DAB Legislative Council member Chan Hak-kin raised an oral question today (2nd) on local electricity bills, asking whether the government will introduce measures to benefit the people in the future to ease the burden of electricity bills on citizens and SMEs.
Xie Zhanwan, Secretary for the Environment and Ecology, said that the authorities have signed a regulatory agreement with CLP and HK Electric, stipulating that investment profits will benefit and local electricity tariffs will be adjusted based on international energy prices. However, the agreement will end in 2033 and details will be adjusted at that time.
However, Lu Songxiong of the Federation of Trade Unions angrily reprimanded the response: "The director feels good about himself. The two power companies are monopolized and stable, and protected by policies. Deng Jiabiao urged the government to bring in competitors: "Let the two companies be obedient, not to make money while lying down, but to attract the public with cost-effectiveness."
CLP Qingshan Power Plant.
(File photo/Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
Xie Zhanwan said that the government's policy objective is to ensure that the public has a safe, reliable, efficient and affordable electricity supply, while reducing the impact of electricity generation on the environment.
He emphasized that the authorities signed a control agreement with the two power companies: "In Hong Kong's electricity market, according to the agreement, the government will supervise the two power companies. The Environment and Ecology Bureau is strictly reviewing the electricity tariff proposals of the two power companies according to the international fuel price trend. review results."
Fuel prices doubled in two years, natural gas doubled, coal-fired 5x
He also pointed out that international energy prices have risen in the past two years, and fuel oil, natural gas and coal have increased by 1, 2 and 5 times respectively.
At the beginning of this year, due to the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war, global electricity bills increased sharply: "Hong Kong's electricity bills in January this year increased by 20%. The electricity bills of CLP and HK Electric were 1.42 yuan and 1.52 yuan, while the electricity cost of Singapore was 1.74 yuan in comparison with neighboring places. $2.03 in Sydney, $3 in London, and $3.66 in Berlin.” He emphasized that Hong Kong’s electricity tariffs are competitive, and under an effective regulatory system, vicious competition can be eliminated.
Xie Zhanhuan emphasized that the fuel costs of the two power plants are actually reimbursed and will not earn the middle price difference. Since the two power plants have fixed fuel suppliers, if they buy fuel from other suppliers at present, it will only increase the cost. Therefore, the two power plants have not purchased fuel from Russia. Purchase crude oil.
He also pointed out that in 2019, the government will provide eligible households with a monthly "Electricity Charges Relief Fund" of $50 until the end of 2023, and a relief fund of $1,000 will be introduced in June this year. assist.
However, he stressed that subsidies are not a long-term, feasible and sustainable solution, pointing out that the government will make good use of smart technology in the future to let users know their electricity consumption.
As for whether the government will take the initiative to limit the profit of the two power companies, Xie Zhanhuan said that based on the contract principle, relevant restrictions cannot be introduced at this stage.
Trade Union members Lu Songxiong, Deng Jiabiao and Liang Ziying suggested that the northern metropolis should follow the example of Macau to buy electricity from the mainland.
(Photo by Wen Rui)
The trade unions urged the introduction of competition, saying it would be difficult to industrialize in the long run
After the adjournment, the Federation of Trade Unions Lu Chung-hsiung, Leung Tze-ying and Deng Jia-biao were interviewed by the media.
Lu Songxiong pointed out that the electricity data provided by Xie Zhanhuan was relatively incomplete.
Liang Ziying added: "I look back at the data. In March 2022, the electricity bill in Hong Kong is 1.25 yuan, Macau 1.19 yuan, Taiwan 0.69 yuan, and the mainland 0.59 yuan. The Secretary has released the data, which is basically to deceive the citizens and parliamentarians!" Deng Jiabiao It also proposed that the authorities in the northern metropolitan area could follow the example of Macau to buy electricity from the mainland and introduce competition.
CLP said the fuel market fluctuated and expected the negative fuel balance to deepen at the end of the year. It is inevitable that electricity bills would get out of control and soar. energy saving
