The Taiwan government’s “Ministry of Economic Affairs” electricity price review meeting recently decided not to raise electricity prices. Since the new version of the electricity price formula was put on the road in 2017, this is the third consecutive freeze increase. This frozen increase will last until the end of March next year. In other words, no matter what earth-shaking changes occur in the international energy market before next year's election, Taiwan's electricity prices will remain unchanged. Taiwan's "United Daily News" commented that under the sugar-coating of the "three consecutive freezes" on electricity prices, Taiwan Power's huge losses, the collapse of the electricity price adjustment mechanism, and the Democratic Progressive Party's selfishness in using public funds to fight for elections are wrapped up.
commented that the Tsai administration announced an increase in electricity prices in March last year, which caused widespread public complaints. The reason is that when Tsai Ing-wen was running for leadership, she promised that the energy transition would not cause an increase in electricity prices; but the vote bounced after less than two years, and the voters of course changed their attitude. Since then, electricity prices on the island have been frozen and raised three times in a row, two of which happened to be before the island's general election. It can be seen that the real consideration of freezing the increase is to prevent the increase in electricity prices from causing public dissatisfaction and thus affecting the election.
commented that Taiwan relies on imports for more than 90% of its energy, and the main factor affecting electricity prices is international energy prices. The "Ministry of Economic Affairs" should have objectively assessed international energy trends, reasonably regulated electricity prices, and prevented the benefits of subsidies from being concentrated on a few people or companies. However, judging from the recent holding of electricity price and rate review meetings, this meeting has become a rubber stamp. 's current electricity price adjustment decision does not depend on data analysis, but on the arbitrary manipulation of the "Ministry of Economic Affairs".
commented that the Tsai administration is convinced that the opposition parties are weak, and this kind of money-spending policy that is generous to the people will continue to appear before the election. But there is no such thing as a free lunch. The Tsai administration was in a hurry to serve food before the election, but after the election, all Taiwanese people were waiting to pay the price . (China Taiwan Net Chengliang)
