Gas companies have been required by local governments in North China's Hebei province to take measures and coordinate upstream gas suppliers to ensure its supply in rural areas, news portal ThePaper reported.

The move came after multiple reports by rural households in different cities of Hebei complaining about purchase restrictions for natural gas or interruption to the gas supply which is the major energy sources for residents' winter heating and cooking.

A resident in Sucun town, Nangong in Xingtai city reported in the end of last month via an online platform that there were often interruptions to the gas supply, especially during the cold night. The interruptions had led to elders and toddlers suffering from the cold, the report by ThePaper said.

The government in Nangong replied that China Gas Holding Co Ltd, one of the country's largest energy supplier, didn't sign contracts with its upstream supplier for sufficient gas quantity, resulting in a gap between households' gas supply and demand. The issue existed in the whole province.

The company has been demanded to take measures immediately to coordinate adequate gas supply to meet the needs of households, it said.

Wangdu county in Baoding has replied to a similar report, saying that residents' purchase limitation was caused by a tight upstream gas supply, while the interruption was caused by facility issues. Due to the sudden drop in temperature recently, some sections of the gas pipeline could not provide gas normally. The company has arranged workers to repair problems, it added.