoul use umbrellas to avoid a sweltering heat. [Yonhap News Photo]
President Park Geun-hye called for a change Thursday in South Korea's controversial electricity billing system aimed at overcharging excessive users as a sweltering heat sent electricity use soaring to a new record high.
The progressive billing system was introduced at the height of a global oil crisis in the 1970s to reduce household electricity consumption. It's not applied to industrial use.
"The government has been exploring ways to help people struggling due to unusually high temperatures this year," Park said, adding government and party officials would find out ways to address high utility bills.
A household pays 60.7 won ($0.06) per kilowatt for the first 100 kilowatts a month but the price rises to 125.9 won if electricity use stands between 100 and 200 kilowatts. It soars up to 709.5 won if electricity is consumed in excess of 500 kilowatts.
This summer, the system triggered widespread public complaints as more households relied on air conditioners to stay cool under an unusual heat wave that has lasted for three weeks.
A government survey showed that a South Korean household pays an average of 53,000 won for electricity in spring and fall but the monthly bill goes up to 321,000 won in summer if an air conditioner is kept on for eight hours a day.
South Korea's maximum electricity load rose to a new record high of 84.5 million kilowatts at one point Thursday, according to the state-run Korea Power Exchange.
Usually, more electricity has been spent in winter than in summer. This year a sweltering heat has sent many households running fans and air conditioners day and night. Temperatures have soared above 35 degrees Celsius in many areas.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
