Complaints have been mounting from the public over the significantly high electricity bills in June 2023.
While it is common for electricity bills to hike during hot season every year, State Electric Company (STELCO) attributed the high charge on bills to higher electricity consumption during the period.
Consumers meanwhile, have raised complaints since the Maldives experienced more rainy days on average throughout June. Most of the complaints were directed at the bills being higher compared to the hot season.
“The bills continue to surge with each passing month. [They said] that the highest consumption will be reflected in April, but the bill was only MVR 900 compared to the MVR 3,000 last month,” a customer said.
“Initially, the bills were increased, citing the hot season, but even during the rainy season, the charges have not reduced. We are often not at home or even in the island, and yet the bill does not reflect this,” another said.
STELCO previously said that the bills would increase due to higher consumption during hot season in April/May and during Ramadan, when household consumption generally observe an increment.
STELCO’s media official Ahmed Mohamed said that the recent increase in the bills was due to the inclusion of part of the hot season’s consumption in the previous billing cycle.
“Last month’s bill was generated from May 13 to 14 to mid-June, covering a period of 28 days of consumption. STELCO does not have any authority or power over meter readings. However, STELCO will never charge for electricity that has not been consumed,” he said.
At STELCO’ Annual General Meeting held on June 20, the company’s Managing Director Ahmed Shareef said that the company’s main objective right now is to eliminate the continued allegations it faced over electricity bills.
“I want to assure all our customers that we will never charge for electricity that hasn’t been consumed. We have never done so in the past, and we will never do so in the future,” he said while announcing STELCO’s plans to introduce smart meters.