Store owners caught for excessive lighting on outdoor billboards and heating of their buildings will face fines of up to 3 million won ($2,622) starting later this week, as part of nationwide efforts to save energy during the winter season, the Seoul city government said Monday.

The move came after the central government declared an emergency period for energy usage from Dec. 5 to the end of February next year. The electricity demand in winter was higher than in the middle of summer for the past several years, government data showed.

Electricity supply has emerged as a particular concern in South Korea after unseasonably high temperatures in September caused massive power outages that affected more than 6 million homes across the country.

Starting Thursday, when 10 days of the grace period end, all the illuminations on the city’s outdoor billboards for service industries must be turned off for two hours during the daily peak time starting at 5 p.m., according to the Seoul government.

After 7 p.m., only one illumination per business will be allowed, it said, adding such facilities serving public interests as medical clinics and military facilities will be exempted.

It will also be mandatory for more than 15,000 buildings in the city that use larger amounts of electricity to maintain indoor temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius, according to the city government.

Those violating the regulations will face a fine of 500,000 won for their first breach, with the amount rising to 1 million won for the second, 2 million won for the third and 3 million won for the fourth, the city government said.

“We will also toughen the existing power-saving steps such as maintaining the indoor temperature under 18 degrees in the public buildings,” a city official said. “To prevent energy shortage problems, active cooperation of all citizens is necessary.” 

(Yonhap News)