Water Price Review Proposes More Tiers; Taiwan Water: High-Volume Users to Bear More, Public Unaffected

(Central News Agency reporters Tseng Yun-ting, Hsieh Yi-hsuan, Taipei, 11th) Taiwan's water prices have not been adjusted for over 30 years. Taiwan Water Corporation submitted a water price review report to the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Water Resources Agency for approval last March. Taiwan Water Chairman Li Chia-jung stated today that the review report plans to increase the water price tiers from the current 4 stages to 7 or 8 stages, allowing high-volume water users to bear more costs, with the principle that general residential users will not be affected. He also emphasized that since water prices involve the overall national economic development, adjustments will only proceed after a consensus is reached.

The Legislative Yuan's Economic Committee today reviewed the 115th Central Government General Budget's附屬 unit budget for business operations, including the budgets for CPC Corporation, Taiwan, and Taiwan Water Corporation, which are under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Kuomintang legislator Cheng Cheng-chun questioned Taiwan Water's long-standing losses and improvement measures.

Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin responded by stating that according to Taiwan Water's proposed direction, the water price tiers will be expanded and increased in the future, moving towards a more reasonable system adjustment.

Li Chia-jung pointed out that water prices are closely related to people's livelihoods. Taiwan Water conducted a comprehensive review of current water prices last March and submitted the report to the Water Resources Agency for review. Taiwan Water's current planning direction is to make high-volume water users pay higher fees, thus proposing to increase the current 4-stage tiered system to 7 or 8 stages, with general residential water usage generally remaining unchanged.

Regarding public concern about when water prices will be adjusted, Li Chia-jung stated that it is still in the review stage of the report. Since water price adjustments involve the overall national economic development, adjustments will only be made after a consensus is reached, and currently, there is only the review report.

Li Chia-jung said in March this year that the company currently loses NT$3 for every cubic meter of water sold, and this year's estimated loss is expected to expand to NT$6.9 billion. However, water price adjustments involve people's livelihoods, and coupled with the Middle East war causing energy supply tensions, there is "no timetable" for when water prices will be adjusted. Taiwan Water will continue to implement measures to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. (Editor: Pan Yi-ching) 1150511

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