Water
Currently, 74.9% of water supplied is used for agricultural purposes, 16.1% for livelihood, and 9% for industrial purposes. In case of drought, the government generally leaves farmlands fallow to ensure adequate water supply for industrial use.
Water fees are lower in Taiwan than in many other countries. The water cost components can be summarized as follows:
Taipei City
The total water fee is comprised of the following charges:
- Basic water charge (Include 5% business tax)
- Water consumption charge (Include 5% business tax)
- Collected on commission
- Sewage charge collected on commission
- Pumping facility maintenance charge
- Water source reciprocation charge collected on commission
- Basic Water Charge
The basic water charge is used to finance depreciation and maintenance of water production, treatment, and supply facilities. It is determined by the caliber of the feeder supply pipe connected to the water meter and is independent of the water consumption level. The fee is as follows:
Unit: NT$/per month
| Water meter pipe caliber (mm) |
Basic water charge |
| 13 |
17 |
| 20 |
68 |
| 25 |
126 |
| 40 |
374 |
| 50 |
680 |
| 75 |
1,836 |
| 100 |
3,638 |
| 150 |
10,098 |
| 200 |
20,060 |
| 250 |
35,428 |
| >300 |
55,590 |
Source: Taipei Water Department
- Water Consumption Charge
The water consumption charge is levied at progressive rates and is based on the consumption level as follows:
Unit: NT$/per month
Consumption level
Consumption and fee rate |
Water usage |
| Water Consumption (cubic meters) |
1-20 |
21-60 |
61-200 |
201-1,000 |
>1,001 |
| Rate (NT$/cubic meter) |
5.00 |
6.70 |
8.50 |
14.00 |
20.00 |
| Progressive Difference (NT$) |
0 |
34 |
142 |
1,242 |
7,242 |
Source: Taipei Water Department
- Waste Disposal Charge Collected on Commission
The Taipei Water Department collects NT$3.7 for each cubic meter of water consumed by users in certain areas of Taipei County, including Sindian, Jhonghe, Sanchong, Sijhih and Keelung. Residents in Taipei City do not pay this charge.
- Sewage Charge Collected on Commission
This charge is paid for sewage treatment. The unit rate for both business and non-business users is NT$5 per cubic meter.
- Pumping Facility Maintenance Charge
Pumping operations are used to supply water to remote and high-elevation areas, specifically hill slopes and mountain areas. Certain areas may require more than one tier of pumping operations, resulting in the need to apportion some of the costs to water users in such areas to defray maintenance costs of the pumping facility, part of which is subsidized by the Taipei City government. The pumping charge per cubic meter is as follows:
Unit: NT$/cubic meter
| User’s Location |
Pumping Tier |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| Taipei City |
2.5 |
5.5 |
8.5 |
11.5 |
14.5 |
| New Taipei City |
3.5 |
6.5 |
9.5 |
12.5 |
15.5 |
Source: Taipei Water Department
- Water source reciprocation charge collected on commission
Restrictive and control measures have been adopted to preserve water source areas, thus affecting the rights and interests of affected inhabitants. The water source reciprocation charge, total quantity of water used (in cubic meters)*0.5, is collected to help finance public projects in affected areas.
Taiwan Province and Kaohsiung City
The total water fee is comprised of the following charges:
- Basic water charge
- Water consumption charge
- Waste disposal charge collected on commission (please refer to the waste disposal charge sheet below)
- Water resources conservation and compensation fee=Water consumption charge×additional charge 5%
- Sewage sewerage fee collection (Kaohsiung City: Business user for NT$10/m³ and Non-business user for NT$5/m³; Tainan City: Administrative Agencies and schools for NT$10/m³; Yilan County: Business user: NT$5/m³)
Unit: NT$/per month
| Water meter pipe caliber (mm) |
Basic water charge |
| 13 |
17.85 |
| 20 |
35.7 |
| 25 |
66.15 |
| 40 |
196.35 |
| 50 |
357 |
| 75 |
963.9 |
| 100 |
1,909.95 |
| 150 |
5,301.45 |
| 200 |
10,531.5 |
| 250 |
18,599.7 |
| 300 |
29,184.75 |
| 350 |
41,626.2 |
| ≧400 |
58,119.6 |
Source: Taiwan Water Corporation
Electricity
To ensure the future supply of electricity to this densely populated and highly industrialized country, Taiwan Power Company (TPC) has been persistently expanding its power system to meet the ever growing demand. The installed capacity was 41,037 MW as of 2015. To vitalize the electricity market and also encourage the competition, the government started awarding the permit to private Independent Power Producer (IPP) in 1995. Nine private thermal power plants had been commissioning since then with installed capacity being 7,650 MW by the end of 2015. With sufficient reserve margin at hand, a shortage of power is not a particular issue in Taiwan. Moreover, the government has been implementing a "999 plan" since July 2005, the reliability and quality of power supply can be further secured.
