WP's Slyvia Lim: Consider Tiered Charge in electricity tariff

Porfirio Rubirosa · Oct 30, 2008

Consider tiered charge in electricity tariff

I REFER to Monday's letter by Mr Paul Chan, 'Electricity prices: 82% higher here than in Hong Kong'.
Mr Chan's query about the price of electricity in Hong Kong and Singapore is partly answered by the fact that Hong Kong produces electricity largely from coal, and hence the impact of volatile fuel prices is not as amplified as it is here.

However, the unanswered part which the Singapore authorities should seriously consider is that Hong Kong has a system of tiered charging for electricity based on consumption.

Thus, for the first 150 units of electricity consumed, the rate is about $18. Progressively as consumption increases, the tariff rate goes up, so those who consume more electricity pay for additional units at a higher rate.

Such a tiered charging system has several benefits:

It ensures there is a humane rate for baseline consumption, while those who can afford it can consume more;

At the same time, it is green - encouraging everyone to save electricity so as not to cross to the next tier and be charged at a higher rate.
Indeed, tiered charging is already in place in Singapore for water.

At the parliamentary sitting on Oct 21, I raised this suggestion which the Ministry of Trade and Industry seemed reluctant to pursue.

The other issue alluded to by Mr Chan is the lack of transparency surrounding the tariff formula.

At the same sitting, I asked whether the electricity tariff formula was a state secret and if the full details of the formula would be published. The answer was that the Energy Market Authority would be happy to oblige, subject to considerations of commercial confidentiality.

Electricity prices have risen more than 50 per cent since January last year and have doubled since January 2004. We await the ministry's response.

Sylvia Lim (Ms)
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament

congo9 · Oct 30, 2008

Porfirio Rubirosa said:
Consider tiered charge in electricity tariff

I REFER to Monday's letter by Mr Paul Chan, 'Electricity prices: 82% higher here than in Hong Kong'.
Mr Chan's query about the price of electricity in Hong Kong and Singapore is partly answered by the fact that Hong Kong produces electricity largely from coal, and hence the impact of volatile fuel prices is not as amplified as it is here.

However, the unanswered part which the Singapore authorities should seriously consider is that Hong Kong has a system of tiered charging for electricity based on consumption.

Thus, for the first 150 units of electricity consumed, the rate is about $18. Progressively as consumption increases, the tariff rate goes up, so those who consume more electricity pay for additional units at a higher rate.

Such a tiered charging system has several benefits:

It ensures there is a humane rate for baseline consumption, while those who can afford it can consume more;

At the same time, it is green - encouraging everyone to save electricity so as not to cross to the next tier and be charged at a higher rate.
Indeed, tiered charging is already in place in Singapore for water.

At the parliamentary sitting on Oct 21, I raised this suggestion which the Ministry of Trade and Industry seemed reluctant to pursue.

The other issue alluded to by Mr Chan is the lack of transparency surrounding the tariff formula.

At the same sitting, I asked whether the electricity tariff formula was a state secret and if the full details of the formula would be published. The answer was that the Energy Market Authority would be happy to oblige, subject to considerations of commercial confidentiality.

Electricity prices have risen more than 50 per cent since January last year and have doubled since January 2004. We await the ministry's response.

Sylvia Lim (Ms)
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament

What is there to hide ?

You mean you cannt let people know how the pricing has been derived ? It the basic nessecity for the people. So they expect ppl to pay what ever price the authority deem fit ? Is that what they mean ?

WTF ............ 66.6%, you have indirectly created a MONSTER who is leeching on you !

Tiu-leh-see-fart · Oct 30, 2008

Ms Sylvia Lim may be good at asking logical questions but PAP based on voting results to make decisions.

66% agree to pay for the price, so what is the beef?

PAP can do what they want, what they like in singapore.

No point complaining, learn to live like north koreans, this is what we are underneath the polished veneer if we cannot afford to emigrate.

Porfirio Rubirosa said:
Consider tiered charge in electricity tariff

I REFER to Monday's letter by Mr Paul Chan, 'Electricity prices: 82% higher here than in Hong Kong'.
Mr Chan's query about the price of electricity in Hong Kong and Singapore is partly answered by the fact that Hong Kong produces electricity largely from coal, and hence the impact of volatile fuel prices is not as amplified as it is here.

However, the unanswered part which the Singapore authorities should seriously consider is that Hong Kong has a system of tiered charging for electricity based on consumption.

Thus, for the first 150 units of electricity consumed, the rate is about $18. Progressively as consumption increases, the tariff rate goes up, so those who consume more electricity pay for additional units at a higher rate.

Such a tiered charging system has several benefits:

It ensures there is a humane rate for baseline consumption, while those who can afford it can consume more;

At the same time, it is green - encouraging everyone to save electricity so as not to cross to the next tier and be charged at a higher rate.
Indeed, tiered charging is already in place in Singapore for water.

At the parliamentary sitting on Oct 21, I raised this suggestion which the Ministry of Trade and Industry seemed reluctant to pursue.

The other issue alluded to by Mr Chan is the lack of transparency surrounding the tariff formula.

