Cabinet members yesterday confirmed that electricity prices would be raised soon, but along with their confirmation came an appeal to Taipower (台電) to raise prices gradually.
"Unlike the raising of gas prices, the raising of electricity prices concerns more people around the country. As a result, we would ask Taipower to raise the price gradually rather than increasing it in one foul swoop," said Council for Economic Planning and Development Chairman Hu Sheng-cheng (胡勝正).
Hu made the remarks during a press conference after Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) had held a breakfast meeting with local business leaders.
Government Information Office Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) echoed Hu's remarks.
He emphasized that "developing the economy, maintaining public safety, taking care of the poor and establishing ethical governance" had always been the goals for Su's premiership.
"As a result, although the premier said that utility prices will be decided by market mechanisms, the government will get involved when it comes to inflation-related problems," Cheng said.
Hu also revealed that the business leaders and government officials had constructive talks during the meeting and all parties understood that there was a need to raise utility prices. However, Hu said that businesspeople were hoping that the government would come up with more long-term power policies or resolutions as soon as possible.
"Basically, they [the business-people] all understood that there was a need to reflect costs. Anyway, I believe the government is capable of taking care of them and keeping inflation under control," Hu said.
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