Government subsidies (Residential)
Everything you need to know about government subsidies pertaining to residential customers.
About the schemes
The Hong Kong Government has announced the provision of 6 subsidy schemes, as summarized below:
Electricity Charges Relief Scheme (2019-23)
("ECRS 2019-23")
Jan 2019 – Dec 2023, expires on 31 Dec 2023
HK$3,000 (HK$50 per month)
Electricity Charges Relief Scheme (2024-25)
("ECRS 2024-25")
Jan 2024 – Dec 2025, expires on 31 Dec 2025
HK$1,200 (HK$50 per month)
Government Electricity Charges Subsidy Scheme (ECSS2020)
Jan 2020 – Dec 2020, expires on 31 Dec 2025
HK$2,000 (HK$160 per month x first 11 consecutive months + HK$240 for last month)
Government Electricity Charges Subsidy Scheme (ECSS2021)
Jun 2021 – May 2022, expires on 31 Dec 2025
HK$1,000 (HK$80 per month x first 11 consecutive months + HK$120 for last month)
Government Electricity Charges Subsidy Scheme (ECSS2022)
Jun 2022 – May 2023, expires on 31 Dec 2025
HK$1,000 (HK$80 per month x first 11 consecutive months + HK$120 for last month)
Government Electricity Charges Subsidy Scheme (ECSS2023)
Jun 2023 – May 2024, expires on 31 Dec 2025
HK$1,000 (HK$80 per month x first 11 consecutive months + HK$120 for last month)
How to grant
In general, registered residential electricity accounts are eligible for the electricity charges subsidy, including multiple-account holders. All subsidies will directly offset the electricity charges payable on your electricity bill and will not be paid in or exchanged for cash. A monthly subsidy is credited to each registered residential electricity account on the first day of each month.
Check your government subsidies balance via CLP Power Mobile App
1. Click ‘My bill’.
2. Scroll down to ‘Billing and payment history’ section, click ‘View balance of subsidy schemes’.
3. View the remaining balance on your subsidy scheme.
For more information on the subsidy schemes mentioned above, please visit:
- Electricity Charges Relief Scheme (Environment and Ecology Bureau website)
- Electricity Charges Subsidy Scheme (Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau website)
Frequently asked questions
The unused credited relief cannot be transferred to a new account.
No. The current ECRS 2019-23 will be lapsed in end 2023 and the unused credit cannot be carried forward to new round of ECRS.
The relief can be applied to the bills covering consumption period on or before 31 December 2023 even though it is issued in odd month.
If both the ECRS 2024-25 and ECSS2023 have been credited to the residential electricity account, the ECRS 2024-25 will be utilised first in offsetting billed charges.
All residential electricity accounts, including accounts with unused subsidy under electricity charges subsidy schemes (ECSS), can benefit from ECRS 2024-25. Unused subsidy under the past ECSS implemented in 2008 to 2013 will be utilised first in offsetting bill payment. Relief amount credited to the account will be utilised after such unused subsidy is exhausted or expired.
The registered account holder as at the first of the month will be entitled and the unused portion of the credited subsidies cannot be used further nor converted to cash.
If the new account exists on the first day of the month, it will be credited the electricity charges subsidy amount for the same month. If the account comes into existence on the second day or following days of the month, the account will be credited the electricity charges subsidies from the next month. Accounts opened after the last credit day (i.e. 1 December 2025 for ECRS 2024-25 or 1 May 2024 for ECSS2023) will not be entitled to any credit of electricity charges subsidy.
The subsidy will cover vacant flats, except properties identified as new residential flats still owned by property developers.
Only residential customers are eligible for government subsidy schemes, any unused credits will be voided upon tariff change or account closure.
The electricity charges subsidies will reduce the amount of electricity charges demanded in the electricity bills. As to who will be enjoying the electricity charges subsidies, this depends on the agreement between the tenant and the landlord. Generally speaking, if the tenant of the leased unit, bedspace apartments or cubicles is the holder of such an electricity account, he/she only needs to pay the adjusted amount shown on the bill. If the account is registered in the name of the landlord but the tenant is required to pay the amounts as shown on the electricity company’s bills under the agreement, he/she can enjoy the electricity charges subsidy in the same way. As to how tenants and landlords deal with electricity charges subsidies, it will be subject to respective leasing arrangements and CLP will not be involved.
The mode of collecting electricity charges varies in different service apartments. While electricity charges are covered by the rental for some service apartments, some tenants are required to pay the charges to the landlords (instead of CLP). As to how tenants and landlords deal with electricity charges subsidies, it will be subject to respective leasing arrangements and CLP will not be involved.
