Home Accommodation 1How are the Utility Fees Calculated in China?
1How are the Utility Fees Calculated in China?

The fees for water, electricity, gas, telephone and broadband usage fee are usually paid by the tenant. You may have already been informed what are included into the rental, but it is quite important to understand what you are responsible for paying before the lease is signed.

Some of the compounds only offer a “commercial rate” for electricity, water and gas. These rates are more expensive than the typical “residential rate”. You should always have your consultant check with the property management office and advise you on the pricing for your comparison before making any property choices. The floor heating installed in some homes will also add an extra utility cost or will increase your gas consumption. Some compounds, such as Top of City, charge rather high fees for air conditioner usage.

To save the energy resources and protect the environment, government has started to implement multistep water, electricity, and gas price; basically the consumption of the utility has been divided into 3 stages, the unit price increases in different stages, details as below:

 Water Charge

First Stage: When water consumption is 240 cubic meters or below, the water price is RMB3.50 per cubic meter;

Second Stage: When water consumption ranges from 240 to 300 cubic meters, the water price is RMB4.10 per cubic meter;

Third Stage: When the water consumption is above 300 cubic meters, the water price is RMB4.95 per cubic meter.

 Electricity Charge

First Stage: When the electricity consumption is within 3120 degrees (including), the electricity price is RMB0.617 per kilowatt from 6am-10pm, RMB0.307 per kilowatt from 10pm-6am;

Second Stage: When the electricity consumption ranges from 3120 to 4800 degrees (including), the electricity price is RMB0.677 per kilowatt from 6am-10pm, RMB0.337 per kilowatt from 10pm-6am.

Third Stage:When the electricity consumption is above 4800 degrees,the electricity price is RMB0.977 per kilowatt from 6am-10pm, RMB0.487 per kilowatt from 10pm-6am.

 Gas Charge

First Stage: When gas consumption is 310 cubic meters or below, the gas price is RMB3.0 per cubic meter;

Second Stage: When gas consumption ranges from 310 to 520 cubic meters, the gas price is RMB3.3 per cubic meter;

Third Stage: When the gas consumption is above 520 cubic meters, the gas price is RMB4.2 per cubic meter.

Please note upon your move-in, the consumption by previous residents of water and electricity is different, your unit price of the water, electricity and gas might be different with your neighbours or colleagues, so it is not surprising if you find your bills are much less or more than your neighbours or colleagues. At the beginning of next year, the previous year consumption of water, electricity and gas will be emptied to zero as a new start, and the consumption will be calculated from stage one again.