[대한경제=김진후 기자] Amidst the conflict between the farmers and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), who asked for punishment for the inspection of the violation of the agricultural electricity use contract, KEPCO took the position that it was a legitimate business procedure. However, in the future, it is a policy to improve work standards and enforcement procedures by adequately reflecting the views of farmers and fishermen.
KEPCO (CEO Jeong Seung-il) announced on the 29th that it plans to formulate measures to create a fair and reasonable electricity consumption environment in relation to civil complaints regarding the violation of electricity consumption.
According to the basic supply terms and conditions, KEPCO is in a position that all electricity users must receive a rate that is suitable for the purpose and use of electricity, and that improper use can increase the burden on other users. In particular, the view is that there is concern about misuse as electricity for agricultural use introduced to support small farmers and fishermen is used at a significantly lower rate (56.9 won/㎾h, 139.1 won/㎾h for use general) compared to other uses.
Earlier, in November last year, KEPCO’s Gurye branch caused controversy over ‘interference’ and ‘excessive penalty charge’ in the process of inspecting the use of cold storage by a certain farm house, which was an agricultural electricity contractor. This is because large quantities of processed goods subject to electricity bills for general consumption, not crops, have been stored in the cold storage.
KEPCO said, “The violation check is an activity that targets all electricity consumers to protect electricity consumers, and this agricultural electricity check is also a minimum measure to maintain a fair trade order.”
However, apart from the legality of the inspection process, it appears to be evolving, saying that if there are problems with the work processing standards, they will make improvements.
KEPCO said, “With this debate as an opportunity, it is necessary to review in detail the general processing of agricultural crimes, such as standards and procedures for processing work and the propriety of field application, and boldly improve if there are problems.” We plan to prepare and implement concrete system improvement measures while fully listening to their voices,” he explained.
The intention of the improvement plan is to review the difficulties of farmers and fishermen comprehensively together with the △ location award criteria △ the validity of the penalty calculation △ the rationality of the customer consultation process. The current placebo inspection is a policy to be implemented after an adequate lead period and active lead as a precautionary measure until improvement measures are prepared. However, unauthorized use of electricity remains under investigation.
KEPCO said, “We will actively support the efficient use of electricity in agricultural and fishing equipment by significantly increasing the amount of high efficiency equipment support items and subsidies from 1.9 billion won last year to 14 billion won this year to support the local agriculture and the subsidies. fisheries ecosystem and continue to co-exist with farmers and fishermen.” .
Correspondent Kim Jin-hu jhkim@
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