Opposition lawmakers are to consider freezing the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ budget and requiring legislative approval for electricity price changes, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) said on Wednesday, after the ministry the day before said it would maintain electricity price hikes.
The legislature on Tuesday passed a non-binding motion to freeze electricity rates in a partisan 59-50 vote, with the Taiwan People’s Party joining the KMT in favor.
The ministry said it would keep the rates that went into effect last month, replying that Article 49 of the Electricity Act (電業法) mandates a twice-yearly committee meeting to decide on prices based on a stipulated formula.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Fu said the caucus would consider freezing the ministry’s budget apart from salaries and essential items during the next review.
In addition, the legislature on Friday is to review an amendment to Article 49 that would require legislative approval for any electricity price changes, he added.
Speaking at a separate news conference, Democratic Progressive Party caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) said that Tuesday’s vote provided another point of view, but a legislative motion does not supercede the law.
Electricity prices are under the purview of the executive branch, she said, adding that legislative approval would overstep constitutionally mandated separation of powers.
Additional reporting by CNA
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