Over 30,000 Households Classified as 'Super Users' Consuming Over 1000 kWh of Electricity Monthly Last Summer

Average Consumption for 4-Person Households More Than Doubled
Monthly Bill Reaches 300,000 KRW if Over 1000 kWh

It was found that more than 34,000 households were 'super users' (using over 1000kWh in one month), consuming more than twice the average electricity usage of a four-person household last summer. If these households become super users again this summer, they will have to pay over 300,000 KRW per month in electricity bills.

According to Korea Electric Power Corporation (hereafter 'KEPCO') on the 13th, the number of residential electricity customers who used more than 1000kWh in August last year and were charged the 'super user' rate was 34,834 households. By region, Gyeonggi ranked first with 9,335 households, followed by Seoul with 8,696 households. Next were Jeju (3,214 households), Gyeongnam (1,838 households), Busan (1,455 households), and Incheon (1,436 households).

On the 9th, the electric power supply status electronic display board installed at the Korea Electric Power Corporation Seoul Regional Headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, showed the current power consumption and the expected maximum power demand for the day.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The current residential summer electricity rates (July 1 to August 31) are divided into three-tier progressive rates: 'up to 300kWh' (120 KRW per kWh, based on residential low voltage), '301?450kWh' (214.6 KRW), and 'over 450kWh' (307.3 KRW). Additionally, to encourage energy saving among heavy electricity users, a 'super user' rate is applied to residential electricity customers during summer (July?August) and winter (December?February). The 'super user' rate applies the highest rate of 736.2 KRW per kWh for usage exceeding 1000kWh. This rate is six times the lowest rate (120 KRW).

The 1000kWh threshold defining a 'super user' is more than twice the average electricity consumption of a four-person household. Based on the 2020 Energy Total Survey by the Korea Energy Economics Institute, KEPCO estimated the average household electricity consumption in July and August as 316kWh for one-person households, 402kWh for two-person households, 412kWh for three-person households, and 427kWh for four-person households.

A KEPCO official explained, "The super user rate was introduced to provide a signal for energy saving. It was set based on electricity usage levels sufficient for general households to use heating and cooling comfortably, referencing overseas cases such as California in the United States."

Summer Residential Electricity (Low Voltage) Billing Method Table [Image source=Korea Electric Power Corporation]

Since last year, electricity rates have increased by nearly 40%, and if one becomes a 'super user' this summer, they will have to pay over 300,000 KRW per month. For example, if 1001kWh of electricity subject to the 'super user' rate is used this month, the total electricity bill will be 294,770 KRW (rounded down below 10 KRW), including the basic charge (7,300 KRW), energy charge (237,941 KRW), climate environment charge (9,009 KRW), fuel cost adjustment (5,005 KRW), value-added tax (25,926 KRW), and electricity industry fund (9,590 KRW).

The electricity bill for 'super users' rises sharply with even a slight increase in usage. For instance, households using 1300kWh, 1600kWh, and 1900kWh in August would pay 549,810 KRW, 805,690 KRW, and 1,061,590 KRW respectively.

Looking at the scale of 'super users' in August over the past five years, there were 49,206 households in 2018, followed by 17,074 households in 2019, 11,502 households in 2020, 54,415 households in 2021, and 34,834 households in 2022.