Khaberni - Member of the Parliamentary Energy Committee, MP Qassim Al-Qaba'ai confirmed that electricity companies have agreed to distribute the loss of electrical energy over the citizens' bills during the months of December and January each year, during a meeting of the Parliamentary Energy Committee which discussed several issues related to the energy sector and the rise in electricity prices in Jordan.
Al-Qaba'ai stated, via "Al-Mamlaka," that electricity prices in Jordan are high compared to citizens' incomes, and are "among the highest" at the Arab countries level, asserting that "this is no secret."
Regarding the noticeable increase in electricity bills during December and January, Al-Qaba'ai explained that there is a loss in electrical energy that may be natural or result from unlawful usage of energy, and it is charged to the subscribers because the electricity companies cannot bear this loss.
He added that charging citizens for this loss is "illogical and unfair," emphasizing that they should not be burdened with losses they are not responsible for, especially since the contractual relationship is based on the principle that a citizen only pays for the energy they use.
Al-Qaba'ai indicated that the percentage of loss from electricity generation reaches about 10.5%, which is a significant rate, noting that during a meeting of the Parliamentary Energy Committee, which was attended by deputies outside the committee, the electricity companies admitted that they distribute this loss to the citizens during December and January each year.
He added that one of the deputies suggested during the meeting that the loss be distributed over a period ranging between 7 to 8 months, in order to reduce the immediate burden on the citizen and decrease the significant rise in the electricity bill value.
On his part, former Director of the National Electricity Company, Abdul Fattah Al-Daradkeh, mentioned that December and January witness the shortest days of the year, leading to increased lighting hours in various places from an early time, along with a rise in reliance on heating and greenhouses that operate on electrical energy and water heating.
Al-Daradkeh explained that the winter season witnesses a significant drop in temperatures, which increases the energy and electric current consumption for heating and warming purposes, thus raising consumption during these two months.
He pointed out that if there are exaggerated numbers that exceed the natural increase in consumption, the Energy Sector Regulatory Authority, as the agency responsible for monitoring the electricity companies, sends specialized experts to examine the meters and verify their accuracy.
