China will introduce a
progressive pricing system for residential electricity in the first half of the
year, China National Radio reported Wednesday, citing a government official.
Under the new system, the heaviest residential users will pay higher
electricity rates, China State Radio said, citing Peng Sen, deputy director of
the National Development and Reform Commission.
Chinese homes account for only 12% of the nation's total electricity
consumption, Peng said, but the top 5% of high-income households account for
24% of residential consumption.
Electricity prices should remain stable for the bottom 80% of Chinese
households, the ratio station quoted him as saying in an online report.
The first tranche of users would see no increase in their rate, while the
second and third tranches would see rate increases of CNY0.05 and CNY0.2 per
unit of electricity, Peng said in the report.