Hong Kong has reliable electricity supply and no soaring prices, so why are lawmakers demanding change, scrutiny of power companies?
- Despite exposure to global fluctuations, city has avoided turmoil in fuel markets since Ukraine war
- Environment minister says that while government sees urgency to suppress price increases, any changes to existing agreements must be backed by power firms
IT programmer Jacque Chan, 43, watched with alarm as his electricity bill soared from under £30 (US$36) to more than £120 a month during his first year living in Derby, England.
The Hongkonger, who emigrated with his girlfriend and daughter early last year, said: “I can survive without air conditioning now, but I can’t picture how difficult winter will be if energy prices don’t go down.”
In Berlin, software engineer Timothy Choi, 26, said if the German government had not capped electricity prices in December amid soaring inflation, he would be paying 70 per cent more this year.
“Inflation is eating up my money,” said the Hongkonger who is based in Berlin and lives by himself in a 400 sq ft flat. “I paid only €506 [US$544] last year for electricity, but it has increased to about €738 this year. Without the price limit, I would have to pay more than €850.”
In Hong Kong, housewife Kathy So, 50, who lives in Wan Chai with her husband, said their electricity bill rose only slightly from HK$477 (US$60) in February last year to HK$501 this January.
