TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) on Tuesday (Oct. 15) defended the carbon fee policy, urging discussions to be based on scientific data rather than the misleading notion of a "universal price surge." Peng highlighted that if Taiwan Power Company (台電) actively reduces carbon emissions, its annual carbon fee would be approximately NT$500 million, affecting the cost per kilowatt-hour by only about NT$0.001.
He addressed concerns raised by Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇), who criticized the policy's underestimated impact on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Responding to Wang's inquiries, Peng stated that setting oil and electricity prices is not within his jurisdiction and described demands for guarantees against rising oil and electricity prices as "political language."
Peng stressed that the carbon fee's initial phase aims to familiarize businesses with the system, noting that Taiwan Power Company's sustainability report clearly suggests that efforts to reduce emissions could lead to preferential rates. Peng also mentioned that the carbon fee's impact on housing prices is about 0.1%, warning that misinformation could lead to errors.