Songpa-gu Expands Public Utility Support for Energy-Vulnerable Groups

Support for Households Behind on Public Utility Bills Such as Electricity and City Gas Using 'Songpa Nanum Power Plant' Profits

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is expanding support for overdue public utility bills such as electricity and city gas for vulnerable groups struggling due to the spread of COVID-19.

Since signing an agreement with the Energy Sharing and Peace Foundation in 2009, Songpa-gu has been operating a total of four 'Songpa Sharing Power Plants' in Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Songpa-gu Resource Circulation Park.

The Songpa Sharing Power Plants are public interest power plants that generate electricity using solar power and utilize the operating profits to support vulnerable groups.

The district combines environment and welfare to support basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income groups, realizing a new form of 'energy welfare.'

In particular, it supports households with overdue electricity and city gas bills to help stabilize the lives of vulnerable groups. Until last year, a total of 1,112 households were supported with 260 million KRW.

Recently, the district judged that the burden of public utility bills on vulnerable groups would increase due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and has expanded the support service starting this month.

The support targets are energy crisis households such as basic livelihood security recipients and lower-income groups. The waiting period for households that previously had to wait more than two years after one support has been reduced to one year so they can receive benefits again.

The support limit per household has been increased from 390,000 KRW to 700,000 KRW. In addition to unpaid and overdue bills, current month bills are also supported, and support has been extended not only to electricity and city gas but also to water and sewage bills.

The expanded support measures will continue until the declaration of the end of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The district plans to actively support low-income households facing energy poverty by identifying them through each community service center and the Welfare Policy Division.

Furthermore, the district plans to support the stabilization of vulnerable groups' lives through projects such as ▲ LED lighting and replacement of old home appliances ▲ fan support for elderly living alone during summer heatwaves ▲ energy efficiency projects for social welfare facilities ▲ support projects for impoverished countries overseas.

For more details, contact the Songpa-gu Environment Division.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Through the Songpa Sharing Power Plants, we achieve a twofold effect by protecting the environment and supporting energy-vulnerable groups. We will pay even more careful attention so that vulnerable groups going through difficult times due to COVID-19 can live safe and peaceful daily lives.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.