TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The General Chamber of Commerce of Taiwan said Friday that electricity rates will remain unchanged through September following the government’s latest review — as authorities seek to shield the country from rising energy costs caused by the Iran war.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs convened its first Electricity Price Review Committee meeting of the year on Friday to deliberate rates for the April–September period, per UDN. The chamber's head, Paul Hsu (許舒博), defended the rate freeze. 

Before the meeting, Hsu urged the government to ensure stable supplies of oil and natural gas despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. He said that electricity prices are highly sensitive to inflation and difficult to reverse once raised.

He noted that CPC Corporation had already increased fuel prices on Monday, and that further hikes in electricity and fuel costs would compound burdens on businesses. This could potentially trigger a chain reaction of rising prices across the board and significantly impact both industry and livelihoods. 

Hsu called on the government to prioritize price stability and absorb costs within manageable limits. He added that any necessary adjustments should take into account small vendors, small businesses, and households.

He also said the planned restart of the No. 2 and No. 3 nuclear power plants could help stabilize supply. He expressed support for further government subsidies and urged Taipower to expand diversified energy development, including solar, geothermal, wind, and tidal power.