In the News

Energy legislation passed

• Publication Date：06/10/2009
• Source： United Daily News

The Legislative Yuan passed June 9 an amendment to the Energy Management Act, stipulating that large public gathering places—such as supermarkets, department stores, hospitals and governmental buildings—must comply with energy efficiency requirements.

If the gathering places fail to comply with the requirements—for instance if air conditioning temperatures are set too low, if too much air conditioning is allowed to escape from a building, or if lighting systems are not energy efficient—they will be subject to a maximum fine of NT$100,000 (US$3,300) per violation. This fine can be imposed repeatedly, and multiplied, if conditions are not improved.

The amendment to the Energy Management Act is one of the three major pieces of energy legislation being pushed for by the Ma Ying-jeou administration. During a meeting June 8 attended by representatives of the Presidential Office, the Executive Yuan and the ruling Kuomintang party, Ma urged that the Legislative Yuan should try to pass the three energy laws before the recess starts next week.

While the first of the three energy laws has now been passed, whether the other two draft bills—the Renewable Energy Act and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act—will fare as well remains doubtful, as both are more controversial than Energy Management Act amendment.

The amendment states that manufacturers and importers of energy equipments and appliances must put clear labels on their products stating their energy consumption and efficiency levels. Products such as refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines and automobiles must state explicitly their energy consumption and efficiency numbers for the benefit of consumers. Products that do not have these indices clearly labeled will not be allowed to be imported or sold in stores.

To implement the government’s policy of ensuring a stable supply of energy, the amendment also calls on the Ministry of Economic Affairs to submit energy development guidelines to the Executive Yuan for approval and implementation.

The amendment also directs the MOEA to establish guidelines, standards and methods for the disposal of waste products resulting from the use of all forms of energy. The MOEA must also establish standards for what fines are to be imposed on energy producers that fail to meet energy waste products disposal requirements.

In addition, if an electronics, steel, petro-chemical firm, or the like, wishes to build a new plant, or to expand an existing one, it must submit an energy use statement to the MOEA, and can only begin construction after the statement has been approved.

The Legislative Yuan also passed an addendum to the amendment, prohibiting authorities from violating the rights of pre-existing energy consumers; from interfering in the productive activities of the agricultural, forestry, fishing and grazing sectors; and from violating the domicile rights of ordinary citizens during inspections. (HZW)