Electricity
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PUBLIC WORKS
149
Electricity on the Island is supplied by the Hongkong Electric Company Ltd., distributing an alternating current at 22 kilovolts and 6,600 volts, 3 phase 50 cycles. Bulk consumers are supplied at 6,600 volts and domestic consumers at 346/200 volts. The amount of electricity generated during 1955 was 272,349,900 kilowatt hours, an increase of 8% over the previous year's output.
The number of consumers at the end of the year was 70,902, an increase of 3,962, or 6%, over the 1954 figure. Total sales (in units) were as follows:
Lighting
74,638,611
Public lighting
1,745,498
Bulk power
48,139,843
Domestic and commercial power
...
108,540,836
233,064,788
This is an increase of 9% on the 1954 figures.
During the year the peak load reached a maximum of 59,000 kilowatts, an increase of 8.6% over 1954. A newly commissioned turbo-alternator is now in operation, bringing the generator capacity to 92,500 kilowatts. The steam-raising capacity remains at 837,000 lbs. per hour, but good progress is being made in the erection of a further unit to increase this.
The distribution system on the east side of the Island has been supplemented by the addition of two 22-kilovolt feeders, which are expected to be commissioned on arrival of the transformers in March 1956. Extra provision will be rendered necessary by the rebuilding programme west of the city centre, and by the transfer to Sai Wan of certain industries displaced by low-cost housing schemes.
Charges for current range from 28 cents per unit to 15.4 cents per unit for lighting, and 12 cents to 11.4 cents for power, with special rates quoted for bulk consumers. All rates are subject to a 9% fuel surcharge, due to increased cost of fuel.
In Kowloon electricity is supplied by China Light and Power Co. Ltd., whose services extend to the principal market towns in the mainland part of the New Territories and to such villages as are situated within reasonable distance of main roads. The load continues to grow steadily each year, and
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