In Depth: China Mulls Scrapping Fixed Household Gas Rates as Winter Shortages Loom

Chinese policymakers are weighing whether to abandon the strict controls that keep household gas rates low, allowing them to float within a controlled range, a source close to regulators has told Caixin.

The move comes amid mounting industry pressure and concerns about another winter of gas shortages. High upstream fuel prices continue to squeeze the nation’s gas distributors, which can only charge residential users lower rates set by local governments under rules intended to prevent price shocks.