The privilege of free energy consumption for employees of energy
enterprises is to be abolished in northern China's Hebei Province. The proposal was approved on
May 25 by local legislative authorities.
For decades employees working in the electricity, coal and gas
industries have enjoyed free access to the power they help produce.
In fact in the homes of some of those working in the electricity
generating industry there's no meter to record how much power is
being used.
However, the scheme has long been criticized by the public and
even some deputies attending the National People's Congress.
The new arrangements, which will take affect on July 1, instruct
all enterprises to charge their employees the same as everyone
else. The regulations also detail punishments for those not
adhering to the new rules.
Any enterprise refusing to accept the regulations and which
continues to provide free or low cost energy to employees could be
fined. The names of offenders will be made
public.
The regulation further demands that county-level government
should take energy consumption into account in both the evaluation
of social development and examination of officials. However, the
abolishment of free access to energy has not been included in the
initial draft of the regulation, according to one lawmaker.
"The abolishment of energy welfare is necessary not only to
prevent waste caused by free consumption but also to help narrow
the unfair distribution of natural resources" said He Jun, vice
director of the legislation committee of the local congress.
According to media reports, electricity producers in
Shijiazhuang City, capital of the province, abolished their free
electricity scheme in March after a circular was issued by the
State Grid Corporation of China.
The circular asked all the Corporation's affiliated companies to
immediately stop giving their employees preferential treatment in
regard to their use of electricity.
(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong June 1, 2006)