Schematic diagram
Author Liu Xingren, associate professor at the National Institute of Development and Research at the Chinese Culture University
The Taiwanese authorities need large enterprises to create job opportunities and tax contributions, and also need political donations from large enterprises , but they have not met the large water and electricity supply needs of enterprises. The electricity price review committee of the front office of the Ministry of Economic Affairs recently decided to increase electricity prices, with an average increase of 8.4%. Large industrial electricity consumers increased their prices by 15%, which they frankly said was too much to bear. A large increase in electricity prices will not only have an impact on large enterprises. The original increase of 3% to 5% is a more acceptable range for everyone. At the same time, a large increase in electricity prices will also affect the competitiveness of enterprises, and will also affect large enterprises or competitive enterprises. The willingness to invest in Taiwan has impacted the recovery of Taiwan's industrial and commercial industries and exports.
Under the impact of the epidemic, all parties are having a hard time. The Tsai administration cannot treat the people as injured, nor can it empathize with the enterprises. Under the changing international environment, the choice of side in the confrontation between China and the United States has made enterprises face the disaster of choosing political sides. Nowadays, coupled with the mistakes in energy policy, pursuing populism and neglecting professionalism, Taiwan's economic recovery and development are seriously affected. When a large part of Taiwan's tax revenue comes from the manufacturing industry, a large increase in electricity prices is neither fair nor correct, nor is it reasonable. The administrative authorities need to There are good and bad things to say about enterprises. A large increase in electricity bills for large enterprises will inevitably worsen Taiwan's investment environment, make economic revitalization worrisome, and also damage the confidence of large enterprises in the Taiwan authorities.
Large companies need a lot of electricity. User payment seems reasonable, but in fact, we all ignore the importance of large enterprises to the development and socio-economic improvement of Taiwan. Large enterprises must bear more social responsibilities, but they are by no means the cash machines of the Tsai administration. The Tsai administration We must provide a water and electricity-free environment for enterprises to develop, and we should pragmatically review the energy structure. If the Tsai administration is anti-nuclear power on one hand and raises electricity bills on the other hand, without considering the use of nuclear power, which is the cleanest and most efficient for net-zero carbon emissions, then By choosing to build offshore wind power and solar energy on a large scale, the performance of the Tsai administration is clearly worthy of review.
In fact, the increase in electricity prices may not have a big impact on large enterprises. It is less pressure than the pressure from ordinary people's lives. Taiwan's large industrial and commercial circles can understand and communicate the necessity of raising electricity prices, and I believe they are willing to cooperate with the administrative authorities. Times are difficult, but under the dual impact of the international and domestic epidemics, especially at the critical moment of summer electricity prices and post-epidemic recovery, the increase in electricity prices may have an impact on the recovery of industrial and commercial industries, and will also affect the rise in people's living prices. Therefore, is it a good time for the Tsai administration to choose this opportunity to raise electricity prices? Large companies do not expect tax cuts to reduce the impact, but the Tsai administration must give large companies a reasonable explanation.
The impact of unstable power supply in Taiwan is far greater than the price of electricity. As the international situation changes, natural gas accounts for such a high proportion. If green energy fails, how can we stabilize the power supply? The Tsai administration’s energy policy must be reviewed, it must not be populist, and it must be professional.
In short, enterprises are concerned about the stability of power supply, and the cost is secondary. However, the Tsai administration must consider extending the service of existing nuclear power and other base-load units. It is not possible to have good horses and not eat grass at the same time. This is not right. It's possible; the Tsai administration's energy policy should have considered energy conservation, carbon reduction and power security. Changing the power supply and demand structure and establishing diversified power supply possibilities is the fundamental way to solve the energy problem. The increase in electricity prices is the first to bear the brunt of commodity prices. The increase in electricity prices by the Tsai administration will undoubtedly make it worse for large companies, eventually leading to unemployment and unpaid leave. These social cost problems will ultimately be borne by the entire population. The development of the administration needs the support of large enterprises, but it is a sin not to be able to eat enough people and not to have money. It is like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered and allowed to be increased by the Tsai administration without restraint.
