Home heating [Photo via tuchong.com]

I. How is residential central heating charged?

Currently, there are two types of charging methods in Beijing: the area-based one and the meter-based one. Under the area-based charging method, fees are calculated based on the floor area.

(1) Area-based Charging Method

Charging standards for residents: According to the Notice on Adjusting Residential Heating Prices and Factory Prices of Thermal Power of Thermal Power Plants in Beijing (Jingjia (Shang) Zi [2001] No. 372), the municipal heating network of the municipal heating group charges CNY 24 per square meter of the floor area, while the fee for gas (oil-burning or electric) boilers is CNY 30 per square meter of the floor area.

(2) Meter-based Charging Method

Charging standards for residents: According to Beijing Residential Building Heating Metering Management Measures (Trial) (Jingzhengrongfa [2010] No. 98), the basic heat price for the municipal heating network of the municipal heating group is CNY 12 per square meter of the floor area, and the metering heat price is CNY 0.16 per kWh (CNY 44.45 per GJ); the basic heat price for gas (oil-burning, electric) boilers is CNY 18 per square meter of the floor area, and the metering heat price is CNY 0.16 per kWh (CNY 44.45 per GJ).

II. How to pay?

If your heating contract specifies a location for payments, you need to finish payments at the location designated in the contract. If your heating contract does not specify any location for payments or if no heating contract has been signed, you should pay at the designated locations of heating services before the deadlines of payments.

III. How are the deadlines stipulated?

According to the template of Beijing Residential Heating Contract, before December 31 of each year, Party A should fully pay the heating fees for the current heating season (from November 15 of the current year to March 15 of the next year) to Party B. If the payment is overdue or not fully paid, a late payment penalty will be calculated from January 1 of the next year for the unpaid portion.

IV. How long is a heating period?

According to the Management Measures for Heating in Beijing Municipality, the heating period in this city is from November 15 of the current year to March 15 of the next year. The People's Government of Beijing Municipality may adjust the heating periods according to actual conditions such as meteorological causes. Users with special requirements for the heating periods can make separate agreements with heating services.

V. What is the indoor temperature standard for residential central heating in this city?

According to the national standards Design Code for Residential Buildings (GB50096-2011) and Design Code for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning of Civil Buildings (GB50736-2012), when the outdoor average temperature during a heating period is above -7.6°C, the temperatures of bedrooms and living rooms in residential buildings that meet the current national residential design requirements or have undergone structural maintenance and heating system renovation should not be lower than 18°C.

Under abnormal weather conditions, for instance, when the outdoor average temperature is below -7.6°C, this city requires heating services to operate continuously according to the maximum heating load designed for the heating system, with no specific requirements for the indoor temperatures to meet specific standards. For special heating-guaranteed entities and those with special heating needs, specific heating emergency response plans should be stipulated in their heating contracts, clarifying the parties responsible of funding for construction and the relevant operational support requirements.

VI. Under what conditions can heating be suspended?

According to Article 7 of the Guiding Opinions on Suspending and Restoring Heating for Residential Central Heating in Beijing, for the users with independent heating systems for their households, the shared heating facilities shall be completely disconnected from the heating facilities of the users concerned when heating is suspended. For users without independent heating systems for their households, who need to suspend heating and have been evaluated by their heating services to meet the conditions for suspending heating, the heating unit should complete the procedures for suspending heating and take appropriate measures to suspend heating. If such users do not meet the conditions for suspending heating, their heating services should inform the users in writing of the reasons.

If suspension of heating may cause safety hazards or affect others' normal heating, the heating should not be suspended.

VII. How is the basic fee for suspending heating stipulated?

According to the 2022 version of the "Beijing Residential Heating Contract" (sample text): Party A should pay the basic fee to Party B during the period of suspended heating. The basic fee for each heating period can be 30% of the "total heating fee" under Article 4, Item 1 of this contract, or be determined by negotiation between the two parties.

According to the "Guiding Opinions on Suspending and Restoring Heating for Residential District Heating in Beijing," the labor and material costs incurred for suspending and restoring heating should be borne by both parties through negotiation, and the heating unit should provide users with a detailed list of related costs.

VIII. Can users dismantle and modify shared heating facilities indoors?

According to the "Beijing Heating Management Measures," users are not allowed to dismantle or modify shared heating facilities indoors, expand heating areas, or add heat dissipation equipment. Users' decoration and renovation of houses should not affect the heating effect or hinder the normal maintenance of facilities.

IX. What should be done if there are issues?

If there are issues such as leaks in the heating facilities or equipment, residents can call the heating unit's maintenance service hotline as soon as possible. After receiving the repair request, the heating unit will contact the residents for on-site repairs as soon as possible. Residents can also call the city's heating service supervision hotline 96069 or use the "Beijing Heat Customer Service" WeChat official account of 96069 to report heating issues.