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Problems should be investigated in a timely manner, misunderstandings should be clarified, problems should be corrected, and there must be no ambiguity.
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Chongqing's natural gas "meter change" turmoil has recently become a hot topic in the local area, and various media and social platforms have hotly discussed the matter. Screenshot of the video
Following the establishment of a joint investigation team in Chongqing on April 13 to investigate problems reported by citizens such as incorrect gas metering and increased gas bills at home, many Chengdu residents also reported that after replacing gas meters, there was a problem of rising charges. Some netizens complained that the house had not been inhabited for a year, but there were gas costs and liquidated damages; some netizens complained that in the past, dozens of yuan a month were more than 100 yuan after changing the meter. Some netizens posted a bill for payment, saying that after changing the meter for a month, there was actually a gas fee of 17,290 yuan, "Even if you burn gas 24 hours a day, you don't need so much money!"
On the platforms of Chengdu and Chongqing, there are many similar complaints, and they are still increasing. According to information from the Chongqing municipal government, as of April 12, a total of 7,362 inquiries and complaints had been received, and more than 200,000 users had been screened.
The gas bill should be a clear account, and the relevant departments should make a comprehensive investigation as soon as possible for the current public doubts and complaints.
First, gas, water, and electricity are all necessary expenses for people's daily life. These expenses themselves may not be very large, but they are "trickles of water" and belong to the normal rigid expenditure. Because it is normalized, it is very careful, and because it is too familiar, it is highly sensitive. Any slight fluctuation in these fees can cause you to ponder for a long time.
Recently, on some video platforms, the metering problems related to Chongqing gas after meter change have appeared. Screenshots of the network
The general public may not be able to accurately judge whether there is a problem with the new table, but it is impossible to falsify the "comparison" of how much money was a month in the past and how much a month is now. And when the "change" in the amount of payment occurs before and after the meter change, people will naturally associate the two.
Moreover, gas meter replacement is not a trivial matter, and from the situation in Chongqing, Chengdu and other places, it is generally the gas company that makes an announcement and finishes the matter. This is obviously inappropriate, since the joint investigation team will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the quality of gas meters, gas quality, gas meter measurement, prices, charges, services, etc., these matters at least involve housing and construction, market supervision, fire protection, streets, etc., then, did these management agencies and departments know about the meter change before?
Although the replacement of gas meters is a corporate behavior, it is a public utility that connects the government and thousands of households, affecting the wallets of every ordinary person, and should be promoted under strict supervision. It is not surprising that if the gas company only entrusts a third-party company to replace it, there is no disclosure in advance, little supervision during the event, and no follow-up after the fact, such an operation is questioned by the public. In particular, the gas company itself has an administrative monopoly position, and its price fluctuations are highly bound to the credibility of the government. What makes the public even more puzzled is that the net profit of Chongqing Gas, a listed company, in the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by about 824% year-on-year, and there should be a clear explanation for this.
Public utility charges are directly related to the vital interests of the people, and all parties concerned must adhere to openness and transparency when it comes to such price adjustments, and explain the billing standards and measuring instruments to everyone clearly. Problems should be investigated in a timely manner, misunderstandings should be clarified, problems should be corrected, and there must be no ambiguity.
Editor|Shen Bin
Typesetting|Gan Qiongfang Intern|Li Huilan
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