Guangzhou's pricing authorities set ceilings on the delivery charges of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cylinders Wednesday, in a bid to curb the rising prices.

Delivery charge for a 14.5-kilogram cylinder would be up to three yuan (US$0.4) for the first two kilometers, and 0.5 yuan for each additional 0.5 kilometers, with a maximum fee of six yuan.

Gas companies should abide by the rule or face severe penalties, the authorities said, adding that the price for the gas cylinder and delivery charges should be listed separately.

The rising gas prices have forced many Guangzhou residents to switch to other means of fuel, like honeycomb briquettes and charcoal, which were popular decades ago.

Some old customers of large gas companies began to buy gas from other companies using the cylinders provided by previous suppliers, because of lower prices, the Information Times reported Thursday.

However, the practice could be dangerous, as gas companies knew their own cylinders better and could take measures to control potential hazards while refilling the cylinders, the newspaper cited a gas company manager as saying.

Gas prices rose sharply in the past months, from about 70 yuan for a cylinder in July 2005 to about 100 yuan in December.

The government has taken a series of measure to control the price, including setting profit margins for wholesalers and retailers.

The present gas price in Guangzhou ranges from 95 to 100 yuan per cylinder.

Editor: Yan