Cost of heating to rely on usage

By Wang Wen (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-19 08:06

The municipal government spent more than 200 million yuan to prolong the heating period this winter, said Li Nan, committee member of the Beijing Municipal Commission of City Administration and Environment.

Li said the money was mainly spent on fuel because the heating company had responsibility for the operating costs.

The Beijing Administrative Rule of Heating Management, which was released on Thursday, was adopted by the Beijing government on Nov 10, 2009, and will come into effect on April 1, 2010.

In the Administrative Rule, the heating season is still fixed at Nov 15 to March 15. However, it permits the government to adjust the season according to the weather.

"It is our purpose to provide heating and reduce any conflicts over heating through the rule," said Li.

According to the latest Administrative Rule, if the heating companies delay, suspend or end heating during the heating season, they will have to pay a penalty ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 yuan.

"It is aimed at making sure residents can get heating," said Li.

Li said the standard temperature would be 18 C for the next heating season and that paying for the amount of heat used rather than flat fees would be introduced gradually in Beijing.

"Residents will be able to control the temperature and heat in their apartments, although the heating companies need to guarantee the lowest temperature," said Li. He said it was a way to save energy and money.

The fees will be charged in two parts; a basic fee for the equipment and a fee for the amount of heat used. The percentages of the two parts are still being determined, he added.

All non-residential buildings and new residential buildings will need to pay for actual heat used as of the next heating season in 2010, Li said.

For older buildings without the necessary equipment, it would be installed and then residents will be charged for the heat used. This would apply to all buildings eventually, he told METRO.

"It would be a very good thing for us if the heating fee could be paid according to the actual quantity of heat used," said Chen Jingxi, a 25-year-old man who lives in Huilongguan and who has an apartment in Tongzhou district.

Chen said because he did not live in the apartment during the weekdays, it was expensive for him it to pay flat fees to heat his apartment. He said if the payment method was changed, he could turn down his heating during the weekdays and save money in the future.

The rule, comprising 37 items, also regulates the rights and responsibilities of heating companies and residents.

As of the end of 2008, there were 603 million sq m being heated in Beijing and more than 2,000 companies in the capital. The rule will be the legal basis for the business.