Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy expands residential energy cashback program for second half of 2026; eligibility threshold lowered from 3% to 1% reduction
Households that reduce their electricity consumption in the second half of this year will receive larger cashback credits on their utility bills.
The Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy and Korea Electric Power Corp. announced Thursday that the residential energy cashback rate for meter readings from July through December will be raised to 30–120 won per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous range of 30–100 won.
The eligibility threshold has also been lowered. Previously, households had to cut consumption by at least 3 percent to qualify for any cashback. Under the expanded program, a reduction of between 1 percent and 3 percent will earn a cashback of 30 won per kilowatt-hour.
The residential energy cashback program credits participants' electricity bills when their monthly consumption falls by a set percentage compared with average usage for the same month over the previous two years.
The ministry said it was expanding the program from the second half of this year "to respond to the resource security crisis and energy supply instability stemming from the prolonged war in the Middle East, and to encourage voluntary public participation in energy conservation."
thlee@heraldcorp.com
