Starting from September 1st, the price of natural gas for residents in Tianjin will increase, directly affecting the daily lives of thousands of households. This is an important issue that significantly impacts people’s livelihoods and has quickly become a hot topic of discussion on the streets and in neighborhoods. Many netizens in Tianjin have expressed complaints, questioning the rationale behind the price adjustment and whether it takes into account the consumers’ ability to bear the cost.
Recently, the Development and Reform Commission of Tianjin announced that, based on changes in upstream gas prices, the city will adjust the sales price of urban gas network natural gas for residential use starting from September 1st, with an average increase of 0.07 RMB per cubic meter.
The adjusted prices are as follows:
– For residential use: Tier 1 gas price per cubic meter is 2.86 RMB, Tier 2 is 3.36 RMB, and Tier 3 is 4.11 RMB.
– For residential independent heating: Tier 1 gas price per cubic meter is 2.76 RMB, Tier 2 is 3.36 RMB, and Tier 3 is 4.11 RMB.
– Non-residential users under residential gas prices will have a gas price of 2.89 RMB per cubic meter.
– Rural households using gas for winter heating under the “coal-to-gas” program will have a price of 2.76 RMB per cubic meter.
The official announcement of the price increase of natural gas in Tianjin has caught many netizens by surprise, touching upon one of the most sensitive nerves – the cost of living. The news of the natural gas price hike has caused concern among many residents, sparking discussions on social media platforms about the impact of the increased cost on their lives.
Some netizens have suggested that it’s time to carefully manage their finances and reconsider their spending habits. As the natural gas prices are set to rise, some residents have started to question the justification behind the adjustment and whether it sufficiently considers consumers’ ability to afford the higher prices.
A Tianjin netizen “User0405503” expressed, “Russian gas has already been imported, why is natural gas still so expensive? The cost of living for residents is already high, why increase prices? Is it just because the authorities said so?”
Another Tianjin netizen “Best Partner” commented, “This is to increase government revenue.”
And “Ice is Water’s Body” added, “Combined with rapidly ticking gas meters.”
With wages stagnant and prices rising, netizens like “Mountain Ghost” pointed out the difficulties faced by the population due to the continuous price hikes.
In response to the lack of public hearings for the upward adjustment of natural gas prices in Tianjin, some netizens have raised doubts about the transparency and fairness of the decision-making process.
“A series of events like Water” stated, “The key is that there won’t be any more public hearings, so prices are estimated to increase every year. People didn’t react to this increase, so they might try raising it tenfold next time.”
Another Tianjin netizen “User4028444” countered, “Are public hearings even effective? You’ve been fooled. Public hearings/formalities have been predetermined long ago. They will never invite you to participate.”
And “Flying Sky” added, “Prices keep rising and never seem to come down.”
“It’s no longer about improving living standards.” remarked “Fear of the Cold Studio.”
“Wang Shaoyi” mourned, “Is there anything left that hasn’t increased in price? Life is truly difficult.”
While “Doctor of Medicine and Virtue” criticized, “Even the money we saved in the cracks of our teeth is being taken away.”
It’s worth noting that on September 1, 2023, the urban gas sales price per cubic meter in Tianjin increased by 0.29 RMB. According to the three-tier pricing calculation applied in this adjustment, the prices stood at 2.79 RMB, 3.29 RMB, and 4.04 RMB per cubic meter respectively.