Provincial and municipal managers
overseeing the allotment of electricity have been supplying the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More [new
affluent middle class] in North Korea with power supplies in exchange for cash.
Though relatively inexpensive, state power line supplies are intermittent at
best, prompting the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More to pay hefty sums of money in return for steadier power streams.
“Handing over 100 RMB to regional
electricity distributors can get you connected to nearest industrial
electricity hub,” a source in Gangwon Province reported to Daily NK on March 17th.
“Then a monthly fee of approximately 50,000 KPW [6.3 USD] provides you with 10 hours of
electricity per day for around 20 days.”
She added, “The steady, regular
supply of electricity intended for enterprises is being rerouted to
individuals. Selling electricity to the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More has yielded substantial profits
for staff supervising power centers. The fee guarantees a personal visit by
these managers every two or three days to ensure that the electricity is
reaching the homes paying for the service.”
This illegal
“electricity tax” is entirely distinct from general electricity fees, paid by
residents to the inminban [people’s unit] every quarter for spotty, if any,
electricity. Those fees come to about 100 KPW [0.01 USD] per quarter [33 KPW, or 0.004 USD, per month];
the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More are basically paying 1500 times as much for reliable electricity,
according to the source.
“Everyone is yearning for a steady supply
even if it means paying a prohibitive sum of 100 RMB, but the additional 50,000
KPW [6.3 USD] every month and plying the managers with drinks when they visit residents’
homes is too much too bear,” she went on. “Some are wary that they might be duped in the process.”
According to the source, provincial,
county, and municipal distributors oversee the nationwide electricity
distribution network. State-run enterprises receive power supply plans
from the National Planning Commission and are supplied with power through the
regional distributors, who monitor residential areas as well as factories. They
have the authority to terminate electricity supply if they spot any faulty
electrical cords or distribution boards.
Those caught surreptitiously cutting into
power cables to connect to a steady power supply–like, say, an
enterprise–without paying to do so results in fines and confiscation of the
line.
”Those who get their cords confiscated
would then have to go to the market to get new ones, which are manufactured and
China and run around 300-500 KPW [0.04 -0.06 USD] per meter,” she said, adding that purchasing a
cord a few hundred meters long, the length necessary to connect to a power hub,
is exorbitant.
This system has vexed workers at the
hydroelectric plants the most, who produce the very electricity that they must
pay kickbacks to use. “It enrages us to see power plant distributors acting as
if electricity is their private property,” they have pointed out, according to
the source, who added that most have been rather blunt in voicing their
disaffection.
“The majority of residents agree that it would be better if they just charged for power at a high
price like a capitalist society. That way, people wouldn’t have to obsess and could
at least get a steady stream of electricity,” she concluded.
