HK Government Electricity handout.

The Hong Kong Government is to credit residents with HK$150 of free electricity each  month. This will benefit 2.5 million homes in the territory.

Each residential home will gain a HK$150 credit on their electricity bills each month for a whole year. This will give a total of HK1800 over the course of the scheme. The benefit to low income families could see them pay no charges at-all.

Around 20% of homes in Hong Kong, on average, use less electricity than the 150 dollar credit. Any excess credit remaining each month can be carried forward and for some this will mean they will have free power from more than a year.


The last time the Government of Hong Kong offered such a scheme was in 2008 and I can tell you it was a nice little extra bonus not that we personally needed it.

A side effect of free electricity is that residents might just use more. That in turn would mean more power generation and more pollution which Hong Kong can do without. This air quality in some parts of the territory is a major cause of concern for health.

Even with the pollution aspect, the subsidy is a welcome bonus to those who need it the most. Others may just see it as a bonus paid to to the power companies.

There are two Hong Kong Power Companies, Hong Kong Electric and China Light and Power which supply the needs of Hong Kong mainly through Coal and Gas power stations.