CLP Power accused of double standards in setting domestic and commercial tariffs
Domestic tariffs have risen as commercial rates have fallen since 2004, says Greenpeace
The city's largest electricity supplier has been criticised for double standards in setting tariffs after Greenpeace found a significant rise in residential charges but a small reduction in commercial tariffs since 2004.
CLP Power, which supplies more than two million users in Kowloon, Lantau and the New Territories, adopts different tariff structures for the two sectors.
While households consuming more energy have to pay a higher unit price, large commercial users are actually paying a lower rate than smaller consumers.
"The regressive tariff structure for commercial users does not encourage energy saving. It should be overhauled when the regulatory framework is reviewed in 2018," said Greenpeace campaigner Argo Yeung Man-yau, who compared the existing price with that of a decade ago.
His remarks came with the government expected to gauge public views on ways to reform the electricity market early next year.
According to Yeung's analysis, households consuming more than 4,200 kilowatts per hour - the biggest users under the domestic tariff structure - are being charged at HK$1.73 per unit this year, a 60 per cent rise from HK$1.079 in 2004.