2nd June 2022 – (Hong Kong) The Hong Kong and China Gas Company (Towngas) requested the Environment Bureau to increase the standard charge per megajoule of gas by 1.15 cents, or 4.4% or not more than HK$10 per household from 1st August.
The monthly gas bills for about half of industrial and commercial users will increase by less than HK$290. The Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development will discuss it later. The last time the cost was adjusted was on 1st August, 2019, and it has been three years since then.” During the past three years, operating costs have continued to rise, including engineering materials and staff expenses, and cumulative inflation is also expected to be maintained at around 4%. At present, the company invests more than HK$1 billion in pipeline network and gas supply facilities every year to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the charges.
The company continued to provide concessions to about 50,000 eligible seniors, people with disabilities, single-parent families and low-income families. They can enjoy 50% discount on gas usage for the first 500 MJ per month, as well as waiver of monthly maintenance and parts fees. Customers of these preferential plans will not be affected by the gas tariff adjustment. In order to provide further support to families in need and help the catering industry to tide over the difficult times, under this preferential scheme, each family will be given a HK$200 dining cash coupon.