Khaberni - Energy expert Amer Al-Shoubaki has called for the appointment of an independent technical and regulatory body to examine the increasing citizen complaints regarding rising electricity bills, emphasizing that the volume of complaints and circulating technical indicators exceed the debate on pricing and tiers, and require a professional and impartial investigation.
Al-Shoubaki said, "Citizen complaints are not isolated cases; they have become a general phenomenon during December and January, recording significant leaps in bill values for a broad segment, often without significant changes in consumption patterns, necessitating the check of potential technical and regulatory factors."
He explained that "there are international companies, including British and European firms, that operate independently in resolving energy disputes and conducting technical verifications.
Al-Shoubaki added: "I am ready to publicly and institutionally adopt this approach and contribute to bringing in an independent entity with international experience to examine citizen complaints, check the accuracy of smart meters, billing precision, electrical voltage levels, the efficiency of the technical system, and study electric power loss, without preempting the results."
He stressed that "electricity distribution companies operate under an exclusive privilege and are private companies, which makes enhancing institutional oversight and accountability essential to protect citizens' rights, as well as to protect the state from the erosion of public trust, amid a common belief among citizens that these companies are government entities."
Al-Shoubaki emphasized that "opening this file in a professional and independent manner targets no company and is not a pre-emptive accusation; it is a standard procedure internationally when complaints increase and technical indicators appear that warrant investigation."
He concluded by saying, "Transparency and independent verification are the fastest ways to do justice to the citizens, fortify the state, and end the ongoing debate about electricity bills, instead of leaving the issue open to speculations and rumors."
