Up to 20% Rebate on High-Efficiency Home Appliances Purchase Costs for Vulnerable Groups

Persons with Disabilities Levels 1-3, National and War Veterans, Basic Livelihood Security Recipients, and Near-Poverty Class Targeted

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 1st that it will increase support for the purchase of high-efficiency home appliances this year to reduce the energy bill burden on vulnerable groups.

Until now, households receiving electricity bill welfare discounts have been supported with 10% of the purchase price of high-efficiency home appliances, up to 300,000 KRW per household.

Starting this year, while maintaining the 300,000 KRW limit per household, households receiving electricity bill welfare discounts will be divided into two types, Group A and Group B, based on income level, and the refund rates for 11 items including TVs, washing machines, and electric rice cookers will be differentiated.

Accordingly, Group A, which has relatively lower income (including persons with disabilities grades 1 to 3, national and war veterans, basic livelihood security recipients, and near-poverty groups), will see the refund rate for home appliance purchase costs increase from the existing 10% to 20%. To this end, the authorities will invest more than half of the total project budget (13.9 billion KRW). Group B (large families, households with three or more children) will maintain the refund rate at 10%.

However, households in areas supplied by district electricity business operators rather than KEPCO must apply directly to the local operator to receive refunds. If the budget is exhausted early, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to notify in advance through its website. The ministry expects the high-efficiency appliance purchase support project to reduce the annual electricity consumption of 2,100 households by 8 GWh.

Meanwhile, eligible households can apply online by attaching the energy efficiency grade label, manufacturer’s serial number plate, transaction statement, and receipt of the purchased product through the website.

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