Installed nameplate capacity
| Classification |
Installed nameplate capacity
(KW) |
Constituent ratio
(%) |
Increase Rate compared with last year
(%) |
| Pumped-storage water |
2,602 |
6.3 |
0.0 |
| Fossil-fuel power |
29,268 |
71.3 |
-1.9 |
| Neclear |
5,144 |
12.5 |
0.0 |
| Renewable energy |
4,023 |
9.8 |
6.6 |
| Total |
41,037 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
Note: 4,023KW of Renewable energy includes 2,089KW of hydroelectric power, 642KW of wind power, 669KW of solar energy and 623KW of others.
The electricity charge to industrial and commercial customers with larger loads includes two parts, namely, the demand charge and energy charge. Because Taiwan is geographically located in a sub-tropical region, the demand for electricity is much higher in summer than in winter. Besides, the loads appear fluctuation in different time periods. To cope with the cost reflective principle, the tariff is differentiated by seasons and time of use as follows:
- Regular Service (Non-TOU) rate: the rate differs in summer and non-summer. Summer is the period from June 1 to September 30, and non-summer is the rest of the year.
- Time of Use (TOU) rate: In addition to the different rates for summer and non-summer months, there are different rates for different periods, i.e. peak period, off-peak period, partial-peak period, and Saturday partial-peak period.
Electricity services can be divided into low tension and high tension. Below is the table used to determine which electricity services are applicable for a particular purpose:
| Type of Service |
Classification |
Applicability |
Sample |
| Low Tension Service |
Power Service |
For lights, small appliances, and power used for industrial/non-industrial purposes with contracted demand of less than 100 kW |
Supermarkets, medium-size markets, medium-size institutions and schools
Small and medium-size factories |
| High Tension Service |
High Tension Service |
For lights, small appliances, and power used for industrial/non-industrial purposes with contracted demand of 100 kW or more |
Large factories, institutions, schools, banks, and shopping malls |
| Extra High Tension Service |
|
Mega factories, rapid transit, and airports |
Note: Taiwan Power Company provides Time of Use Rates(TOU and Non-TOU) for commercial customers of less power usage. Please visit Taiwan Power Company website (https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/index.aspx) for relevant contents.
Low Tension Power Service
- Regular Service (Non-TOU) Rate
Unit: NT$
| Type |
Summer |
Non-Summer |
| Demand Charge |
Installed Capacity Contract (per kW per month) |
137.5 |
| Maximum Demand Contract |
Regular Contracted Demand (per kW per month) |
236.2 |
173.2 |
Non-Summer Contracted Demand
(per kW per month) |
- |
173.2 |
| Energy Charge(per kWh) |
2.45 |
2.78 |
Note: 1. Starting from April 1, 2016
2. Please visit Taiwan Power Company website(https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/index.aspx) for detailed price table
- Maximum Demand Contract (TOU) Rate
Unit: NT$
| Type |
Summer
(Jun. 1 to Sept. 30) |
Non-Summer
(All other days of the year) |
| Demand Charge |
Installed Capacity Contract |
Customer Charge(per customer per month) |
105.0 |
| Based on the Contracted Installed Capacity (per kW per month) |
137.5 |
| Maximum Demand Contract |
Customer Charge(per customer per month) |
262.5 |
| Regular Contracted Demand (per kW per month) |
236.2 |
173.2 |
Non-Summer Contracted Demand
(per kW per month) |
- |
173.2 |
| Saturday Partial-Peak Contracted Demand (per kW per month) |
47.2 |
34.6 |
| Off-Peak Contract (per kW per month) |
47.2 |
34.6 |
| Energy Charge |
Weekdays Peak Period (per kWh)
07:30~22:30 |
3.24 |
3.18 |
Weekdays Off-Peak Period (per kWh)
00:00~07:30
22:30~24:00 |
1.39 |
1.33 |
Saturday Partial-Peak Period (per kWh)
07:30~22:30 |
2.14 |
2.06 |
Saturday Off-Peak Period (per kWh)
00:00~07:30
22:30~24:00 |
1.39 |
1.33 |
Sunday & Off-Peak Period (per kWh)
All day |
1.39 |
1.33 |
Note. 1. Starting from April 1, 2016
2. Off-Peak Days are as follows:
| New Year |
Jan. 1 |
| Lunar New Year |
Lunar New Year’s Eve ~ Lunar Jan. 5 |
| Peace Day |
Feb. 28 |
| Children's Day |
April 4 |
| Tomb Sweeping Day |
April 4 or April 5 |
| Labor Day |
May 1 |
| Dragon Boat Festival |
Lunar May 5 |
| Moon Festival |
Lunar Aug. 15 |
| Double Tenth |
Oct. 10 |
- New application is unacceptable for Installed nameplate capacity as the contracted capacity usage.
- All rates have included 5% Value-added Business Tax and total amount is calculated by the rate of the above table.
- Utilities expenses of the value-added business tax exemption customers is the total amount divided by 1.05.
- Please visit Taiwan Power Company website(https://www.taipower.com.tw/en/index.aspx) for detailed price table.
