The cabinet abolished the unmetered electricity connection system last week and replaced it with temporary metering.
It comes in line with the Prime Minister’s decision no. 886 of 2016, amended by decision no. 231 of 2017, to install temporary metres in all buildings that have illegal electricity connections until adjusting their situation or else implementing the administrative rulings issued in this regard without any legal rights for violators.
Ayman Hamza, spokesperson for the Ministry of Electricity, said the electricity distribution companies will start receiving requests from citizens wishing to install temporary metres this month. Each distribution company will determine the costs of measurement, inspection, and metre installation, as well as set a date for paying the metre’s price.
He explained that the Ministry wants to facilitate procedures of installing electricity metres allowing applicants to pay their bills through Fawry outlets and electricity distribution companies, and will soon be available through mobile payments.
Unmetered connection describes reconciliation over illegal obtaining of electricity current. When such problems are observed, the concerned authorities including the Electricity Police make a report, which can end with imposing a fine or imprisonment.
Hamza said that the fine imposed on unmetered connection could be less or more than the actual fee of consumption. The new temporary metres will preserve the rights of the state and the users. These metres will have serial numbers and not linked to the name of the user, thus does not serve as a proof of ownership nor legalise the unit’s status.
