TAICHUNG (TVBS News) — Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen announced Monday (March 25) that the city's annual electricity costs will rise by more than NT$15 million due to an increase in electricity prices.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs' Electricity Price Review Committee has decided to raise electricity prices by an average of 11% starting in April.
Lu emphasized that she would not easily adjust the fare of the Taichung Metro and hoped the government could take appropriate measures to exclude public transportation and other livelihood systems from the scope of the electricity price increase.
Lu further explained that as the Taichung Metro is a public transportation system, its fares are already low, causing a deficit. If electricity prices increase further, the metro's deficit will also expand.
The Taichung Mayor pointed out that the rise in electricity prices greatly affects people's livelihoods. In addition to public transportation systems, medical and disability systems, including long-term care and daycare systems, should also be excluded from the scope of the electricity price increase.
The Taichung Metro company stated that last year's electricity expenditure accounted for about 10.1% of the metro's operating costs.
After the adjustment of electricity prices, the maximum increase is estimated to reach 14%.
In the future, the company will reduce the impact of the electricity price increase through cost-saving measures and optimize energy-saving measures to reduce electricity expenditure.