KEPCO to cut energy use by 5% amid Middle East tensions

(KEPCO)

The state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) announced on Sunday that it will reduce energy consumption by about 513 gigawatt-hours (GWh), equivalent to 5 percent of its group-wide usage, as part of emergency measures to address rising energy risks linked to instability in the Middle East.

KEPCO said it held an emergency meeting of CEOs from its power group companies on Friday to discuss active energy-saving measures in response to the worsening situation in the Middle East.

Participants included around 10 affiliates such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Korea South-East Power Co., and Korea Midland Power Co.

During the meeting, participants broadly discussed KEPCO’s high-intensity comprehensive energy-saving measures and emergency response strategies across the power group. They also closely reviewed the impact of surging exchange rates and global fuel prices on financial structures.

KEPCO plans to implement internal measures such as stricter participation in an odd-even vehicle usage system, along with public initiatives to support energy savings. Key measures include strengthening energy cashback programs for households, expanding support for high-efficiency equipment in energy-vulnerable sectors, increasing support for maximum power management devices in general, industrial and educational sectors.

Power affiliates also shared strategies such as reducing internal power consumption at plants and enhancing AI-based fuel cost forecasting solutions.

KEPCO and its affiliates plan to immediately implement these high-intensity energy-saving measures, aiming to cut about 513 GWh. This reduction is expected to substitute around 80,000 tons of LNG imports.

“We are facing an economic wartime situation, with resource security alerts being raised,” said KEPCO President Kim Dong-cheol. “KEPCO and its power group companies must take the lead in implementing the government’s strong energy-saving measures and through close cooperation, turn this national energy crisis into an opportunity for energy transition.”