Electricity Charges Relief Scheme

In general, registered residential electricity accounts are eligible for the relief.

The Government will credit $50 to each eligible residential account with the power companies in existence on the first day of each month for 60 consecutive months, commencing from 1 January 2019. For each calendar month, only one residential account holder can get the relief in respect of a residential address.

All residential electricity accounts, including accounts with unused subsidy, can benefit from the electricity charges relief scheme. Unused subsidy that has been credited to the electricity account will be utilised first in offsetting bill payment. Relief amount will be utilised after the unused subsidy is exhausted or expired.

The mode of collecting electricity charges varies in different service apartments. While electricity charges are covered by the rental for some service apartments, some tenants are required to pay the charges to the landlords (instead of CLP). As to whether the tenant of a service apartment is eligible for the relief, it will be subject to factors such as having a "separate electricity meter of an electricity company" installed in that apartment, holding a residential electricity account for the power supply, as well as the agreement between the tenant and the landlord.

The relief will be credited directly to the account of each registered residential customer. As to whether a tenant can receive and enjoy the relief, it will be subject to factors such as whether the premise has a registered meter of CLP, the tenant being a registered customer of CLP as well as the agreement between the tenant and the landlord, with which CLP is not in a right position to intervene.

The relief will reduce the amount of electricity charges demanded in the electricity bills. As to who will be enjoying the relief, this depends on the agreement between the tenant and the landlord.

In general, properties identified as new residential flats still owned by property developers will not be granted the electricity charges relief. The relief will cover other vacant flats.

On account close, the unused portion of the credited relief cannot be used further nor converted to cash.

No, the registered account holder as at the first of the month will be entitled to the full $50 credit.

The new account will be given the relief.

If the new account exists on the first day of the month, it will be credited the relief amount for the same month. If the account comes into existence on the second day or following days of the month, the account will be credited the relief from the next month. Accounts opened after the last credit day (i.e. after 1 December 2023) will not be entitled to any credit of relief.

No.

No.

Unused relief can be utilised to offset electricity bill for the same electricity account until 31 December 2023.

Yes.

No, only residential customers are eligible for electricity charges relief scheme.

No, the unused relief will be voided.

The $3,000 relief is not paid in one go by the Government. A monthly relief of $50 will be 'credited' to each registered residential tariff electricity account on the first day of each month from January 2019 to December 2023. The Government will only pay CLP the exact used amount of the 'credited' relief on due day. As such, the relief yet to be credited cannot deduct the current outstanding electricity charges of customers.

The $3,000 relief is not paid in one go by the Government. A monthly relief of $50 will be 'credited' to each registered residential tariff electricity account on the first day of each month from January 2019 to December 2023. The Government will only pay CLP the exact used amount of the 'credited relief on due day. As such, CLP will have no interest revenue incurred from the unused relief, and therefore we will not pay any interest to customers accordingly.