Energy Consumption Assessment Makes Drivers Afraid to Use Air Conditioning, Lanzhou Bus: Already Suspended

CCTV News reported on-site on August 10. Starting from March 2026, 兰州公交集团第六客运公司 will introduce an energy consumption assessment method, linking bus electricity and gas usage to driver performance, with performance wages deducted if energy consumption exceeds the standard, and rewards if below the standard. The maximum penalty is no more than 300 yuan per month, and the maximum reward is no more than 400 yuan. June operation data: Among more than 600 drivers, more than 260 received rewards, and more than 180 were penalized. Some drivers chose not to use, use sparingly, or set the air conditioning to ventilation mode to reduce energy consumption and avoid penalties. One driver said, 'With ventilation mode on, it doesn’t cool; the temperature inside is around 28°C, and the compressor does not work, so consumption is low.' Drivers who insisted on using air conditioning said, 'Basically, we keep losing money.' Company manager Fu Zhigang admitted that there were aspects not considered when drafting the document, and there were loopholes and deficiencies in promotion, implementation, and follow-up. Due to high temperatures, the energy consumption assessment has been suspended. From August 8, Lanzhou Bus Group conducted a comprehensive review of energy consumption assessments across its seven passenger transport companies, and at the same time carried out a special inspection of bus air conditioning services. Ma Heping, head of the Group's Business Management Department, stated that the passenger transport companies have been instructed to stop assessing drivers' energy consumption.