Support Measures for Town Councils amidst Rising Energy Costs

107 Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked the Minister for National Development in light of concerns regarding liquefied natural gas supply constraints and price volatility (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of rising energy costs on Town Councils; and (b) whether support measures are being considered to help Town Councils absorb energy cost increases without passing the full burden to residents.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Government provides over $280 million a year in grants to help Town Councils with some of their operating expenses and reduce the costs borne by residents. Beyond these grants, Town Councils are responsible for their financial sustainability, by managing their income and expenses prudently.

To manage electricity costs, Town Councils can implement energy conservation measures, such as smart lighting systems and adjusting lighting hours and brightness. For example, the West Coast-Jurong West Town Council has piloted a smart lighting system that achieved energy savings of over 70%.