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Hong Kong proposes extra CLP Power penalty charges for voltage dips alongside existing power cut fines

  • Environment and Ecology Bureau says government ‘very concerned’ by string of CLP Power voltage falls in first part of year
  • Bureau officials say incidents affected daily life and dented confidence in integrity of power supplies

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A hillfire was the cause of a CLP Power power dip in some areas of the New Territories and Kowloon earlier this year. Photo: CLP
The Hong Kong government has proposed an extra penalty charge for major interruptions to the electricity supply after large-scale disruptions on the grid operated by CLP Power earlier this year.
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The Environment and Ecology Bureau on Monday said the government was “very concerned” about the five incidents involving CLP Power in the first four months of this year, which had also dented public confidence in the sector.

“The incidents affected the daily life and aroused the concerns of the public on the reliability of electricity supply,” the bureau said in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council.

CLP Power, which supplies Kowloon, the New Territories and most of the outlying islands, suffered a guide wire sagging incident in Yuen Long and two transmission system voltage dips over March and April, one of which was caused by a hill fire that affected overhead electricity pylons.
The government has proposed extra penalties to cover voltage dips that cause disruption, as well as for full-scale power outages. Photo: Handout
The government has proposed extra penalties to cover voltage dips that cause disruption, as well as for full-scale power outages. Photo: Handout

The voltage dip on April 6 caused at least 152 reports of passengers trapped in lifts.

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