- PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILLS AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE
The simplest option of all for anyone without Chinese language resources, almost any convenience store will be able to scan the barcode on your paper bill and pay it into your utility bills account in real time.
Almost any convenience store such as Family Mart, Kedi, Hongqi Chain and Lawson’s will be able to handle utility bill payments.
Address: No. 93-117, Xi’an South Road 西安南路93-117号
Tel: 028-87713176
- PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILLS THROUGH YOUR BANK
If you can handle the pain, most banks will allow you to sign up for utility bills payments directly through them. You’ll need to at least take a copy of the bill to the bank beforehand to sign up and ‘turn on’ this function.
This is a convenient option because you can deposit funds into any ATM of your bank which then transfers directly to your utilities company account. You’re also able to pay through your bank’s website, but again this is only possible if the function has been activated beforehand at the bank.
- PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILLS THROUGH ONLINE PAYMENTS
The simplest way to pay for utilities is online. Both WeChat and Alipay have English interfaces and allow users to top up their water, gas, electricity, and mobile phones. The first step is to open a domestic bank account and enable online banking in person.
To pay electricity, link your utilities account to the payment platform, then specify the amount of money you want to recharge. To complete the transaction, enter your six-digit Alipay or WeChat Wallet payment PIN.
For water or gas, input the invoice number (nine digits for water and 10-11 digits for gas) into the relevant field in Alipay or WeChat Wallet. The system will automatically pull up your account balance, then you can pay as normal.
Main Utility Bills to Pay
Central Heating 暖气
The expected central heating time is November 15th and March 15th. The residential heat price is charged according to the construction area, 5.8 yuan per sqm per month.
The simplest way to pay for utilities is online. Both WeChat and Alipay have English interfaces and allow users to top up their water, gas, electricity, and mobile phones. The first step is to open a domestic bank account and enable online banking in person.
To pay electricity, link your utility bills account to the payment platform, then specify the amount of money you want to recharge. To complete the transaction, enter your six-digit Alipay or WeChat Wallet payment PIN.
For water or gas, input the invoice number (nine digits for water and 10-11 digits for gas) into the relevant field in Alipay or WeChat Wallet. The system will automatically pull up your account balance, then you can pay as normal.
Gas 燃气
After the implementation of the tiered residential gas price system, the first-grade gas price for urban residents in Xi’an is still 1.98 yuan per cubic meter, and the second- and third-grade gas prices are 2.38 yuan and 2.97 yuan per cubic meter, respectively.
The first-grade gas volume for independent heating (using household wall-mounted boilers for heating) is 2,000 cubic meters (inclusive) and below for residents; the annual gas consumption for non-independent heating is 480 cubic meters (inclusive) and below. The price of gas is still based on the current price of gas used by residents.
The second-grade gas volume is 2,000 cubic meters to 3000 cubic meters (inclusive) for independent heating residents, and the annual gas consumption is 480 cubic meters to 660 cubic meters (inclusive) for non-independent heating. It is 1.2 times the current residential gas price.
The third-grade gas volume is more than 3,000 cubic meters for independent heating residents, and the annual gas consumption of non-independent heating residential users is more than 660 cubic meters. It is 1.5times the current residential gas price.
Water 水费
In most compounds, you can pay this at the Management Office via WeChat, cash or Chinese bank card.
The price of domestic water for residents is divided into three levels, the first level (163 cubic meters of annual water consumption) is 3.8 yuan per cubic meter
Electricity 电费
Residents in Xi’an are charged for electricity consumption in stages.
First-grade electricity price: The annual cumulative electricity consumption is 2160 degrees and below. The first standard electricity price is 0.4983 yuan/kWh.
Second-grade electricity price: The annual cumulative electricity consumption is from 2161 degrees to 4200 degrees. The excess will increase by 0.05 yuan per degree on the first-grade electricity price.
Three-grade electricity price: The annual cumulative electricity consumption is 4201 kWh and above. The excess will be increased by 0.3 yuan per degree on the first-grade electricity price.
