RIYADH: Several subscribers of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) in the northern part of the Saudi capital have complained that the company’s services went down for more than 11 hours earlier this week.

An online publication reported that the services were down from 10:30 in the morning until 9:30 in the evening. An SEC spokesman was quoted as saying that the company started to repair the damage and that the problem was caused by a contractor.

Many businesses now want the company to compensate them for the loss of productivity during the period. Many businesspeople said they could not communicate with partners locally and abroad.

Many residents said that they were not able to do housework, and that they suffered because the air conditioners were not working. Some said they could not also contact their loved ones or families in other parts of the Kingdom or on holidays overseas.

Others in the Sahaba area complained of intermittent power outages from 15 to 20 minutes.