- Base electricity rate: ¥0.5283 / kWh (first tier).
- Base water rate: ¥3.42 / m³ (updated 1 January 2025).
- 2026 update: Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept bound international Visa / Mastercard for bill payment.
- Pro tip: usage tiers reset on 1 January every year — plan winter heating around that.
How Nanjing’s utility tariff system works
Residential utilities use a tiered system based on your annual cumulative consumption, not monthly usage. The unit price rises as your yearly total crosses each threshold, and the cycle restarts every 1 January.
Electricity — State Grid Jiangsu
Power is supplied by State Grid Jiangsu (国家电网江苏省电力公司). Nanjing offers two billing methods: standard tiered pricing, and peak/valley time-of-use pricing.
| Tier | Annual allowance | Price per kWh | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 – 2,760 kWh | ¥0.5283 | Roughly the first 230 kWh per month |
| Tier 2 | 2,761 – 4,800 kWh | ¥0.5783 | Applies once Tier 1 is used up |
| Tier 3 | Above 4,800 kWh | ¥0.8283 | Common with underfloor heating or heavy AC use |
Peak / valley time-of-use option
- Peak (08:00 – 21:00): ¥0.5583 / kWh
- Off-peak (21:00 – 08:00): ¥0.3583 / kWh
Water — Nanjing Water Group
Supply is managed by Nanjing Water Group (南京水务集团). A new tariff policy took effect on 1 January 2025, raising the base rate.
| Tier | Annual allowance | Price per m³ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 – 180 m³ | ¥3.42 | Includes wastewater treatment fee |
| Tier 2 | 181 – 300 m³ | ¥4.32 | Applies once Tier 1 is used up |
| Tier 3 | Above 300 m³ | ¥7.02 | Highest punitive rate for heavy use |
Gas
Cooking gas and hot-water systems are supplied by Nanjing Gas (南京燃气) / Towngas (港华燃气). Rates follow a "cost linkage" adjustment, typically revised twice a year.
| Tier | Annual allowance | Price per m³ |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 – 300 m³ | ≈ ¥3.10 |
| Tier 2 | 301 – 600 m³ | ≈ ¥3.60 |
Internet and mobile
China Telecom (中国电信) has the broadest broadband infrastructure. As of 2026 the standard baseline is 1000 Mbps fibre to the home.
- Cost: ¥129 – ¥199 / month.
- Included: most packages bundle home fibre with 40 GB – 100 GB of 5G mobile data.
Winter heating costs in 2026
How you heat your home depends entirely on which district you live in — Nanjing has traditionally lacked central heating infrastructure.
- Standard (air-conditioning): in older central districts residents rely on reverse-cycle AC or electric heaters. Because these draw heavy power, households typically hit the expensive Tier 3 rate (¥0.8283 / kWh) by November or December.
- District heating pilot: if you move to Jiangbei New Area (江北新区) you may benefit from the district heating system being piloted there. Connected buildings avoid expensive individual AC heating and see markedly lower winter electricity bills.
Step-by-step: paying a Nanjing power bill with a foreign card
- Bind your card. Add your foreign credit or debit card in the Alipay or WeChat app.
- Open bill payment. In Alipay, tap the 生活缴费 (Utilities) icon on the home screen.
- Set the city. Switch the location to Nanjing.
- Choose your supplier. Select your specific provider, e.g. State Grid Jiangsu.
- Enter the account number. Input the Customer ID shown on your meter or lease contract.
- Pay the balance. The system syncs your current usage and arrears for instant payment.
Nanjing vs. Shanghai utility costs (2026)
| Metric | Nanjing (2026) | Shanghai (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Base electricity rate | ¥0.5283 / kWh | ≈ ¥0.61 / kWh |
| Tier 1 allowance | 2,760 kWh / year | 3,120 kWh / year |
| Average monthly total | ≈ ¥338 – ¥350 | ≈ ¥551 – ¥580 |
For a comparable apartment, total monthly utilities in Nanjing run about 35–40% below Shanghai.
Typical monthly utility spend (85 m² apartment)
| Service | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Electricity | ≈ ¥120 |
| Water | ≈ ¥30 |
| Gas | ≈ ¥30 |
| Internet / mobile | ≈ ¥159 |
| Average total | ≈ ¥339 |
Common mistakes
- The annual reset trap. Because tiers reset on 1 January, newcomers who move in during winter and heat heavily with electricity burn through the cheap first tier early, producing alarming bills in the second half of the year.
- Ignoring the meter type. Modern flats have post-paid smart meters that sync with Alipay, but older buildings — especially around Xinjiekou (新街口) — may still use prepaid IC cards that must be topped up in person at a designated bank or kiosk.
- Drinking tap water. It is fine for washing, not for drinking. Rely on 19-litre filtered bottles or a dedicated filtration system.
- Not opting into time-of-use billing. If your schedule suits it, failing to apply means overpaying for evening and late-night electricity.
- Forgetting to update the billing address. Make sure the meter is properly registered to you; otherwise the previous tenant’s arrears can sit on the account.
FAQ
Why is my December electricity bill so high? Nanjing uses annual tiered pricing. By December you may have exhausted Tier 1 (0–2,760 kWh) and Tier 2, pushing you to the top rate of ¥0.8283 / kWh.
Is Nanjing tap water safe to drink? No. Use it for washing and cleaning, but drink delivered 19-litre filtered bottled water (around ¥22 per bottle) or install a quality filtration unit.
Does Nanjing have central heating? Historically no — most residents heat with air-conditioning. However, areas such as Jiangbei New Area are piloting district heating systems.
Is there an English hotline for Nanjing Water Group? The official hotline is 96055, but English service is not guaranteed. Managing the bill through the Alipay payment page is usually easier.
Essential contacts
- Electricity — State Grid Jiangsu: hotline 95598 (24/7) · js.95598.cn · service centre at Nanjing Municipal Government Service Centre, Block A, No. 265 Jiangdong Middle Road
- Water — Nanjing Water Group: hotline 96055 · njwater.cn · HQ at No. 58 Huju South Road, Qinhuai District
- Gas — Nanjing Gas / Towngas: hotline 95158 · gas leak emergencies 95158 or 110 · njgas.com · HQ at No. 359 Hongwu Road, Qinhuai District