Due to the speedy replacement of gas meters, gas fees in Chongqing have skyrocketed recently, attracting widespread public attention.
According to a report from the China Business News on April 12, after many places in Chongqing replaced their gas meters, residents’ gas bills have surged dramatically, more than doubling in some cases. It seems as though they are playing a game of accelerating heartbeats with the bills constantly on the rise.
Many netizens have shared their payment records online, highlighting the significant differences in costs, with some households even having to pay four times the usual gas fees.
A 65-second video circulating online shows a gas meter labeled “Chengdu Lunli Metering Equipment Co., Ltd.” with the last three digits in red showing “169,” and then the number “9” gradually jumping upward. The video was filmed by a homeowner living in the Liangjiang New Area of Chongqing on the morning of April 11 around 10:50 AM. The homeowner mentioned that the meter is a newly replaced “wireless transmission membrane gas meter” and that it was strange how it was spinning slowly despite no one being at home and no appliances being in use. Many residents facing similar situations have also shared photos and videos online to express their frustration.
Imagine if gas fees only increased by a few tens of yuan per month, it would be considered normal. However, when the fees suddenly multiply several times, it raises concerns. Netizens across the country are puzzled by the phenomenon: where does this magic from the new gas meters come from? How did the fees increase so significantly? What are the underlying reasons?
Facing public pressure, the Chongqing gas company issued a clarification statement emphasizing that all their operations strictly adhere to national regulations. Gas meter replacements follow the “National Metrological Verification Procedures,” with natural gas meters generally required to be replaced every ten years. The statement highlighted that the newly replaced meters have been verified by legal metrological verification institutions and carry marks of qualification.
However, Chongqing residents remain unconvinced by the gas company’s clarification statement. Many believe that the so-called “acknowledgment” in the statement is merely wishful thinking, and the assertion of “no issues found” raises suspicions. If the gas company has verified the situations reported by “individual customers,” and all meters that have been reviewed show no problems, how did the previously reported issues occur? Shouldn’t there be a public education campaign to inform residents of the correct meter usage to prevent potential losses? Without specific verification and concrete evidence, can people be convinced by just a couple of notices?
Subsequently, more residents began sharing instances of abnormal gas meter readings on social media, leading to the deletion of the gas group’s clarification announcement. Many people have lost trust in the newly replaced smart gas meters, believing that remote-controlled meters could be manipulated in the background leading to abnormal increases in gas fees.
Some netizens revealed that upon further investigation, they found that the gas inlet pipes for abnormal gas users in Chongqing were cleverly connected to the meter using small-caliber connecting pipes. This design can increase gas pressure, accelerating the gear rotation of the meter. This seemingly minor change has significant impacts and may be difficult to detect even by technical supervision agencies.
Whether it is tampering with the gas meters themselves or involving manipulation at the connection point between the gas inlet pipes and gas meters, it indicates intentional actions aimed at defrauding the general public. Such deception is extremely worrying and raises questions about who gave the Chongqing gas company the audacity to deceive the public.