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respectively. CLP Power undertook to buy about 70 per cent of the station's power to meet part of the longer-term demand for electricity in its supply area.
Through its affiliated company, the Hong Kong Pumped Storage Development Company Limited, CLP Power has the right to use 50 per cent of the 1 200MW capacity of Phase 1 of the Guangzhou Pumped Storage Power Station, at Conghua. Off-peak electricity from the CAPCO system and the Guangdong Nuclear Power Station is used to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper one. The water is allowed to flow downhill during the day to generate electricity to meet Hong Kong's peak demand.
Three-year Demand Side Management (DSM) Agreements between the Government and the two power companies expired in June 2003. All power companies' DSM programmes were completed in early 2004.
The Electricity Ordinance, with its subsidiary regulations, is the main enabling legislation on electrical safety. It sets out the legal framework encompassing all the areas within which the concerned legislation shall apply, including the registration of electrical contractors/workers and competent persons, the safety standards and requirements for electricity supply, electricity supply lines, electrical wiring and products.
In 2004, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department started revising the code of practice on working near electricity supply lines, which has come into operation since 2000, to provide up-to-date guidelines on how to comply with the requirements of the Electricity Supply Lines (Protection) Regulation.
Since 1990, regulations concerning the registration of electrical contractors and workers, the safety of electrical wiring, the supply of safe household electrical products, and the protection of electricity supply lines from third party damage have come into effect in stages. At December 2004, some 8 700 electrical contractors and 61 000 electrical workers held valid registration. Also, some 700 competent persons had been approved for locating underground electricity cables.
During enforcement of the Electricity Ordinance in 2004, the Government conducted 12 600 site inspections to check the safety standards of electrical installations and electrical product supply outlets, and prosecution action was initiated in 207 cases.
Gas
Towngas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are the two main types of fuel gas widely used throughout Hong Kong for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes. In addition, LPG is used as a fuel for LPG taxis and light buses, and natural gas is used for electricity generation.
Hong Kong has about two million gas customers in the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. In 2004, Towngas accounted for 80 per cent of the total fuel gas sold in energy terms, and LPG for 20 per cent.