Reply:
(b)
(c)
(a)
(b)
50
whether it knows of the specific energy conservation measures taken by the China Light and Power Company Limited and the Hongkong Electric Company Limited; if so, what are the details of those measures; and
whether consideration has been given to establishing an energy management council to handle all matters relating to the supply and demand of energy in the territory?
+
The Government's policy on energy efficiency and conservation is to promote such practices as far as possible without impeding either economic growth or improvement in the community's standard of living. This involves promoting public awareness of, and providing advice on, energy saving opportunities and benefits through education and publicity programmes and establishing energy saving standards for the design of buildings and building services.
The two power companies have either undertaken, or are drawing up, various pilot energy conservation schemes as precursors to large-scale demand side management programmes. These include pilot schemes to introduce energy-efficient lighting to housing estate residents, schools and the commercial sector. The companies have also revised their tariff structures so as to phase out incentives to consume more electricity and to provide incentives to shift electricity demand to off-peak hours as a means of deferring purchase of additional plant to meet growth in peak demand for electricity. They also provide energy audit services to commercial and industrial customers seeking to save energy. In addition, the two power companies are promoting public awareness of energy efficiency and conservation. They have prepared teaching kits for use in primary schools, visited secondary schools and donated $11 million to the Urban Council for developing an Energy Efficiency Display Centre, which will be open later this year. As members of the Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, they have provided useful advice on development of energy codes and sponsorship of various energy efficiency campaigns and schemes developed by the Committee.