In China, complaints have multiplied online in recent days following a sudden increase in gas prices. Residents are surprised by the surge in their bills, particularly in two megacities in the southwest of the country. In total, up to 125 cities and counties could be affected.
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With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde
One of the most commented complaints is that of a famous fiction screenwriter who, at first, thought it was a bad film. Having left for two months on the island of Hainan, the latter says she paid 996 yuan, or 130 euros, to the gas company when she returned home. Astronomical bills in a country where gas from its Russian ally is bought five times cheaper.
Since April 10, residents of several districts of Chongqing, a world city perched on the Yangtze, have complained about a doubling of their bill since their meters were changed.
This is the case of Madame Li, for example. It’s been a few months since she moved into her new apartment and she’s not upset: “ We realized that we now had to pay our telephone bills. There are two of us here and the first bill seemed abnormal to us. We found out. The previous tenants, a family, consumed 30 cubic meters. And when we received the second invoice, it had become 100 m3! » “ How is it possible ? There are two of us and we don’t run a restaurant! », she also gets annoyed.
Critics push authorities to react
“ Help, my meter is running too fast! » The avalanche of criticism pushed the authorities to react. In a press conference on April 13, Chongqing authorities promised to open an investigation. Which did not stop Internet users and local media from continuing theirs. The city’s public data showed that gas sales rose 0.69%, but the state gas company’s net profit rose 824%.
It is the same mobilization of social networks in Chengdu, the other large city in southwest China where the same state gas company operates. Anger was aroused here by the bill for 15,000 yuan, or 1,945 euros, addressed to an elderly person, for four months of gas heating.
This Friday, the meter manufacturer, Qianjia Technology, in Chengdu, also promised to open an investigation, affirming that the increase in invoices was linked to the retroactive payment of unpaid bills that no one understands.
The criticism could become widespread… Water, gas, electricity bills are increasing in dozens of cities across China The increase in public service costs is spreading. “ After the financial crisis, who will pay the cost of changing our growth model? », asks an Internet user. When others ironically say: “They have finally found a way to stop deflation”.
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