Civilian Groups Urge Energy Conservation Campaign, Not Just Subsidies, Amid Energy Supply Volatility
On April 14, 2026, multiple civilian groups (Homemakers Union and Foundation, Green Citizens' Action Alliance, Taiwan Climate Action Network Research Center) held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. They called for the immediate implementation of a national energy conservation campaign in Taiwan, arguing that government energy subsidies (frozen natural gas and electricity prices, gradual oil price increases) in response to global energy supply volatility after the US-Iran war lead the public to neglect the energy crisis and their responsibility for conservation. The groups urged the government to lead in establishing an energy-saving governance culture, strengthen peak summer load management, and build energy conservation support systems for households and communities. They also criticized the Ministry of Economic Affairs for setting low energy-saving targets for the industrial sector, which consumes 55% of Taiwan's electricity, demanding stricter targets for large and super-large energy users and public disclosure of non-compliant companies. A researcher from Academia Sinica's Institute of Economics pointed out the government's 'subsidy addiction' and suggested that energy prices should reflect costs, with savings returned or distributed to low-income households.
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- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 12:55
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 13:01 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 13:51 (50 min after Collected)
On April 14, 2026, multiple civilian groups held a press conference in Taipei, stating that after the outbreak of the US-Iran war, global energy supply has been volatile. The government announced a freeze on natural gas and electricity prices and a gradual increase in oil prices, using energy subsidies to address the crisis. However, these subsidies cause the public to overlook the current energy crisis and fail to acknowledge their responsibility for energy conservation. The groups called on the government to immediately implement a feasible national energy conservation campaign.
The Homemakers Union and Foundation, Green Citizens' Action Alliance, and Taiwan Climate Action Network Research Center held a press conference titled "Addressing the Energy Crisis: Price Freeze is a Symptom, Energy Conservation is the Cure" at the Legislative Yuan today.
Zhang Qiong-ting, Professor and Director of the Institute of Public Affairs Management at National Sun Yat-sen University, stated that imported energy subsidies mean living at subsidized prices. For example, if a barrel of oil costs 100 NTD, and the government subsidizes 60 NTD, people might think they are living on 40 NTD. However, this situation might crowd out other important expenditures such as education and social welfare.
Wu Bi-shuang, CEO of the Homemakers Union and Foundation, said that oil and electricity subsidies are short-term pain relief. If there are no changes in electricity consumption behavior or system design, the problem will recur. The government should immediately do three things: first, the government should take the lead in establishing an energy-saving governance culture combined with institutional design; second, strengthen peak summer load management and establish flexible work schedules and demand management mechanisms; third, establish energy conservation support systems for households and communities.
Wu Bi-shuang stated that Taiwan is facing a social choice: whether to solve the crisis through subsidies or to build a more resilient energy society.
Chen Shi-ting, Senior Researcher at the Green Citizens' Action Alliance, said that 55% of Taiwan's electricity is used by the industrial sector, which should bear corresponding responsibility for electricity conservation. According to data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Energy Administration, the actual energy-saving potential of industries has already exceeded current policy requirements, but the Ministry of Economic Affairs' set electricity-saving rate is too low to effectively drive industries to achieve deep energy savings. She called on the government to tighten energy-saving targets for large and super-large energy users, enhance information transparency, and publicly disclose the list of companies that fail to meet targets, thereby prompting companies to implement energy conservation more effectively.
Xiao Dai-ji, Researcher at Academia Sinica's Institute of Economics, pointed out that the government currently uses many subsidies for various public affairs, forming a "subsidy addiction" phenomenon. Energy prices should be adjusted to reflect costs, and the saved money should be returned or universally distributed to low-income households. This way, prices can be adjusted, and low-income households will not face difficulties.
The Homemakers Union and Foundation, Green Citizens' Action Alliance, and Taiwan Climate Action Network Research Center held a press conference titled "Addressing the Energy Crisis: Price Freeze is a Symptom, Energy Conservation is the Cure" at the Legislative Yuan today.
Zhang Qiong-ting, Professor and Director of the Institute of Public Affairs Management at National Sun Yat-sen University, stated that imported energy subsidies mean living at subsidized prices. For example, if a barrel of oil costs 100 NTD, and the government subsidizes 60 NTD, people might think they are living on 40 NTD. However, this situation might crowd out other important expenditures such as education and social welfare.
Wu Bi-shuang, CEO of the Homemakers Union and Foundation, said that oil and electricity subsidies are short-term pain relief. If there are no changes in electricity consumption behavior or system design, the problem will recur. The government should immediately do three things: first, the government should take the lead in establishing an energy-saving governance culture combined with institutional design; second, strengthen peak summer load management and establish flexible work schedules and demand management mechanisms; third, establish energy conservation support systems for households and communities.
Wu Bi-shuang stated that Taiwan is facing a social choice: whether to solve the crisis through subsidies or to build a more resilient energy society.
Chen Shi-ting, Senior Researcher at the Green Citizens' Action Alliance, said that 55% of Taiwan's electricity is used by the industrial sector, which should bear corresponding responsibility for electricity conservation. According to data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Energy Administration, the actual energy-saving potential of industries has already exceeded current policy requirements, but the Ministry of Economic Affairs' set electricity-saving rate is too low to effectively drive industries to achieve deep energy savings. She called on the government to tighten energy-saving targets for large and super-large energy users, enhance information transparency, and publicly disclose the list of companies that fail to meet targets, thereby prompting companies to implement energy conservation more effectively.
Xiao Dai-ji, Researcher at Academia Sinica's Institute of Economics, pointed out that the government currently uses many subsidies for various public affairs, forming a "subsidy addiction" phenomenon. Energy prices should be adjusted to reflect costs, and the saved money should be returned or universally distributed to low-income households. This way, prices can be adjusted, and low-income households will not face difficulties.