Yeongdeungpo-gu Supports Cooling Costs and More for Vulnerable Groups This Summer

Yeongdeungpo-gu, Generous Benefits for Summer! Beat the Heat and Cut Cooling Costs

Special Cooling Cost Support for Low-Income Energy-Vulnerable Households... 50,000 KRW Cash Payment

Providing Air Conditioner Outdoor Unit Shades to 1,000 Households to Reduce Electricity Bills and Improve Energy Efficiency

Supporting Vulnerable Groups to Have a Healthy and Safe Summer with Safe Shelters and Summer Supplies

Elderly People Using Heat Relief Shelters

Yeongdeungpo-gu (Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will provide various supports for low-income vulnerable groups amid forecasts of record-breaking heat waves this summer.

As the heat wave arrives, the number of energy-disadvantaged groups worrying about rising cooling costs due to increased electricity bills is growing.

This is because the two electricity rate hikes in the first half of this year have made concerns about a cooling cost shock bill more real than the heat wave itself.

The district will provide a total of 570 million KRW in special cooling cost support to about 11,000 vulnerable households burdened by consecutive electricity rate increases.

Residents registered in the district who are recipients of the National Basic Livelihood Security or belong to the lower-income bracket will receive 50,000 KRW per household without a separate application. This special support is a proactive measure to prepare for the soaring cooling costs due to the intense heat. In particular, the district has ensured that this benefit can be received separately from the energy voucher program, which supports electricity and heating costs in summer and winter.

Furthermore, the district has prepared measures not only to support cooling costs but also to reduce the burden on vulnerable groups struggling with rising electricity bills and to improve air conditioner efficiency.

In June, the district urgently allocated an additional budget to provide air conditioner outdoor unit shades to 1,000 households, including National Basic Livelihood Security recipients and lower-income groups.

According to a study, installing shades on air conditioner outdoor units lowers the outdoor unit temperature, reducing power consumption by about 9% and saving more than 20% on electricity bills.

Those eligible for the air conditioner outdoor unit shade support, such as National Basic Livelihood Security recipients or lower-income groups, can visit the district office’s Environment Division or their local community service centers or call them. The district plans to distribute the shades sequentially starting mid-July and will personally install them for elderly households that have difficulty with installation.

Additionally, the district operates heatwave shelters where elderly and local residents can cool down and rest safely. For low-income seniors aged 65 or older living in poor housing conditions, some hotel rooms are provided as safe shelters to escape the heat safely.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “As the heat wave continues, we will support not only cooling costs but also provide air conditioner outdoor unit shades to save energy so that residents can spend the summer safely and healthily. Yeongdeungpo will carefully watch over and diligently take care of low-income vulnerable groups living in poor housing conditions to help them get through this summer well.”