Water Fee Dispute: Feitsui Reservoir Administration to Establish Compensation Mechanism Based on Control Yuan's Opinion
The Taipei Feitsui Reservoir Administration is demanding water consumption fees from Taipower for emergency hydropower generation, arguing that the rapid release of water wastes precious drinking resources by flushing it into the sea. Taipower argues hydropower is non-consumptive, leading to an ongoing dispute.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 19, 2026 at 22:38
- 🔍 Collected: April 19, 2026 at 23:15 (37 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 01:24 (2h 9m after Collected)
The Taipei Feitsui Reservoir Administration stated on the 17th that last year they submitted the "Draft Agreement for Hydropower Generation Extended Hours Water Consumption Compensation by Taipower" and negotiated to exchange views. However, Taipower still indicated it "cannot agree." To protect the domestic water supply for roughly 6 million residents in the Greater Taipei area, the Administration will no longer cooperate with extended power generation support until a reasonable compensation mechanism is in place.
The Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated today that hydropower generation is not a water-consuming behavior. According to Article 84-1 of the Water Act, the MOEA does not levy water consumption fees for hydropower usage. Taipower also stated that water consumption fees should be levied on those who practically "consume water resources," whereas the tailwater from hydropower generation remains entirely in downstream dams and weirs, meaning water resources are not reduced or depleted.
The Feitsui Reservoir Administration issued a press release tonight stating that a 2024 corrective measure by the Control Yuan pointed out that if high-quality Feitsui water is released exclusively for power generation and then flows into the sea, there is room for review.
The Administration explained that whenever they urgently support Taipower's temporary power dispatch, the reservoir must release a volume of water far exceeding domestic needs within a short period. Downstream facilities cannot store such massive discharges, which are wasted as they flow into rivers and the ocean. This type of emergency discharge inevitably wastes precious domestic water resources. Therefore, referencing the Control Yuan's audit opinion, they hope to charge Taipower water consumption fees for temporary power generation dispatches.
Regarding the claim that local governments have no right to collect water consumption fees, the Administration stated this is a confusion of facts. The reality is that, based on the Control Yuan's audit opinion, the Administration is drafting a reasonable compensation mechanism modeled on the water consumption compensation rates set by the MOEA.
The Administration stated it has sent official letters 7 times asking Taipower to address the Control Yuan's opinion that the "purchase rate is too low" and has repeatedly invited Taipower for contract negotiations, but has received no concrete response so far, with Taipower still refusing to negotiate prices.
The Administration noted that the proposed water compensation draft sets the rate at NT$3 per cubic meter, based on standards in the MOEA's water consumption levy regulations, which can be negotiated and agreed upon by both parties.
Regarding claims that "water after power generation can still meet other downstream needs," the Administration clarified that the downstream weir of the Feitsui Reservoir is not inherently a reservoir and usually operates at a high water level. It does not have enough capacity to store the extra water released for power generation, so most of the massively discharged water goes directly into rivers and ultimately the sea, making it difficult to effectively reuse.
Administration Director Lin Yu-yi stated that extra support for Taipower from the Feitsui Reservoir consumes 288,000 tons of water per hour for hydropower. An international standard swimming pool holds 2,500 tons. Generating emergency power for one hour consumes water equivalent to 115 international standard swimming pools.
He cited last year's breakdown at Taipower's Linkou Thermal Power Plant as an example. The Feitsui Reservoir supported Taipower's emergency for two days totaling 4 hours (2 hours a day), consuming 1,152,000 tons of water, equivalent to 460 international standard swimming pools.
Furthermore, the water consumed during last year's emergency support for the Linkou plant breakdown was equivalent to the daily water usage of 1.53 million households, or the daily domestic water use of 4 million people.
The Administration emphasized that water resources are a precious asset for domestic livelihoods. Currently, several reservoirs in central and southern Taiwan are facing tight water situations, with the Zengwen Reservoir's low levels risking hitting bottom. This further highlights the importance of water conservation and rational use in Taiwan, urging the central government and relevant units to recognize the value of precious domestic water resources.
The Water Resources Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated today that hydropower generation is not a water-consuming behavior. According to Article 84-1 of the Water Act, the MOEA does not levy water consumption fees for hydropower usage. Taipower also stated that water consumption fees should be levied on those who practically "consume water resources," whereas the tailwater from hydropower generation remains entirely in downstream dams and weirs, meaning water resources are not reduced or depleted.
The Feitsui Reservoir Administration issued a press release tonight stating that a 2024 corrective measure by the Control Yuan pointed out that if high-quality Feitsui water is released exclusively for power generation and then flows into the sea, there is room for review.
The Administration explained that whenever they urgently support Taipower's temporary power dispatch, the reservoir must release a volume of water far exceeding domestic needs within a short period. Downstream facilities cannot store such massive discharges, which are wasted as they flow into rivers and the ocean. This type of emergency discharge inevitably wastes precious domestic water resources. Therefore, referencing the Control Yuan's audit opinion, they hope to charge Taipower water consumption fees for temporary power generation dispatches.
Regarding the claim that local governments have no right to collect water consumption fees, the Administration stated this is a confusion of facts. The reality is that, based on the Control Yuan's audit opinion, the Administration is drafting a reasonable compensation mechanism modeled on the water consumption compensation rates set by the MOEA.
The Administration stated it has sent official letters 7 times asking Taipower to address the Control Yuan's opinion that the "purchase rate is too low" and has repeatedly invited Taipower for contract negotiations, but has received no concrete response so far, with Taipower still refusing to negotiate prices.
The Administration noted that the proposed water compensation draft sets the rate at NT$3 per cubic meter, based on standards in the MOEA's water consumption levy regulations, which can be negotiated and agreed upon by both parties.
Regarding claims that "water after power generation can still meet other downstream needs," the Administration clarified that the downstream weir of the Feitsui Reservoir is not inherently a reservoir and usually operates at a high water level. It does not have enough capacity to store the extra water released for power generation, so most of the massively discharged water goes directly into rivers and ultimately the sea, making it difficult to effectively reuse.
Administration Director Lin Yu-yi stated that extra support for Taipower from the Feitsui Reservoir consumes 288,000 tons of water per hour for hydropower. An international standard swimming pool holds 2,500 tons. Generating emergency power for one hour consumes water equivalent to 115 international standard swimming pools.
He cited last year's breakdown at Taipower's Linkou Thermal Power Plant as an example. The Feitsui Reservoir supported Taipower's emergency for two days totaling 4 hours (2 hours a day), consuming 1,152,000 tons of water, equivalent to 460 international standard swimming pools.
Furthermore, the water consumed during last year's emergency support for the Linkou plant breakdown was equivalent to the daily water usage of 1.53 million households, or the daily domestic water use of 4 million people.
The Administration emphasized that water resources are a precious asset for domestic livelihoods. Currently, several reservoirs in central and southern Taiwan are facing tight water situations, with the Zengwen Reservoir's low levels risking hitting bottom. This further highlights the importance of water conservation and rational use in Taiwan, urging the central government and relevant units to recognize the value of precious domestic water resources.