The Ministry of Economic Affairs will not be able to submit a draft amendment to the Electricity Act (電業法) to the Executive Yuan before the end of this month because of objections from the Taiwan Power Co (Taipower, 台電) union over some changes to regulations.
To avoid escalating the conflict between the union and the government, the Bureau of Energy said it would no longer set a time frame to send the amendment to the Cabinet or to the Legislative Yuan.
Under the Executive Yuan’s plan, the ministry was to submit the amendment to the Cabinet before the end of this month and forward the amendment to the legislature before September.
“We would like to communicate and gain approval from Taipower’s union members before proposing the amendment to the Executive Yuan,” a high-ranking bureau official said by telephone.
The bureau said that a third public hearing for the draft amendment would be held at Taipower’s headquarters in Taipei on Tuesday next week, and that union members are welcome to attend the hearing.
The amendment has been a priority since the new government took office in May, as it is part of the government’s efforts to privatize the nation’s electricity industry and develop a “green” energy” industry.
According to the draft amendment, the government plans to split Taipower into two businesses — one for power generation and one for power transmission and distribution.
The bureau held public hearings on Monday and Tuesday this week at the bureau’s office in Taipei, but more than 100 union members gathered in front of the bureau’s office on Tuesday to protest the amendment.
Union chairman Ting Tsuo-yi (丁作一) said the ministry failed to meet the unions’ demand to maintain the unity of Taipower’s business and protect employees’ interests.
Ting said he would not attend the bureau’s public hearing next week because he does not believe the ministry anymore.
The union will host a provisional meeting on Thursday next week to discuss the possibility of taking “drastic measures” against the ministry, Ting said.
About 95 percent of Taipower’s employees are registered members of the Taipower Labor Union (台灣電力工會).
In related news, the ministry yesterday evening released a media statement saying that it has approved the resignation of Taipower chairman Hwang Jung-chiou (黃重球) with immediate effect.
The ministry said Hwang resigned due to personal health issues, adding that the ministry has secured the Cabinet’s approval to appoint Taipower president Chu Wen-chen (朱文成) to succeed Hwang.
Local media had reported that the government was planning to replace Hwang, partly because he was not able to mitigate the tension between the government and the Taipower union.
Ting said he asked Hwang why he chose to resign.
Ting quoted Hwang as saying: “You should not ask me that question. You should ask Lee Chih-kung (李世光) about it.”
The Taipei Times could not reach Hwang or Minister of Economic Affairs Lee Chih-kung for comment as of press time last night.
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