Electricity distribution companies are preparing to obtain permits from governors to connect power to informal housing areas, so as to reduce electricity theft and losses in the electrical grid by next month.
Some governorates in the last period refused to issue licences to electricity distribution companies, despite the directives of former prime minister Ibrahim Mehleb to connect informal housing areas to the grid in order to stop theft of electricity, which costs the state billions of pounds.
The Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) has set its final regulations for installing coded metres in informal housing areas in which households have committed violations, to prevent theft, sources at the Ministry of Electricity said.
Applying for a coded metre is possible for houses that already have electricity mertre but are without electricity due to building extra floors in violation of the law. Buildings that do not have any legitimate connections to electricity may also apply, as per the ministry’s rules, sources told Daily News Egypt.
Installing coded metres is only possible if buildings are not located on archaeological sites, roads, and state-owned land. Buildings that violate the conditions of civil aviation or safe distances will not have access to electricity.
The new regulations also take into account buildings on agricultural land, and will connect them to electricity until they are investigated by local councils. Required documentation includes an approval from the city council, a copy of personal identification, and the ownership contract of the property.
These metres will not be supportive of ownership or possession, and can be removed at any time, as soon as the local administration authorities take the necessary actions to remove the offending units.
The sources said coded metres do not legalise the status of consumers who are violating the law in terms of buildings and floors. Moreover, these metres will be prepaid and will not bear the name of property owners or the apartment, but will only have a serial code.
The sources said the cabinet decision to connect informal housing areas to electricity in order to solve the power outage in these areas comes to ensure the Ministry of Electricity’s financial dues are paid and safeguard the electricity grid from the effects of increasing loads, which lead to outages that cost the state billions of pounds.
