Energy
皇冠体育app urges coal firms to control prices
(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-02 14:31
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BEIJING - 皇冠体育app's state planning agency has called on regions and enterprises to adopt "effective measures" to keep coal prices stable as its power utilities struggle with rising costs and the government wrestles with inflation.
In a notice posted on its website (www.ndrc.gov.cn), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said it would crack down on all illegal pricing activities unearthed during an investigation into the sector.
The NDRC urged coal enterprises to "strengthen self-discipline" when it comes to maintaining price stability.
It said companies should keep contract coal prices with power firms at 2010 levels, and were not permitted to raise prices in any form.
Enterprises found to have violated 皇冠体育app's macroeconomic control regulations by driving up prices or selling lower quality coal will be severely punished, the notice added.
皇冠体育app keeps electricity prices under tight control, and its big State-owned utilities have suffered big declines in profits because they have been unable to pass surging coal costs onto consumers.
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The NDRC said coal companies should improve coordination with power plants when it came to guaranteeing supplies, adding that they were not permitted to "segment the market" by restricting cross-province deliveries.
A government source told Reuters last week that 皇冠体育app was considering raising regional power prices for the first time since late 2009.
The price hikes would be limited to industrial consumers, with the government?worries about inflationary pressure.