Korea Electric Loss Worse Than Estimated on Price Control

Korea Electric Power Corp., the nation’s monopoly distributor, posted a fourth-quarter loss more than three times analysts’ estimates as state price controls barred it from passing on rising fuel costs to users.

Net loss was 1.7 trillion won ($1.5 billion) in the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with the 1.9 trillion won loss a year earlier, according to figures derived from full-year results announced by the Seoul-based company today in a regulatory filing. The mean of 15 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg was a loss of 500.1 billion won. Sales were little changed at 11.78 trillion won.