Residents of the Emirate of Sharjah complained that the value of the electricity and water bills increased 100% during the past month unjustifiably, despite the presence of a 10% reduction on the bill, stressing that the bills have become a heavy burden on them, especially in light of the current circumstances that forced private companies to reduce their salaries or end Serving some of them, indicating that they had to pay twice the amounts they were paying earlier.
While Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority attributed the reason for the rise of electricity to three reasons: the most important of which is the impact of precautionary measures to limit the spread of "Corona", which obliges people to stay in their homes, high temperatures, and the month of Ramadan, which increases the rate of consumption annually, pointing out that it provided many facilities to owners High invoices by installment or revising to see the reason for the rise.
In detail, citizens and residents told «Emirates Today» that they contacted Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority to find out the reasons for the sudden rise in electricity bills, which reached some 100% during the month of May, and they were informed that the consumption value is correct and there is no error in reading the meters and no increase In prices, indicating that the value of their current bills issued after 10% discount on their total value.
Khalid Muhammad, Alaa al-Maghrabi, Fatima Nasser, Sahar Al-Ayesh, Nabeel Ahmed and Radhi al-Rahman were surprised that they were surprised that they were required to double the value of the bill in May, even though the volume of consumption was constant and there was no change, indicating that the precautionary measures forced them To sit at home during the last period, and the electricity bill has become steadily increasing.
They added that the meters were read in an estimated way and they received text messages with the value of the bill, and when they returned to the authority attributed the reason for the high value of the bill to the increase in their consumption, noting that the large increase in the value of the bill is unjustified, demanding the abolition of the meter reading fee to mitigate on consumers and residents during the current period.
They reported that the value of the monthly bill was in February and March is moderate and in April and May they were surprised by the increase in their value by an increase of 100% in May, which strained their budget under the current circumstances that forced a number of companies to reduce their salaries, which made their salaries barely Covering the necessary expenses, demanding the necessity of setting standards for the high electricity and water bill and working to reduce it in order to take into account the circumstances of everyone at the present time.
While Hussein Al-Askar, Deputy Director of the Subscriber Service Department at the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, emphasized that the percentage of electricity and water consumption during the past months increased by 30%, as a result of three reasons, the most important of which is the impact of the precautionary measures that obligated people to stay in their homes, high temperatures, and the month of Ramadan that increases It includes the amount of water and electricity consumption, pointing out that the authority has provided facilities for installers of high bills and installment for them.
He stated that the authority did not raise the electricity tariff, attributing the increase in electricity bills in May to the majority of individuals staying in their homes, which increased the consumption rate to 30% compared to the same months of last year, indicating that the increase in external temperatures affects the work of air-conditioning engines, and increases From her need to work, noting that the bill that was issued last month is reduced by 10% according to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who directed to reduce the value of electricity bills by 10% in all sectors.
He pointed out that the authority continues to perform its tasks, including reading the meter on a monthly basis, pointing out that some homeowners refused entry to employees to read the meter due to the precautionary measures, and they were asked to send a picture of the meter via WhatsApp or text messages for the designated phone or The website for issuing bills, and a large number of them did not respond to the authority, forcing it to read the meter in an estimated manner, indicating that appropriate solutions have been put in place for those who were unable to pay the high bills value, including the installment of the bill amount, appealing to all residents to rationalize the consumption of electricity and water during The current period, as they spend most of their time at home.
Online services 100%
Hussein Al-Askar, Deputy Director of the Subscriber Service Department at the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, stated that the authority provided its services to the public 100% electronically over the past period, and 160,000 smart meters were installed initially to help take readings from a distance, and the rest of the installments are being completed in All over the emirate, noting that the consumer can calculate his monthly consumption by subtracting the current reading from the previous reading.
And that the commission is ready to receive complaints from all residents, and whoever doubts reading the meter by reviewing the branches to file an official complaint, or through the site by sending the inquiry and the consumer account number, and all their observations are verified and verification of the actual readings, after which the complainant is clarified and notified due to the high bill The actual period of consumption, and this service is provided by the authority for free.
30%
Increased percentage of electricity and water consumption compared to the same period last year.