소상공인 전기요금 특별지원Since 2020, the management burden of small business owners has accumulated due to the prolongation of COVID-19 and the third crisis, and the burden of electricity bills for small business owners is rapidly increasing following measures to realize electricity rates. The summer general use (A) electricity rate was 100.7 won/kWh in 2020-2021, but increased to 113.0 won/kWh in 2022 and 132.4 won/kWh from May 2023.
Accordingly, a consensus was formed between the ruling and opposition parties on the need to support small and medium-sized businesses, and during the budget deliberation process at the National Assembly last year, a special support budget for electricity bills of 252 billion won was temporarily reflected.
◆ What is the support target and amount?
Those eligible for support for this project are individuals and corporate businesses that are active as of the announcement date, have annual sales of 30 million won or less, and are responsible for paying electricity bills for business (excluding residential use, etc.).
Specifically, the opening date on the business registration certificate must be before December 31, 2023, and the business must not be closed as of the National Tax Service check on the 15th, the date of business announcement. In addition, the annual sales in 2022 or 2023 must be 30 million won or less (exceeding 0 won) based on the National Tax Service inquiry on the business announcement date.
Annual sales are the sales reported for value-added tax by the National Tax Service. However, if the business is opened throughout the year, annual sales are calculated based on the average monthly sales since opening.
The purpose of electricity used at the applicant’s business must be non-residential among general, industrial, agricultural, educational, or residential purposes.
Businesses confirmed as eligible for support can receive support of up to 200,000 won. To prevent duplicate supply, even if one person is the representative of multiple businesses (regardless of whether they are corporations or individuals), only one application can be made, and even for businesses operated by co-representatives, only one representative can apply.
◆ What is the support method?
Considering that there are direct contractors who have signed a contract for electricity use directly with KEPCO, but there are also ‘non-contract users’ who use electricity without signing a contract and then pay for it, the support method is dualized.
First, as the first project, ‘direct contractors’ who have signed a usage contract with KEPCO can apply for two months from the 21st to April 20th.
In the first project, support is provided by KEPCO directly deducting electricity bills from the contractor’s bill, and the deduction benefit is automatically applied from the first bill issued after being notified as a target. For the convenience of applicants, in cooperation with the National Tax Service and Korea Electric Power Corporation, applicants are identified and notified via text message without the need to submit separate documents.
‘Non-contract users’ who use electricity without signing a contract with KEPCO can apply from March 4 to May 3 (second project).
There is a need for support in that non-contract users also use electricity and pay for it, but there is a problem that it is difficult to determine the status of electricity bill payment because there is no contractual relationship with KEPCO and the types of burden are diverse.
In order to minimize blind spots, even non-contract users are refunded up to 200,000 won by separately verifying whether they use electricity for business purposes and documents confirming bill payment.
◆ How to apply?
Businesses who meet the requirements can apply online through ‘Small Business Electricity Rate Special Support.kr’. If you have difficulty applying online, you can visit one of the 77 regional centers of the Small Business Market Promotion Corporation to receive help.
Applications are accepted from 9:00 am to midnight on each application opening date of February 21st and March 4th, from 00:00 am to 6:00pm on each application deadline of April 20th and May 3rd, and 24 hours a day during other application periods. .
Detailed information can be found through an announcement on the Ministry of SMEs and Startups website (www.mss.go.kr) from the 15th. Information can also be obtained through the Small Business Electricity Bill Special Support Call Center (1533-0200) or the Small Business Market Promotion Corporation regional center. there is.
Won Young-jun, head of the Small Business Policy Department at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, said, “We hope that the accumulated management burden of small business owners will be alleviated to some extent through this special support project for electricity bills.” He added, “We ask for active applications from small business owners who are eligible for support. “The Ministry of Venture Business will also work closely with related organizations, including KEPCO, to make every effort to provide support without a hitch,” he said.
