The arrears of the nine electricity distribution companies owed by all consumers amounted to EGP 32bn at the end of 2017.
Government sources said that government agencies, water and wastewater companies, and economic bodies owe over EGP 20bn, while the public sector, pubic companies, hotels, resorts, places of worship, and newspapers’ dues reached EGP 7bn.
The sources pointed out that the private sector, the investment sector, households, shops, and thefts value amounted to EGP 5bn.
Government agencies and drinking water and sanitation companies are less responsive to arrears, while the private sector, investment sector, houses, and shops are more committed to paying arrears.
According to the sources, the debts of the government agencies reached EGP 10bn, while water and wastewater companies owe EGP 6bn. Other economic bodies owe EGP 4bn.
The debts of the public sector, the business sector, hotels, and resorts amount to about EGP 5bn, while newspapers and worship places owe EGP 2bn, and homes and retailers owe EGP 5bn.
The sources said that the electricity distribution companies have instructions to resort to cutting power of entities that refuse to pay, following notifying them, according to the law. However, the sources explained that this is hard to impose on vital entities, such as water treatment plants and government agencies.
The sources said that the ministry resorted to sending letters to government agencies, bodies, and state institutions, urging them to pay the late dues.
Meanwhile, the source explained that the Ministry of Electricity owed EGP 65bn to the Ministry of Petroleum, which is the value of fuel consumed at power plants. The ministry aims to pay part of the dues in the coming period so that it can obtain more fuel.
