Summer electricity rates for Taiwan's households to start on June 1

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower) announced recently that higher summer electricity rates will be in effect from June 1 to Sept. 30 for around 15 million households and small businesses.

According to the state-run company's calculations based on past electricity use, the electricity bill for the general household is on average NT$478 (US$15.95) higher during each summer month.

However, about 70 percent of the higher cost is due to increased use of electricity from air conditioning, and only 30 percent reflects the higher electricity rates, the company said.

Taipower added that summer rates only apply to households that use more than 120 kilowatt-hours (kwh) in a month, meaning that around 3.83 million households that use less than that will not be affected by the higher summer rates.

The electricity rates for households are based on a progressive rate system with six levels. Households using over 1,000 kwh in a month will see summer electricity rates of NT$8.46 per kwh, while those using less power will enjoy the lowest rate of NT$1.68 per kwh, according to Taipower.

Summer electricity rates are implemented to reasonably reflect the cost difference of power supply during the peak season, Taipower said.

On May 16, Taipower began charging around 26,000 high-voltage electricity users with higher summer rates, which will continue to Oct. 15.