TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —  To prevent landlords from overcharging electricity fees, the Ministry of the Interior said Wednesday (April 24) it would amend rental contract regulations, with implementation scheduled for May.

Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) said the electricity price per kilowatt-hour should not exceed the average electricity price per kilowatt-hour on the electricity bill, reported CNA. In addition, the total amount of electricity charges collected by landlords each period should not exceed the total amount on the electricity bill. 

The Legislative Yuan's Internal Administration Committee invited Lin, Deputy Interior Minister Hua Ching-chun (花敬群), and National Immigration Agency Director-General: Bill Chung (鍾景琨) to review draft amendments to some provisions of the Nationality law (國籍法). During the interpolation session, Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Niu Hsu-ting (牛煦庭) said the recent increase in electricity prices has put pressure on tenants, and expressed concern that landlords would pass on costs to tenants.

Lin responded by saying that on March 27, a meeting to discuss and confirm improvement plans was held. The amendments were announced for a 20-day review period, and after this notice period ends, they will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

Lin said the amendments focus on two points. First, in terms of the standard for charging electricity fees in leases based on "electricity consumption," the electricity price per kilowatt-hour should not exceed the "average electricity price per kilowatt-hour" on the electricity bill for the leased property. In addition, it specifies that landlords cannot charge additional fees for electricity for common facilities if not already included in the lease.

Lin said for those contracts not stipulating billing based on electricity consumption, the total amount of electricity charges collected by the landlord per period should not exceed the total electricity charges for that period on the electricity bill for the leased property.

Lin said the second aspect of the amendment concerns the provision of electricity fee information at rental properties. It involves adding a requirement for landlords to enable tenants to inquire about electricity fee information during the lease period.

Niu asked Lin when the amendment is expected to take effect after the notice period. Lin responded by saying that after the review period ends, there may be an approval process in the Cabinet.

Niu then expressed the hope that it could take effect in May, to which Lin replied, “That should not be a problem.”