산업용 전기 요금, 서울서 멀수록 싸진다… 최대 10% 할인

Starting next year, industrial electricity bills will vary by location, with prices dropping anywhere from 10% to 18 KRW per kilowatt-hour in Seoul, depending on how far away a business is from the city center, how much power grid usage there is, and how much power the business generates itself. During a public hearing on May 26th, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, along with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), unveiled a design for the region-based "industrial electricity price differentiated system."

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, along with KEPCO, shared the design with key energy officials, including Climate Policy Minister Kim Sung-hwan and KEPCO President Kim Dong-chul. The system will divide the country into four broad regions and further subdivide each region based on the area's energy generation level.

In total, there will be 11 regional categories. The "energy-self-sufficiency level" will be determined by factors such as distance from Seoul, population, and socioeconomic factors. As a result, industrial electricity prices in the southern region will be as low as 0 to 1 KRW per kilowatt-hour, which is 10% lower than the current national average of 181.9 KRW.

This price difference will remain stable for a period, providing market and business stability. It is estimated that this price reduction could save businesses 2.8 trillion KRW annually. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is considering the impact on KEPCO's finances and is reviewing options for state subsidies and adjustments in power wholesale prices between urban and rural areas.

The ministry expects that the regional differentiation of industrial electricity prices will affect 51% of the overall electricity demand, leading to changes in industrial location choices and regional power demand.