气价补贴退坡，河北农村居民反映取暖贵

Core Viewpoint - The balance between environmental goals and affordability for residents is a pressing issue for local governments, particularly highlighted by the rising heating costs in Hebei province due to the "coal-to-gas" initiative and subsequent subsidy reductions [1][4][6]. Group 1: Heating Costs and Subsidy Changes - The transition to gas heating has led to significantly higher costs for residents, with some families reporting winter heating expenses exceeding 8,000 yuan, compared to less than 2,000 yuan for coal previously [1][4]. - Hebei's rural residents have an average disposable income of 22,022 yuan in 2024, making heating costs a substantial burden [4]. - Initial subsidies for gas heating were around 1 yuan per cubic meter, but have now decreased to as low as 0.2 yuan per cubic meter in some areas, increasing the financial strain on residents [5][6]. Group 2: Impact of Price Adjustments - Natural gas prices in Hebei have remained stable around 3 yuan per cubic meter, with a reported average increase of 14% in 2023 [5]. - The adjustment of residential gas prices has been implemented in various regions, with some areas seeing prices rise to 3.3 yuan per cubic meter [5][6]. - The reduction in subsidies combined with rising gas prices has exacerbated the heating cost burden for "coal-to-gas" users [5][6]. Group 3: Recommendations and Local Variations - Experts suggest a gradual transition in subsidy policies to avoid abrupt cuts, particularly for low-income households, and recommend a dynamic adjustment mechanism linked to income and gas prices [6]. - There are variations in subsidy policies across different regions in Hebei, with some areas like Tangshan maintaining higher subsidy levels to support vulnerable groups [6][7]. - The economic strength of certain cities, such as Mian'an, which has a per capita disposable income of 36,065 yuan, indicates that local economic conditions can influence the effectiveness of subsidy policies [7].