The Impoverished can pay electricity bill debts on installments: Minister

CAIRO – 6 August 2018: Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker said in an interview that he has directed all distribution companies to collect electricity bill debts from the poor who cannot pay them on installments.

During his interview with Al-Shorouk, Shaker denied rumors concerning cutting power supply for poor clients who cannot pay the bill, saying that they will be able to pay their debts in monthly installments. Easing the suffering of citizens, the ministry said companies will not impose interest on bills paid on installments.

He also urged companies to act appropriately with clients nationwide.

Various electricity distribution companies started on Monday collecting bills with new electricity consumption costs from homeowners, according to the seven varying brackets.

On June 12, Shaker announced new hikes in electricity prices in a press conference.

According to Shaker, the overall increase does not exceed 26 percent, while the average hikes in bills for households amounts to around 24 percent.

The minister also affirmed that the new hikes save the country from potential losses that might reach LE 109 billion.

He added that users of the first bracket of the housing use segment only bear 18 percent of the total cost of the bill, as they pay LE 12 while the actual bill costs LE 65.

The new prices, according to the minister, come as part of the government’s economic reform program.

Housing use:

First bracket: From 0 to 50 kilowatts = (22 piasters up from 13).

Second bracket: From 51 kilowatts to 100 = (30 piasters up from 22).

Third bracket: From 0 to 200 kilowatts = (36 piasters up from 27).

Fourth bracket: From 201 to 350 kilowatts = (70 piasters up from 55).


Fifth bracket: From 351 kilowatts to 650 = (90 piasters up from 75).

Sixth bracket: From 651 to 1000 kilowatts = (135 piasters up from 125).

Seventh bracket: From 0 to more than 1000 kilowatts = (145 piasters up from 135).

Commercial use:

From 0 to 100 kilowatts = (55 piasters up from 45).

From 0 to 250 kilowatts = (100 piasters up from 84).

From 601 to 1000 kilowatts = (115 up from of 135).

From 0 to over 1000 kilowatts = (150 piasters up from 140).

Additional reporting by Hanan Mohamed