Taiwan Facing Electricity Price Hike 台電1-4月虧損469億 7月電價可能調漲

Premier Su Tseng-chang says power generation costs have gone up significantly and countries around the world are raising prices. He also said he would leave it to experts to determine whether Taiwan should hike price and by how much. Taipower says if it doesn't hike prices, it is looking at losses of NT$200 billion for the year.

Hong Wu, General Manager, IBM Consulting: “( Reporter: “How would a price hike of 3-8 percent affect IBM?”) It would have an impact, but not a huge one.”

The head of IBM Taiwan says adjustments have been made for inflation and higher electricity prices, and a price hike would not affect IBM too much as the company implemented energy conservation measures years ago. He also said electricity prices in Taiwan are cheap compared to other countries and prices should reflect costs.

Hong Wu, General Manager, IBM Consulting: “(Taipower prices) should reflect cost, because it is operating at a loss every year. Over the long term, it will become a public burden since it is funded by taxpayer dollars. Electricity prices are very cheap here compared to other countries.”

Domestic companies are none too thrilled about the possibility of a price hike and threatening to move operations overseas. The government is toying with the idea of raising prices 8-10 percent only for major users. Premier Su Tseng-chang and Economic Affairs Minister Wang Mei-hua say an electricity price review committee will announce a decision on the 27th.

Su Tseng-chang, ROC Premier: “The prices of natural gas, oil and coal have all gone up. Both corporate operating costs and consumer prices need to be considered.”

Wang Mei-hua, Economic Affairs Minister: “The electricity price committee will be made up of government officials, industry representatives and academics. They will look at all factors before making a decision.”

Taipower convened a general meeting on June 24 to announce last year's earnings and losses of NT$46.9 billion in the first quarter of this year. The company says if it doesn't hike prices, it is looking at losses of NT$200 billion for the year.

記者問：「縱使這個電價漲3%到8%，對IBM的影響不大嗎？」台灣IBM諮詢總經理吳建宏表示：「對IBM當然一定有經營的影響，但是的確是可以在我們可控的範圍之內。」

國際筆電大廠IBM台灣分公司總經理吳建宏坦言，大通膨時代來臨，電價調漲是預料中的事，強調IBM多年前，已導入節能措施，漲電價衝擊不大。並強調台灣電費低，若國際燃料價格漲，台電就該反映成本。

台灣IBM諮詢總經理吳建宏說：「（台電）反映成本是必然的，因為每年現在台電的虧損也蠻大的，長期下去對大家也都是一個負擔，因為也都是全民在納稅繳的錢，畢竟我們跟很多國家比起來，電費真的是相對便宜。」

國際企業率先支持電價調漲，但部份本土企業反對，甚至揚言出走抵制。因為據傳這次調漲，只鎖定用電大戶，而且漲幅可能一口氣拉到8%到10%。對此，行政院長蘇貞昌，經濟部長王美花口徑一致，電價漲幅，交由電價費率審議會審議，下周一27日才會公布。

行政院長蘇貞昌表示：「天然氣、油、煤炭都大大的漲價，公司營運成本、民生生活，必須做最妥適的考量。」

經濟部長王美花也說：「電價審議會，會由產官學員組成，那會就各項的因素，去做討論做決定。」

下午，台電將召開股東會，將公布去年營收，也會公布今年營運狀況，今年1到4月，虧損469億。加上5月預估破500億，若再不調漲，繼續虧全年虧損上看2000億。