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smithy
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:58 am Post subject: |
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| hagwonnewbie wrote: |
OK, there was notice in my office tel.
Electric bills averaging 70,000 won will increase to at least 500,000 won starting in December.
Lucky for me, I'm gone in a couple weeks.
Sayonara, suckers........ |
Come on, really? That would be insane. My office tel is only electric, and my last two bills were around the 110/120k mark. |
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hagwonnewbie
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Asia
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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No problem reading the notice. It was in English and our building manager is fluent in English.
My co-worker and boss both speak Korean and both got insane bills. His was 450 for his office tel. That included all fees and other utilities. They both called KEPCO and got the same response.
Apparently KEPCO's response was to hire an army of CS agents to take phone calls from all the people freaking out right now.
This is a big deal and could end up being a deal breaker for a lot of teachers. It makes the visa document issue and fees pale in comparison. |
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jamesd
Joined: 15 Aug 2011
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| You'd be better off getting a nice spacious 2 bedroom apartment now. |
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smithy
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| hagwonnewbie wrote: |
No problem reading the notice. It was in English and our building manager is fluent in English.
My co-worker and boss both speak Korean and both got insane bills. His was 450 for his office tel. That included all fees and other utilities. They both called KEPCO and got the same response.
Apparently KEPCO's response was to hire an army of CS agents to take phone calls from all the people freaking out right now.
This is a big deal and could end up being a deal breaker for a lot of teachers. It makes the visa document issue and fees pale in comparison. |
Is it possible that this is just for your building? I live in Gyeonggi in an office tel and this has shit me up. Anybody other than hagwonnewbie heard anything? |
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hagwonnewbie
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Asia
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:42 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure how my coworker managed to get such a high bill. I guess they have a big place with track lighting and two big screens.
You'll definitely see your rates go up next year, but if you live in a studio and use flourescent lighting and energy saving appliances wisely, you should be OK.
http://cyber.kepco.co.kr/cyber/01_personal/01_payment/payment_calculate/cal_01.jsp |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:04 am Post subject: Re: If you live in an officetel get ready for a huge bill |
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| hagwonnewbie wrote: |
Apparently (I have no source other than friends and co-workers now) there is some new law in effect in at least Gyeonggi-do, maybe all of Korea.
It will affect your utility bill this month and perhaps in the future.
The people I know saw their electric bills go from 40,000 won to 200,000 won.
Has anyone else heard about this?
My bils go directly to the organization I work for because they provide my housing. I'm expecting a shocker next week... |
Since this rate increase is apparently only happening in officetels, I will offer you what seems likely to be the reason.
Officetels are legally restricted to be used as offices and are not zoned for housing. It has been an open secret that many people live in them and the managers have looked the other way or encouraged it.
As a business, officetels are entitled to arrange for special electric rates for higher use. They register, pay a large tax, and make any upgrades needed to the electrical system to qualify.
Residential housing units do not qualify for the business electric rates. They face higher electric rates according to their usage levels so that they will use natural gas for heating (older residences use more expensive heating oil).
Apparently, the authorities have decided that if these units are being used as residences, they will no longer qualify for the business electric rates and will have to pay the residential rates. However, if they have electric heat, the electric bills will soar. |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Problem is with the changes to the billing everyone is losing some good housing. Officetels are the perfect inbetween housing for ESLers. They aren't as cramped as one rooms and not as pricey as apartments. That really only leaves villa/two rooms and the like. |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| So I'm going to be better off getting an electric mat thingy rather than use my heating in my officetel this winter right? |
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