多措并举破解部分农村“取暖贵”问题（金台视线）

Core Viewpoint - The transition from coal to gas heating in rural northern China has led to high heating costs, causing some villagers to forgo heating altogether to save money, highlighting governance issues and the need for effective solutions [1][3][4]. Current Situation - Villagers in Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong report that the cost of natural gas for heating is prohibitively high, with some families spending thousands of yuan during winter [1][2][3]. - In Shanxi's Dingxiang County, natural gas prices have increased from 2.26 yuan to 2.61 yuan per cubic meter, with costs exceeding 3 yuan for higher usage, leading to winter heating expenses of several thousand yuan [1]. - Villagers express frustration over the financial burden, with some stating that they only turn on heating when absolutely necessary due to costs [1][3]. Reasons for High Costs - The high cost of natural gas in rural areas is attributed to the expensive construction of gas pipelines, which are often built from scratch in sparsely populated areas, leading to high per-household costs [3][4]. - The lack of economies of scale in smaller gas supply companies further exacerbates the issue, as they have limited bargaining power [4]. Alternatives to Natural Gas - While the government promotes natural gas as a clean heating source, other renewable energy options like geothermal, biomass, and solar energy are available but not widely adopted due to infrastructure challenges and regulatory issues [4][5]. - The initial subsidies for transitioning to gas heating have decreased over time, increasing the financial strain on rural households [5][6]. Recommendations - Experts suggest establishing a long-term, precise financial subsidy mechanism to alleviate the burden on residents and consider cross-regional ecological compensation to support clean heating initiatives [10][11]. - There is a call for diversified clean energy solutions tailored to local resources and economic conditions, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that relies solely on natural gas [11][12].