'Energy-poor' older people feel the heat

By Choi Sung-jin

Nearly seven out of every 10 “energy-poor” people are over 70, a civic group said Tuesday.

Energy-poor refers to those whose spending on energy for cooking, warming and cooling exceeds 10 percent of their household income.

According to Korea NGO Energy Network’s survey, the energy-poor have monthly household income of 600,000 won ($530) or less and 67 percent of them are 70 or older. Most live in rental apartments with an average space of 16 pyong (52.8 square meters) or smaller.

As cooling equipment, 89 percent used electric fans, while the other 10 percent said they did not have air-conditioners or fans.

Nearly half of respondents experienced dizziness and headaches because of insufficient cooling, with others having breathing difficulties (11 percent), vomiting (5 percent) and fainting (1 percent).

As many as 72 percent of the energy-poor had no proper information and knowledge of energy welfare programs -- involving electricity, gas and coal briquettes -- provided by central and local governments. Only 18 percent benefitted from such programs, and 57 percent of respondents were unaware of the energy voucher system implemented from last year.

About 86 percent were recipients of the national basic livelihood guarantee or belonged to the near-poverty group, with 25 percent receiving benefits from the energy voucher system last winter. Most lacked information about it and complained of difficult conditions and qualifications in applying for it, the civic group said.