Cheonan City to Raise Sewage Fees for the First Time in 6 Years... Annual Increase of 7.5% Planned

Increase Starting Next February...Abolition of Progressive Rate for Household Electricity

Cheonan City in Chungnam Province will raise its sewage fees for the first time in six years.

According to the city on the 18th, the fee increase had been postponed to ease the burden on citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with rising prices leading to greater deficits, the city has decided to implement the increase.

As of last year, the city’s sewage fee cost recovery rate was 49.2%, which is lower than the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s recommended standard of 70%.

Accordingly, the city plans to gradually raise sewage fees by 7.5% each year until 2029. At the same time, the progressive rate system for household use will be abolished, and the fee structures for general and public bathhouse use will be reorganized.

For households, if the average monthly usage per household is 15 tons, an additional fee of about 750 won per year is expected.

For general and public bathhouse use, the rate structure will be reorganized from five to three tiers for general use, and from four to three tiers for public bathhouse use, considering the proportion of each usage segment.

The proposed sewage fee increase will go through legislative procedures and public notice, and after review by the Cheonan City Council, is scheduled to take effect from February next year.

A city official said, "It is inevitable to raise the fees in order to provide stable sewage administration services to citizens," adding, "With the increase, the cost recovery rate is expected to reach over 70%, which meets the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s recommendation, by 2029."