Premier Jiang Yi-huah today called upon the public to join the government's drive to reduce electricity use. The premier hopes to achieve the objective of saving 1 percent (about 2.45 billion watts) of the national consumption of electricity every year through three major directions: measures spearheaded by the government, participation of industries and initiatives of the public.
These are incentive measures that the government hopes would change the citizenry's usage habits while encouraging various sectors to nurture creative means of conservation and engender a culture of energy saving. Jiang asked the various ministries to collaborate with local governments on the effort.
The premier made these remarks today at the Cabinet meeting after being briefed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on its program to usher in energy conservation by the general public.
Jiang pointed out that 98 percent of national energy is produced using imported resources; and because Taiwan's power grid is independent, the nation cannot import electricity from other countries. Consequently, the preservation of energy security is a more severe challenge for the ROC than for other countries.
As for nuclear-power-related issues, presently the Longmen Nuclear Power Plant, also known as the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, has been mothballed and may only be reactivated if approved by a national referendum. In 2013 nuclear-generated electricity made up 18.8 percent of the nation's overall electricity production volume; hence, if the nation's three currently operating nuclear-power plants are successively decommissioned in the near future, adjustments will need to be made in the supplies and prices of other energy sources. This is why the government expects the general public to start saving 1 percent of electricity consumption per year.
Both the supply and demand sides must prepare in advance for foreseeable difficulties in electricity supplies, the premier further noted. On the supply side, efficiency in electricity supply must be enhanced, damages to electrical wires reduced and deterioration of facilities mitigated. On the demand side, industrial structural adjustments must be made, energy prices made more reasonable and energy-consumption habits changed.
Jiang said all these efforts are long-term and require in-depth discussion at the national energy conference. Electricity use for the year is expected to peak this summer, and to effectively curtail consumption growth, the whole citizenry—that is, the demand side—must change its practices and engender conservation habits.
The government has proactively promoted energy-conservation and carbon-reduction programs and measures in recent years, the premier stated. From 2008 to 2013, electricity intensity was improved by 1.95 percent annually, on average. Other measures encompassed discount incentives for reducing electricity use, classifying energy efficiency in several tiers, encouraging green consumption and subsidizing purchases for energy-efficient home appliances. These measures were well-received by the public. Ever since their implementation periods ended, however, their effects on consistent energy conservation have been relatively limited. This is also why the premier has urged the public to respond to the call for electricity conservation.
Finally, the premier directed various government agencies, schools and universities not to "go overboard" in promoting the drive for energy conservation. "The measure should be flexible and adapted to different situations and local conditions," he said.