Premier Su Tseng-chang (
"If the Taiwan Power Co wants to raise prices today, I think most people would not blame the company because it has been suffering for a long time," Su said at Taipower's 60th anniversary celebration yesterday.
The government will respect the company's decision on electricity prices and will not interfere with its policy, Su stressed.
PHOTO: LIAO CHEN-HUEI, TAIPEI TIMES
Given that Taipower has for the past week indicated that price rises were on the cards, many had expected that the premier would announce higher prices at yesterday's Taipower event.
Although he failed to do so, his remarks yesterday indicated that the company will raise prices at some point in the near future.
In his speech the premier emphasized Taipower's unique policies. He said that Taipower was unusual in that it never promoted its products. On the contrary, it has constantly urged the public to save as much power as possible.
Furthermore, the company had not raised prices for 23 years and, indeed, had cut prices 11 times over that period, Su said.
"The prices of the coal and gas that the company uses as sources to produce power are not the same as they were a decade ago. I think it is necessary that the company's prices reflect this," Su said.
He also praised the company's 60 years of service to the nation.
"For the past 60 years, the company's contribution to this country has boosted economic development and made this country one of the most advanced in the world. This is remarkable," Su said.
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