The Chinese capital Beijing will cut electricity rates by half this winter to encourage residents to discard their coal-heated stoves in favor of electric heaters.

Beginning on Nov.1 of this year, electricity used in central heating systems will be charged at the rate of 0.2 yuan per kilowatt-hour between the hours of 23:00 and 7:00, according to new regulations released jointly by the Beijing Economic Committee, the Beijing Municipal Development and Planning Committee and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Prices.

The reduced rate, which accounts for only 45.5 percent of the present 0.44 yuan per kilowatt-hour, will apply between Nov.1 and Mar.31, said a source with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Prices.

Electric heating, which includes devices such as electric heaters and accumulators, heat pumps, electrothermal systems and geothermal cables, is a more environment-friendly means of central heating, ideal for replacing coal.

Official figures indicate that six million square meters of residential and commercial buildings in Beijing are currently being heated by electricity. This figure is expected to grow to 10 million square meters by year's end.

Meanwhile, power supply companies are being asked to renovate electric circuits to avoid blackouts during periods of peak consumption on cold winter nights, particularly in the historic downtown courtyards which have been granted special cultural preservation status.

The "electricity for coal" strategy will help improve Beijing's air quality in the winter and boost power consumption at night, said an official with the Beijing Economic Committee.

Previous reports have indicated that Beijing intends to cut coal consumption from the present 26 million tons to 15 million tons by the end of 2007, in order to welcome the 2008 Olympic Games with cleaner skies.

A new natural gas pipeline is due to be completed before 2008 to bring the city's total gas capacity to five billion cubic meters, about four times the present amount.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2002)