Recently in Xinxiang, Henan, during a period of closure, a business discovered that their gas bill was close to 500 million yuan, sparking discussions online.
On May 13th, Mr. Li, a business owner in Xinxiang, reported that when checking the gas bill for the store, it showed an outstanding balance of nearly 5 billion yuan. Mr. Li mentioned that his store had been closed for some time, and at the time of closure, there was still over ninety yuan in the account. However, upon recent inquiry, he found out that there was an outstanding debt of over 4 billion yuan, which startled him. After reporting the issue to the gas company, Mr. Li confirmed that his account had been restored to normal.
According to a journalist from a local media outlet who contacted the gas company, the problem was due to a backend system error.
This news has sparked widespread discussion among the public.
A popular Weibo influencer, “Naughty Guo Beile,” commented: “If this business owed just 500 yuan, would it have been ignored? What about the numerous other businesses? When it comes to changing meters, the process seems to be swift, claiming to be the most accurate now. That’s what they say about being precise, but who can say for sure without any manipulation? Are all those receivable data items matching up?”
The author of a headline article, and Weibo influencer “Zhou Peng’an,” stated: “If it was a debt of 5,000 yuan, it probably wouldn’t be so easily resolved, perhaps you would even have to pay it back. But with an outstanding balance of nearly 5 billion, you don’t have to worry at all; the gas company must be feeling extremely embarrassed.”
A video blogger and Weibo influencer, “Ma Yanming,” mentioned: “Gas company staff said that the company is undergoing adjustments, requiring relevant personnel to fix the loopholes and ensure the accuracy of the data. How are they ‘adjusting’? Can the meter data be made public, accessible, and subject to supervision by the users?”
An internet technology blogger and Weibo influencer, “Lu Xixin,” commented: “① The data is a bit intimidating, so is it an issue with the meter readings? Or did the entire gas flow go off track? ② This incident illustrates that gas meter data can be altered, which actually makes everyone feel even more uneasy.”
Since April, many residents from various districts and counties in Chongqing have reported that after the gas company replaced smart gas meters, the gas costs have surged under similar usage patterns, leading some residents to suspect that the gas meters are malfunctioning. Furthermore, residents from various cities in Sichuan Province, including Chengdu, have also reported similar situations, with continuous complaints being raised.