Utility bills in Ramadan will be charged based on regular monthly average

Utility Regulation Authority has declared that water and electricity bills amid this month of Ramadan will be charged based on the regular monthly average.

An announcement released by the Authority yesterday stated that due to citizens expending hefty amounts on domestic electricity and water bills during Ramadan, these bill have now been arranged to be prepared to charge the average utility amounts incurred on a regular month in order to resolve this substantial expenditure in conformity of the pledge made by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

"When billing for water and electricity services in March this year, it has been decided to bill an amount equal to a regular month from each domestic electricity and water meter," the announcement read.

The announcement elaborated that the scope for determining the monthly average expense on utility bills was scrutinized after excluding Ramadan and the months with high demand over the past year.

Utility Regulation Authority has further announced that companies facilitating these general services have been instructed to draft the bill to clearly display the monthly amount generated in March this year, the amount offered as a Ramadan discount as well as the average amount of service utilized by the household when billing domestic customers.

The President had announced the decision to cap the utility bills to refrain from allowing it to build to a substantial amount during a ceremony held at Baa atoll Eydhafushi amid his tour across the atoll.

Speaking at this ceremony, the President had further instructed State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) to abolish the MVR 30 fine charged from islands that are employing the company's utility services.

The Councils have also been extended an ease in settling payments for electricity services at mosques starting this Ramadan. This alleviation has revised the government rate charged during settlement of electricity bills to the domestic rate.