Hong Kong and China Gas (Towngas) is expanding its range of home appliances in an effort to spur gas consumption as many households cut back in order to save money.
Market analysts blame the sluggish economy for the decline in gas consumption. In addition, public opposition to utility price hikes has left Towngas with little room to raise tariffs.
James Kwan Yuk-choi, executive director at the commercial arm of Towngas, said the company had expanded its offerings to include new products such as built-in rice-cooker gas stoves, washing machines and dryers, water heaters, dishwashers and cooking range hoods.
Towngas has also teamed up with property developers on bulk sales.
'These products complement our core business well,' Mr Kwan said. He noted that the use of a gas dryer boosts a household's monthly consumption by 30 per cent, while for a built-in rice-cooker gas stove the increase is 10 per cent.
Towngas, which supplies pipe-based naphtha gas, plans to open a customer service centre this week, Mr Kwan said. The cost of the centre was not disclosed.