A senior official with the State Development and Reform Commission says the national electricity bill will increase by less than one US cent per kilowatt-hour.
Statistics show that power shortages in the country now reach 10 million kilowatts.
China has over the past few years improved much of its urban and rural power network. The expanded power grid has increased usage and pushed down prices.
Recent coal shortages however are pushing prices back up.
(CRI December 26, 2003)
