The Government announced today (December 30) that the validity end date of the unused subsidy/relief balances (unused balances) under the Electricity Charges Subsidy Scheme (ECSS) and the Electricity Charges Relief Scheme (ECRS) (2024-25) will be extended by one year from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026.

     A Government spokesperson said, "Taking into account that a considerable number of households have not yet used up the distributed subsidy/relief, the Government has decided to extend the validity end date of the unused balances by one year. All unused balances will be carried forward to cover billed electricity charges under the same account until December 31, 2026, or the closure of the account, whichever is earlier. The Government will keep the situation under review and consider, as appropriate, whether a further extension of the validity period is warranted."

     The unused balances will continue to be reflected in the electricity bills of eligible accounts. For enquiries on account matters, users may contact CLP Power Hong Kong Limited's Customer Service Hotline on 2678 2678 or the Hongkong Electric Company, Limited's Customer Service Hotline on 2887 3411. Details of the ECSS and ECRS are available at www.fstb.gov.hk/en/treasury/fin_rel_shc/electricity-charges-subsidy-scheme.htm and www.eeb.gov.hk/en/energy/ecrs.html respectively.

ECSS
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     The Government launched eight rounds of the ECSS between 2008 and 2023 to provide a maximum total electricity charge subsidy of $14,000 to eligible residential electricity accounts. The sum was fully credited to relevant accounts from September 2008 to May 2024. The last round of the ECSS (2023) concluded in May 2024, and the original validity end date of the unused subsidy was December 31, 2025.

ECRS (2024-25)
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     Under the ECRS (2024-25), the Government provides electricity charge relief of $50 per month to eligible residential electricity accounts (to a maximum total relief of $1,200). The sum was fully credited to relevant accounts from January 2024 to December 2025, and the original validity end date of the unused relief was December 31, 2025.

Ends/Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:12

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