ENG-1990 — Page 276

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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retrieval and updating of account information to handle consumer's enquiries and applications for services. Applications for change of consumership can now be processed efficiently over the counter. Such enhancements were complemented by increased counter facilities at the new Wan Chai Consumer Enquiry Centre designed with a view to providing cordial and efficient service to consumers.

The telephone enquiry service was upgraded to an automatic call distribution system which allowed call-queuing with telephone lines increased from 12 to 25. Service after office hours was extended by way of pre-recorded information on popular water account topics.

The auto-pay service was widely promoted and eight per cent of the consumers are now using this.

Electricity

Electricity supply is currently provided by two commercial companies - The Hongkong Electric Company Limited (HEC), which supplies Hong Kong Island and the neighbouring islands of Ap Lei Chau and Lamma, and China Light and Power Company Limited (CLP), which supplies the whole of Kowloon and the New Territories, including Lantau and a number of outlying islands.

The two supply companies are investor-owned and do not operate on a franchise basis. The government monitors the financial arrangements of the companies through schemes of - control. The schemes require each company to submit to the government for approval a Financing Plan setting out the financial consequences over a period of at least five years of the companies' planned activities, including the forecast tariff levels.

The government's arrangements for monitoring the operations of the power companies were reviewed by a firm of independent professional consultants in 1983. The consultancy report, published in March 1985, confirmed that the monitoring arrangements in the past had been adequate and appropriate. Nevertheless, the consultants also offered a number of recommendations on how the operational aspects of the monitoring process could be improved. A special working party responsible to the Secretary for Economic Services was set up to develop the recommendations. The working party's report was submitted to the Executive Council and the consultants' recommendations have since been implemented.

In Kowloon and the New Territories, electricity is supplied by CLP's three affiliated generating companies Peninsula Electric Power Company Limited (PEPCO), Kowloon Electricity Supply Company Limited (KESCO) and Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO). CLP has a 40 per cent stake in each of these affiliated companies, with the remaining 60 per cent being owned by Exxon.

PEPCO, KESCO and CAPCO have operating service agreements with CLP under which CLP constructs, commissions, operates and maintains the electricity generating facilities for these companies. The generating facilities include Tsing Yi 'A' (720 MW) and Tsing Yi 'B' (800 MW) which are owned by PEPCO; Hok Un (264 MW) and Castle Peak 'A' (1 640 MW) which are owned by KESCO; and the Castle Peak 'B' (2 708 MW) which is owned by CAPCO. The total installed capacity at the end of 1990 was 6 132 MW.

CLP's transmission system operates at 400 kV, 132 kV and 66 kV, and distribution is effected mainly at 33 kV, 11 kV and 346 volts. The supply is 50 hertz alternating current, normally at 200 volts single phase or 346 volts three phase.

To serve its consumers, CLP has more than 158 primary and over 6 048 secondary sub- stations in its transmission and distribution network. An extra high voltage transmission