To alleviate the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and underprivileged families, HK Electric has expanded the scope of its relief measures and energy-saving programmes to cover part of the customers hit hardest by the pandemic. Together with the distribution of dining coupons again this year, this new round of relief measures will benefit around 500 SMEs and more than 40,000 underprivileged families.
From this year the "Smart Power Care Fund" will relax its eligibility criteria and accept applications from more sectors and premises to replace or purchase energy-efficient electrical kitchen, laundry and water-heating equipment and appliances.
All premises operated by SMEs used for residential care homes for the elderly or persons with disabilities, child care centres, fitness centres, beauty parlours, licensed guesthouses, clubhouses licensed premises for food provision, the laundry trade or dish-washing operations located on Hong Kong or Lamma islands may also apply for the "Energy-efficient Community Subsidy Programme" with full subsidy up to HK$300,000 to buy energy-efficient equipment.
For organisations that were eligible to apply before the relaxation, meaning premises operated by non-profit-making NGOs for the provision of education, community, welfare or transitional housing services, non-government kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, higher education institutions, or associated student facilities, full subsidy up to HK$500,000 will continue.
The eligibility for the "Smart to Care Subsidy Programme" has also been relaxed. From this year, all premises operated by SMEs for the provision of caring, rehabilitation or residential services to the elderly, children or persons with disabilities may also apply with full subsidy capped at HK$150,000 to implement geron-technology or smart technology projects (e.g. Internet of Things, data analytics and visualisation systems). And for premises operated by non-profit-making NGOs for the provision of caring, rehabilitation or residential services to the elderly, children or persons with disabilities, the full subsidy will continue up to HK$300,000.
For residential customers under the "SDU Electricity Charges Relief Programme" -- which caters to eligible SDU households without individual HK Electric's tariff meters -- the subsidy has been increased from HK$500 to HK$600 per household per year. HK Electric will also continue to assist eligible SDU households with the rewiring and installation of individual tariff meters.
HK Electric will also continue to launch the "Care and Share" SME Caterers Subsidy Scheme, posting in batches dining coupon sets worth $250 each to eligible families (including customers of HK Electric's "Concessionary Tariff Scheme for the Elderly/Disabled/Single-Parent Families/Unemployed" and other customers in need) for use at more than 200 participating eateries located on Hong Kong and Lamma islands. It is expected that 40,000 families will benefit from this and will also bring extra business to SME caterers.
Managing Director of HK Electric, Mr. Wan Chi-tin noted the continuous challenges faced by the general public and different trades in the community. "With the pandemic showing no signs of easing, many of the hardest hit trades may still be struggling. HK Electric hopes to alleviate their operating pressure by including them in the 'Smart Power Care Fund' . With this round of relief measures, we expect to provide subsidies totalling about HK$23 million," he said.
St. Barnabas' Society and Home in Western District is one such organisation that recently joined HK Electric's "Energy-efficient Community Subsidy Programme" . The centre provides more than 100 free lunches and dinners per day on average for the homeless and the underprivileged.
The central kitchen of the centre is equipped with electric cooking equipment which are aged, worn out and badly in need of replacement. The centre hoped to gradually replace these and purchase new electric cooking equipment by taking part in the programme offered by HK Electric.
Mr. Wan, who recently visited the centre, noted that the equipment upgrade would enhance the productivity of the kitchen as well as energy efficiency. And the energy expenditure was expected to be reduced also.
A laundry shop located on Greenwood Terrace in Chai Wan has also become eligible to apply for the enhanced programme. Shop owner, Mr. Wu King-ming, described the relief measures by HK Electric as a lifesaver. He said that since the outbreak of the pandemic, his shop's turnover has dropped by about 20 per cent as many commercial customers had suspended business. This has put additional pressure on his shop's operation.
He hoped that with the subsidy from HK Electric, he would be able to buy a new electric tumble dryer to replace the old one, and so enhance energy efficiency and improve the working environment.
All subsidy programmes are now open for application. For more details, simply visit the web page of "Smart Power Care Fund" : www.hkelectric.com/SPCF-en or call the hotline of Smart Power Services at 2510 2701.