Egypt to replace faulty electricity meters within 72 hours

Egypt will replace faulty electricity meters within 72 hours and standardise assessment prices across electricity distribution companies, Electricity Minister Mahmoud Esmat said on Sunday.

The minister also directed the adoption of unified instalment plans for outstanding electricity bills based on citizens’ preferences and ordered detailed bill breakdowns to be audited according to the relevant consumption months. Esmat stressed that meter readings must be photographed and that unphotographed readings should not be used to ensure bills reflect actual consumption.

The minister also called for emergency meters to be made available to on-duty teams for immediate installation following reports of faulty meters through the complaints system.

The measures were announced during a meeting with heads of electricity distribution companies and their commercial sectors nationwide to review electricity billing systems, auditing procedures and the handling of citizen complaints.

The meeting reviewed measures to improve the performance of electricity distribution companies, secure supplies during emergencies, peak periods and heatwaves, and reduce the number, duration and frequency of power outages.

Esmat also ordered weekly reports, stronger monitoring and inspection of billing systems, additional technical support teams, and continuous follow-up of complaints and grievances.