"No More Missed Benefits Due to Lack of Awareness"... Seoul Energy Corporation Overhauls Heating Bill Welfare Administration

"Ontong (Warmth Connection) Welfare Service" to Launch Next Year
Continuous Support with a Single Consent, No Need to Reapply

Seoul Energy Corporation (President Hwang Boyeon) announced on the 23rd that it will completely overhaul its welfare administration for citizens who miss out on heating bill (thermal charge) welfare benefits due to lack of awareness or missed opportunities. Starting next year, the company will abolish the application-based system and implement the "Ontong (Warmth Connection) Welfare Service."

Employees of Seoul Energy Corporation are volunteering to install insulation to help elderly households reduce heating costs during winter in the Deungchon-dong area of Gangseo-gu. Provided by Seoul Energy Corporation.

With this policy reform, once a citizen consents to provide their personal information for the first time, they will continue to receive heating bill welfare benefits for as long as they reside in the same area, without the need to reapply. Previously, reapplication was required every three years.

Even if residents move within the same apartment complex or heat supply area, support will continue automatically. Until now, they had to reapply through the management office every time they moved.

The application period has also been significantly extended. Previously, if citizens missed the regular application period in May each year, they had to wait until the following year. From next year, however, applications can be submitted at any time until October. However, reapplication is necessary if there is a change in name or bank account.

Meanwhile, Seoul Energy Corporation fully exempts the basic thermal usage fee for social welfare facilities of 60 square meters or less in rental apartments, and provides a 30% discount on thermal usage fees for childcare and educational facilities. The company is also working to reduce thermal usage fees by approximately 10% for 69,076 rental housing units.

This accounts for 27% of the corporation's total 260,000 heat-supplied households, and the annual amount of heating bill support for socially disadvantaged groups reaches approximately 4.8 billion won.

President Hwang Boyeon stated, "The Ontong Welfare Service was initiated out of a desire to ensure that heating bill welfare does not remain merely a policy, but is properly delivered into the daily lives of citizens," adding, "Through smart welfare that links data and administration, we aim to create a city without energy blind spots."