The China Post
Date: September 20, 2016
By: Christine Chou
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Hundreds of Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower, 台電公司) employees Monday reached the
This undated photo shows Taipower employees protesting in front of the state-run power company’s building. Protesters have criticized a pending Electricity Act draft revision that they claim would cause a surge in electricity prices.(Photo courtesy of demonstrators )
end of a 15-day march protesting proposed Electricity Act amendments that they say would result in a staggering increase to energy prices.
Protesters claimed the proposed amendments infringed on people’s right to energy, causing a massive hike in electricity bills for households and small- and medium-sized businesses while enriching large enterprises.
A spokeswoman for the protesters, Tseng Yue-huey (曾玥惠), told media that the bill aimed to liberalize the power market but created room for private companies to manipulate prices.
If passed, the first phase of changes would see electricity prices rise by 1.42 times, Tseng said.
“Some costs that are now absorbed by Taipower today may be transferred to consumers after the policy change. It’s impossible to predict how much (prices) may rise in the future,” Tseng said, calling for more public awareness of the bill. [FULL STORY]
