Noncomplying consumers face connection cut by SEC

A new bylaw regulating the electricity service that allows authorities to suspend electrical services to individuals tampering with meters becomes effective in September, according to a report on Al-Madinah newspaper.
The regulation is set by Electricity and Cogeneration Regulatory Authority (ECRA) and is giving more authority to provider to disconnect the service to subscribers who are proven to have tampered with their power meters, extend the power to other buildings or connect to the power before the company provides the metering system.
A source in the authority told the newspaper that measures have been put in place for the disconnection of the service; proving the violation, address the violator with his violation and giving him period of seven days before the disconnection unless the provider needs to intervene sooner to protect his properties.
The new regulation is stating that the provider has the right to disconnect the service to the subscriber if it finds any obstacle created by the subscriber that prevents it from reading the meter on due time.
The provider, according to the regulation, also has the right to disconnect the service if it finds out that extensions connected to its properties impose major safety threat.
The provider is allowed to disconnect the power after taking the following steps:
• Address the subscriber with his violation through SMS or any other means within 30 days unless a sooner intervention is required for safety issues. The alert sent to the subscriber should state that he must resolve the extensions situation or reduce the load or apply for higher voltage.
• In the event the subscriber doesn’t resolve the situation within the stipulated period, the provider should give a final alert 14 days before the disconnection day.
• The provider then has the right to disconnect the power after the end of the 14th day before 2 p.m.
• The provider should check the metering system for illegal extensions, document everything related to the case and prepare a record according to the public properties protection regulation.
• The provider has the right to ask the violator for compensation covering the period of violation in addition to fining him for sabotaging its properties.
• The regulation obliges the provider to complete all the documentations required to impose a fine on the violator otherwise it will lose its right to collect the fine and only can ask for a compensation of one year maximum only.