87% electricity consumers won’t be affected by new tariff

RIYADH: Saleh Al-Awaji, undersecretary for electricity affairs at the Ministry of Water and Electricity, said the recent tariff amendment will not affect consumption levels below 4,000kWh per month, or bills of under SR300 per month, Al-Jazeera reported. 
Such bills represent 87 percent of all bills, as per statistics issued by the Saudi Electricity Company, he said. 
He said the most important objectives of the tariff adjustment was to urge consumers to further rationalize and use electricity in a way that supports sustainable supply, given the need for large sums of money to build electricity projects to meet growing demands. 
He said the new tariff will help cover some of these costs to provide electricity for all, as well as guarantee large funding for new electricity projects. 
Regarding the Council of Ministers’ decision to change the electricity distribution in the Kingdom, Al-Awaji said the ministry coordinated with all concerned authorities and informed them regarding application of the decision. 
He said coordination took place with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Customs, the Saudi Standards and the Metrology and Quality Authority to pass a resolution to limit the import and manufacture of household appliances and equipment that operate on 127 volts, and that the Customs already published an announcement in local newspapers informing importers and customers of the decision and the effective date. He said a list of appliances and electrical equipment was also issued with information on what is permissible for import and manufacture. 
He minimized the effect on homes located in areas still operating on the old 127/220 voltage level because it is considered within the operational phase, and voltage will change at the end of the preliminary stage, about four years from now. The ministry’s plan involves a gradual change, overseen by the ministry in cooperation with concerned authorities. 
As for thermal insulation of buildings, Al-Awaji said government agencies committed to the application and implementation of thermal insulation requirements for all buildings a quarter of a century ago. Other buildings have been required to use thermal insulation in light of Royal Order No. 6927 M.B. dated 9/22/1431 AH, which requires thermal insulation be included in all new buildings whether residential or commercial. 
Professionals are working under the supervision of the Saudi Center for Energy Efficiency to intensify efforts, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Water and Electricity, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Authority, and the Saudi Electricity Company, to apply compulsory thermal insulation requirements on residential buildings in 21 cities in the first phase. The application will be extended to all other cities in the Kingdom at a later stage.
Al-Awaji said emphasized the need to comply with electricity safety requirements in buildings and establishments, and routine checks take place as part of the maintenance program overseen by the company. 
Meters are read on a monthly basis, and the company takes note of any need to replace meters immediately if they are not safe and pose any safety threats. The subscriber is not required to cover the cost of this replacement, unless they have caused damage to the box, he said.