GUANGDONG Electric Power Development Co, the biggest operator of power plants in the province bordering Hong Kong, said first-quarter profit fell 99 percent as higher coal prices raised fuel costs.

Earnings fell to 2 million yuan (US$286,000), or 0.0008 yuan a share, from 222 million yuan, or 0.0836 yuan a share, a year earlier, Guangdong Electric said yesterday.