Half-Price Daytime EV Charging During Chuseok... Surplus Power to Be Absorbed by Electric Vehicles

Discounts Apply from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., September 24–27

50% Off at 18,000 Public Chargers Operated by the Ministry of Climate and Environment and KEPCO

Full Fee Waivers for Private Charging Facilities; Private Sector Joins Discounts

Responding to Lower Holiday Power Demand, Enhancing Grid Stability

Yonhap News Agency

During the Chuseok holiday, daytime electric vehicle charging fees will be discounted by up to half. This measure is intended to encourage EV charging during the holiday, when industrial power consumption is reduced, thereby absorbing surplus electricity and stabilizing power supply.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment and Korea Electric Power Corporation announced on September 21 that they will discount electric vehicle charging fees from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for four days during the Chuseok holiday, which runs from September 24 to 27.

During the Chuseok holiday, factory operations decrease, leading to reduced industrial electricity usage, while renewable energy generation, such as solar power, continues. As a result, when daytime power supply exceeds demand, output control—reducing power plant output—may be necessary.

The government plans to encourage the charging demand of approximately 1.16 million electric vehicles, as of last month, to shift to daytime hours in order to absorb surplus electricity. The intention is to stabilize power supply while passing on the benefits of discounted charging rates to EV users.

The scope and amount of the discounts vary based on charger type. For private-use charging facilities installed at individual homes, businesses, and some apartment complexes that receive direct electricity supply from Korea Electric Power Corporation, the full electricity rate for power used during the discount hours will be waived. The entire energy fee—85.4 won per kWh for low voltage and 80.2 won per kWh for high voltage—will be discounted 100%. This applies to approximately 102,000 households nationwide.

About 18,000 public EV chargers managed by the Ministry of Climate and Environment and Korea Electric Power Corporation will also provide charging at half the usual rate during the specified hours, regardless of charger output. For example, a 100kW public charger that usually costs 348.4 won per kWh will be available for 174.2 won per kWh.

Private charging operators will also participate in the discounts. Korea Electric Power Corporation will offer a 100% discount on the energy charge supplied to private operators during the discount hours, and these businesses are expected to pass the benefits on to consumers either by reducing charging fees or offering points. If the full amount is passed on, the price will be approximately 22–29% cheaper than usual, based on public charger rates set by the climate ministry.

However, whether individual private operators participate, the actual discount rate, and the method of applying the discount will vary by company. The Ministry of Climate and Environment plans to release a list of participating operators starting September 23.

This measure is an expansion of the weekend charging fee discount policy implemented since this spring, now applied to the Chuseok holiday period. During the spring discount period, use of public charging stations operated by the climate ministry and Korea Electric Power Corporation during the discount hours increased by 9.2%. The government expects that, since power demand drops more during holiday seasons than on weekends, increasing the discount amount will more effectively shift demand to the daytime.

To address potential congestion at highway charging stations during the holiday, authorities will deploy 19 mobile chargers at eight highway rest stops including Hanam Dream, Hongcheon, Chuncheon, Gujeong, Songnisan, and Buyeo Baekje from September 23 to 27. Each vehicle can charge up to 20kWh, with priority given to vehicles with less than 50% battery remaining.

The Ministry of Climate and Environment also plans to expand related infrastructure, such as smart chargers, so that EVs can be used as demand response resources, adjusting their charging times in response to the power supply situation.

Minister of Climate and Environment Kim Seonghwan stated, "During the daytime in the Chuseok holiday, renewable energy generation is active while power demand is low. By discounting charging fees at these times and increasing EV charging, we can reduce both the burden on the electrical grid and the charging costs for consumers." He added, "We will continue to improve the charging fee system in connection with power supply conditions so that the public can directly feel the benefits from the expansion of renewable energy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.