兩間電力公司明年電費加幅揭盅，中電加百分之三點九，港燈則維持電費不變，表面上總算溫和，然而，甜頭背後隱藏不利因素，隨着兩年後實施新減排標準，電力公司須增加使用成本較高的天然氣，中電已預告未來四年將會持續加價，預測連同燃料費，幅度最高可能達百分之十一點八，令人咋舌。

現時電費計算方式主要由兩部分組成，包括基本電費和燃料費。由於今年國際煤價回落，經營成本減輕，未來投資亦減少，而中電仍然堅持加價，就算加幅低於通脹，仍然備受非議。立法會議員批評中電「加到盡」，可謂一語中的。

更令人嘖嘖稱奇的是，中電以兩年後將大量使用天然氣為理由預告加價，而港燈則承諾即使計及燃料成本變化，未來五年將盡力維持電費不變。同一套規管準則下，兩電計算燃料成本南轅北轍，這不是很奇怪嗎？中電一味強調未來五年基本電費平均加幅僅百分之一點八，只是避重就輕而已，根本無法掩飾燃料費的驚人加幅。

無疑，電力公司轉用清潔能源有助改善空氣質素，市民並非盲目反對合情合理的加價，問題是當局監管不力，減排成為電力公司持續加價的藉口，可謂弄巧反拙。

The government should take precautions as electricity tariff is poised to skyrocket

The two power companies have just announced their tariff adjustments for the coming year. While CLP Power will raise its tariffs by 3.9%, Hongkong Electric will freeze prices. On the surface, CLP's rate of increase seems mild, but there are ominous signs looming behind the apparently tame move. With the enforcement of new emission caps in two years’ time, the two electricity generators will have to use natural gas which is more costly. CLP has already announced in advance that it will continue to raise tariffs in the next four years. With the addition of fuel charge, the rate increased is likely to be as high as a staggering 11.8%.

The present formula of power bill calculation comprises two parts: basic electricity charge and fuel charge. International coal prices have dropped this year, operating cost has gone down, and future investment will also be reduced. These all entail lower expenditures, but CLP insists on increasing its tariffs. As a result, the lower-than-inflation hike still invites censures. A legislator hit the nail on the head by criticizing that CLP “had exerted its utmost to lift prices”.

On the pretext that it will have to use much more natural gas after two years, CLP heralds more tariff hikes in the future. In the meantime, Hongkong Electric promises to try its best to keep tariffs flat in the coming five years despite possible variations in fuel cost. Is it not strange that, under the same regulatory standards, the two power companies are polar opposites in their calculations of fuel cost? CLP reiterates that the average increase in basic electricity charge for the next five years will merely be 1.8%. But such an act of avoiding the important and dwelling on the trivial cannot gloss over the startling soar in fuel charge.

Undoubtedly, the power companies’ shift to cleaner energy source would help to improve our air quality. The public would not blindly object to a price hike if it were reasonable. The problem is, when the government's monitoring is so impotent, emission reduction is now utilized as an excuse for non-stop tariff increases. Once again, the government's attempt at cleverness has only ended up as a blunder.

重要生字

hit the nail on the head 一語中的

avoid the important and 避重就輕

dwell on the trivial gloss over 掩飾

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