Core Insights - The article discusses the recent increase in electricity bills for rural users while some commercial users experience a decrease, highlighting the structural changes in electricity pricing and consumption patterns [1][3][8] Electricity Supply and Demand - In the first three quarters of 2025, national electricity generation reached 6.8 trillion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%, while total electricity consumption was 6.7 trillion kWh, up 5.1%, indicating a tightening supply-demand situation [1] - The growth in electricity consumption varies by sector, with agricultural electricity usage increasing by 6.3%, industrial by 3.8%, service by 6.5%, and residential by 7.1% [3] Pricing Adjustments - The recent electricity price adjustments include an expansion of the peak-to-valley price difference from approximately 3:1 to about 4:1, leading to higher costs during peak hours for rural users who cannot shift their usage [3][4] - Residential tiered pricing has been adjusted, with the first tier's upper limit reduced from 230 kWh to 210 kWh, resulting in more households paying higher rates [4][5] Renewable Energy and Additional Fees - The renewable energy development fund fee has been adjusted, with renewable energy generation accounting for 31.2% of total generation in the first three quarters of 2025, up 1.8 percentage points from the previous year [6] - Rural users face increased overall costs due to high electricity consumption in agricultural production, while commercial users with distributed solar systems can reduce their electricity costs [6] Demand Response Mechanism - A demand response program has been introduced to encourage users to reduce consumption during peak hours, benefiting commercial users more than rural users due to their greater flexibility [7][8] - Approximately 25% of commercial users participate in this program, receiving an average discount of 5% on their electricity bills, while participation among agricultural users is below 5% [8] Recommendations for Users - Agricultural users are advised to optimize electricity usage by scheduling high-power equipment during low-rate periods and considering the installation of energy-efficient systems [9][10][11] - Residential users should manage their consumption to avoid higher pricing tiers and consider using appliances during off-peak hours [12][13] - Commercial users are encouraged to engage in demand response programs and invest in energy management systems to optimize their electricity usage [14][15][16]