At the same sitting, I asked whether the electricity tariff formula was a state secret and if the full details of the formula would be published. The answer was that the Energy Market Authority would be happy to oblige, subject to considerations of commercial confidentiality.

Electricity prices have risen more than 50 per cent since January last year and have doubled since January 2004. We await the ministry's response.

Sylvia Lim (Ms)
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament

williamsF1 · Oct 30, 2008

Porfirio Rubirosa said:
At the parliamentary sitting on Oct 21, I raised this suggestion which the Ministry of Trade and Industry seemed reluctant to pursue.

The other issue alluded to by Mr Chan is the lack of transparency surrounding the tariff formula.

At the same sitting, I asked whether the electricity tariff formula was a state secret and if the full details of the formula would be published. The answer was that the Energy Market Authority would be happy to oblige, subject to considerations of commercial confidentiality.

Electricity prices have risen more than 50 per cent since January last year and have doubled since January 2004. We await the ministry's response.

Sylvia Lim (Ms)
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament

this is the problem when too many things start to become privatize. citizens suffer at the hands of profit/performance driven "businessman" bloodsuckers who're out to crush with vengence bcos they suffer paycut after leaving uniform corp. they need profit stats to justify reason for their pay raise.

silverspoon · Oct 30, 2008

congo9 said:
What is there to hide ?

You mean you cannt let people know how the pricing has been derived ? It the basic nessecity for the people. So they expect ppl to pay what ever price the authority deem fit ? Is that what they mean ?

WTF ............ 66.6%, you have indirectly created a MONSTER who is leeching on you !

the price is based on 80% profit for the government

madmansg · Oct 30, 2008

before Slyvia Lim ask anymore questions she should be asked how come she keng from doing NS ? SHe got pregant before or not ? If not then she should register at the nearest SAF camp to report for NS or the nearest blanga construction site to get impregnated.

kakowi · Oct 30, 2008

Sylvia Lim: "At the same sitting, I asked whether the electricity tariff formula was a state secret and if the full details of the formula would be published. The answer was that the Energy Market Authority would be happy to oblige, subject to considerations of commercial confidentiality."

Who is the competitor of Singapore Power that will underprice if this electricity tariff formula is made known?

Isn't Singapore Power a monopoly, enjoying both economies of scale as well as monopoly profits?

Or perhaps once known, people will start comparing tariff formulae across superscale power companies from the rest of the world?

The sheep must not know how much wool has been sheared.

Conan the Barbarian · Oct 30, 2008

kakowi said:
[/B][/U]."

Who is the competitor of Singapore Power that will underprice if this electricity tariff formula is made known?

Isn't Singapore Power a monopoly, enjoying both economies of scale as well as monopoly profits?

Or perhaps once known, people will start comparing tariff formulae across superscale power companies from the rest of the world?

The sheep must not know how much wool has been sheared.

The sheep did not choose their masters. They are not to be blamed.

66.6% of the voters endorsed all these increases. Funny thing was, they were even warned that it will happen just before they voted in 2006.

But they did. The people have spoken, it was a thunderous "YES" :confused:

R4g3 · Oct 30, 2008

congo9 said:
What is there to hide ?

You mean you cannt let people know how the pricing has been derived ? It the basic nessecity for the people. So they expect ppl to pay what ever price the authority deem fit ? Is that what they mean ?

WTF ............ 66.6%, you have indirectly created a MONSTER who is leeching on you !

Next time IRAS ask you pay tax you also say secret, cannot disclose the details. you say how much is how much.

scroobal · Oct 30, 2008

Porfirio Rubirosa said:
Consider tiered charge in electricity tariff

B]Sylvia Lim (Ms)
Non-Constituency Member of Parliament [/B]

I wonder if this govt realises that in the main it is owns the generation and distribution assets for the electrictity grid albeit in temasek hands.

The challenge for any govt is to ensure that any essential goods and services are monitored and mechanisms in place to ensure there is no dislocation in society especially for the less capable, for commerce and for industry and for the country at large.

One mechanism that has never been allowed is alternative views, monitors and avenues of raising the alarm. That monopoly now rest with the PAP, whether they like it or not.

Purely passing on the cost of oil as its rises is something that a brain damaged mongrel can do on even days of the week.

Courage is waking up in the morning and to be absolutely frank to the missus and tell her that the eventual sale of the assets at a premium based on healthy revenue numbers does wonders for a few, but does little for the rest.

Courage is waking up in the morning and telling it as it is - 'the day my father kicks the bucket, this party will end."

Courage is waking up in the morning and asking oneself - "what the fuck is parliament doing when the same view has to be raised in the tabloids by a member of parliament when the answer was not forthcoming in parliament"

sir cum-a-lot · Oct 30, 2008

actually tiered electrical tariff is happening in other countries too. larger households tend to use(pay) more, smaller households tend to use(pay) less. makes sense for people from all levels of the social scale.

poorer countries in rural under-developed places resort to diesel generator, even that has proven to be reasonably affordable.

WP's Slyvia Lim: Consider Tiered Charge in electricity tariff

Porfirio Rubirosa

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congo9

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Tiu-leh-see-fart

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williamsF1

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silverspoon

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madmansg

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kakowi

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Conan the Barbarian

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R4g3

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scroobal

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sir cum-a-lot

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