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ECONOMY BOX / ECONOMICS

Residential Electricity Rates — Just the Progressive Tiers and Unit Prices in Tables

BOXLOGODEVTranslated from Korean 한국어 원문 보기

This English version is a translation of the original Korean post. Text, screenshots and product details reflect the date it was written.

An old analog electricity meter mounted on a worn concrete wall, its counter reading 032756, with cables running down the side.

Compare the figures on a bill only after lining up the tiers, unit prices and add-on items in the same table.

This post covers Korean residential electricity rates set by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), and the linked official sources are in Korean.

1. Boxes to check first on the bill

ItemDefinitionSource
Basic chargeApplied to the rated demand from the start date of supply, regardless of whether any electricity is usedBasic Supply Terms Article 67(1)1. [S1]
Energy chargeLevied on the electricity usedArticle 67(1)2. [S1]
Fuel cost adjustment charge and climate/environment chargeIncluded in the rate principleMinistry of Trade, Industry and Energy notice, Article 14(2). [S1]
Eligible customersResidential use with contracted power of 3kW or less; single-person lodgings (including dormitories) and collective residential social welfare facilities (on request); residential officetelsTerms Article 56. [S1]

In principle the residential electricity rate is basic charge + energy charge + fuel cost adjustment charge + climate/environment charge. (Notice on Detailed Criteria for Electricity Generation Business Licenses, Electricity Rate Calculation Criteria, Permissible Error of Watt-hour Meters and Power System Operation, Article 14(2). Quoted by [S1])

For monthly rates, see Article 67 and Annex 1 of the Basic Supply Terms. (S1)

The eligible customers are the four lines above. Industrial rates are not assessed.

2. Residential progressive tiers and unit prices (other seasons)

Written as of 2026-07-15. The table below is Annex 1 of the terms as quoted by the everyday law information site. (S1)

VoltageElectricity usedBasic charge (won/household)Energy charge (won/kWh)
Low voltage 110–380V200kWh or less910120.0
Low voltage201–400kWh1,600214.6
Low voltageOver 400kWh7,300307.3
High voltage 3,300V or more200kWh or less730105.0
High voltage201–400kWh1,260174.0
High voltageOver 400kWh6,060242.3

KEPCO's Korean-language rate table page (CYEEHP00101) still shows a six-tier table as of January 14, 2013. Those figures are not used. (S8)

The residential energy charge was frozen in the October 23, 2024 announcement by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KEPCO. (S3) The previous residential adjustment was on May 16, 2023, by 8 won per kWh. (S4)

The worked example uses only basic charge + energy charge. For low voltage at 200kWh: 910 + 200 × 120.0 = 24,910 won. Value-added tax, the climate/environment charge and the fuel cost adjustment charge are not added.

3. Summer (July–August) tiers

This table is KEPCO's July 21, 2026 notice as quoted by Yonhap News. The article does not split by voltage, so only low voltage is shown. (S2)

TierUsageEnergy chargeBasic charge (won/household)
1300kWh or less120 won/kWh910
2Over 300kWh up to 450kWh214.6 won/kWh1,600
3Over 450kWh307.3 won/kWh7,300

The high-voltage summer tiers are not in this article, so they are omitted.

4. Add-on items

ItemRateSource
Value-added tax10%Value-Added Tax Act. [S1]
Electric Power Industry Basis Fund2.7% of the electricity bill (27/1,000)Electric Utility Act Article 51, Enforcement Decree Article 36 (Presidential Decree No. 34543). [S1][S5]

A special provision in the Enforcement Decree's addenda set it at 32/1,000 from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. As of August 2026 it is 2.7%. (S5)

A TV license fee may be billed. The amount is not given here. (S1)

The won/kWh figures for the climate/environment charge and the fuel cost adjustment charge are not in this post. See KEPCO's calculator, the current month's bill and the published terms. (S6, S7)

5. Where to check under the same conditions

  1. The everyday law information table. Check the date it was written. (S1)
  2. KEPCO electricity bill calculator. https://home.kepco.co.kr/kepco/front/html/CY/J/A/CYJAPP010.html (S6)
  3. Electricity Supply Terms, Annex 1. https://home.kepco.co.kr/kepco/front/html/CY/D/C/CYDCHP00406.html (S7)
  4. KEPCO ON. https://online.kepco.co.kr (S1)
  5. The KEPCO residential rate table on the Public Data Portal (file as of 2024-07-01) is for reference only. For unit prices in the body, [S1] takes priority. (S9)

6. Checklist

#BoxWhere
1Whether the contract type is residential, and low or high voltageBill, KEPCO ON
2Which tier this month's usage (kWh) falls inTable in section 2 or 3
3Whether the basic charge equals that tier's flat amountS1 table
4If the meter-reading month is July–August, whether summer tiers applyS2
5VAT 10%, fund 2.7%S1 S5
6Fuel cost adjustment and climate/environment from the current month's notice/billS6 S7
7Whether the same usage was entered in KEPCO's calculatorS6

Sources

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