China to end state monopoly on electricity distribution

Hong Kong

CHINA said it will end the monopoly of state-owned power distributors over electricity sales by allowing end users to negotiate prices directly with generators.

Generators will be able to sell power to customers through regional power trading platforms, the country's top economic planning agency said in a statement on its website on Monday. As part of the plan State Grid Corp of China, China Southern Power Grid Co and the Inner Mongolia Power Group Co will operate networks and carry electricity for a government-set fee.