HK Electric Investments and HK Electric Investments : Distributes New Round of Dining Coupons Relief and Energy-Saving Initiatives Top $300 Million

Press Release

23 February 2023

HK Electric Distributes New Round of Dining Coupons Relief and Energy-Saving Initiatives Top $300 Million

In support of the needy and to promote energy saving in the community, HK Electric has set aside $55 million this year providing relief measures and organising educational campaigns. It has started distributing a new round of dining coupons to the low-income families for the fourth year running while free energy- efficient electrical appliances and tariff subsidy will be provided to subdivided unit (SDU) households.

A $40-million "Special Electricity Subsidy" has also been introduced this year. Residential customers consuming 300 units of electricity or less in a month will receive a subsidy of 9.5 cents per unit of electricity. It is expected that more than 200,000 households, or over 45% of HK Electric's residential customers will benefit.

Since the current Scheme of Control Agreement came into effect in 2019, HK Electric has committed around $300 million for support to the needy and various business sectors, facilitating the city's transformation into a smarter and greener Hong Kong. More than 300,000 people have benefitted from funds and schemes under the "Smart Power Services".

HK Electric's Managing Director, Mr. Wan Chi-tin, said that the new round of "Care and Share" dining coupons will be distributed to 50,000 families in batches, including low-consumption residential customers and those on concessionary tariffs, households living in SDUs and transitional housing, and N have-nots households, as well as those with financial difficulties referred by NGOs or District Council members.

The "Care and Share" dining coupons help alleviate the financial burden of underprivileged families and boost the local catering industry which has yet to be fully recovered from the pandemic. The dining coupons set at $200 can be used at over 200 participating eateries from now till the end of the year.

With the help of NGOs, HK Electric has reached out to more SDU households living on Hong Kong Island. The Company has been providing them with an electricity charges relief of $1,000 a year, and a quota of 2,000 SDU households has been set aside for this year. At the same time, the one-off subsidy for rewiring and installation of individual HK Electric tariff meters in SDUs has been increased to $60,000 per flat (before subdivision) so as to attract more SDU owners to take part.

Mr. Wan noted that the energy expenses for businesses and consumers alike have been increasing because of skyrocketing fuel prices attributed to geopolitical tension.

"We hope that our relief measures, together with energy-saving campaigns, can help the community make better use of energy and cut costs, bringing Hong Kong closer to its decarbonisation goals," Mr. Wan said.

Other measures provided by HK Electric include the "NGO Catering Subsidy Programme" which provides a subsidy capped at $20,000 for each community centre to purchase food and beverages from "Care and Share" participating eateries for activities serving underprivileged families. HK Electric also gives out new energy-efficient electrical appliances up to HK$5,000 to needy families that can help save energy expenses and improve electrical safety at home.

Furthermore, promotion of and education on energy conservation and decarbonisation will be strengthened. Apart from the Happy Green Campaign that organises a variety of educational activities, the Smart Power Gallery (SPG) in Sheung Wan will reopen in March. Physical STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) workshops will be organised in SPG for students to gain a deeper understanding of low-carbon lifestyle and ways to save energy.

Photo Captions:

HK Electric distributes dining coupons to around 50,000 underprivileged families.

HK Electric's General Manager (Customer Services), Mr. Raymond Choi (left) pays visits to SDU households and distributes dining coupons to them.

Mr. Raymond Choi (second right) gives out new energy-efficient electrical appliances to needy families.

The subsidy for rewiring and installation of individual HK Electric tariff meters in SDUs has been increased to $60,000 per flat (before subdivision) so as to attract more SDU owners to take part.

HK Electric will strengthen the promotion of and education on energy conservation and decarbonisation with the Smart Power Gallery in Sheung Wan reopen in March.

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