The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has announced that measures to reduce the burden of electricity and gas charges, which have been continued as a measure to combat soaring prices, will end this year after May usage. Meanwhile, subsidies to keep gasoline prices down will be extended for the time being.
In order to reduce the burden on households and businesses, the government will subsidize electricity costs by 3.5
yen per kilowatt hour for households
and 1.8 yen for businesses, and will also subsidize city gas costs for households and those with low annual contract amounts. We provide a subsidy of 15 yen per cubic meter to businesses.
Regarding this burden reduction measure, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that it would continue to provide the same amount of subsidy for the amount used until next month, but would reduce the subsidy for the amount used the following month, May, and was considering what to do after that. announced on the 29th that the reduction measures would be temporarily ended after May usage.
This is because the soaring import prices of LNG (liquefied natural gas) and coal have fallen to the level before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
On the other hand, subsidies to keep gasoline prices in check will be extended for the time being in order to assess the risk of soaring crude oil prices due to the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East.
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 29th, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito said, ``If prices suddenly rise due to unexpected changes in the international situation, we would like to respond quickly and flexibly.'' Depending on the trends in electricity and gas rates, he indicated that he would implement measures to reduce the burden again.