Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) Undersecretary Mohammed Boshehri said the ministry is currently working on electronic connection with other government bodies to prevent any transactions unless applicants pay their overdue bills.

Boshehri added that the new electricity tariffs had contributed in reducing consumption rates, although the bills of some consumers in the investment and commercial sectors jumped from KD 200 to KD 500. “MEW does not plan to increase tariffs for the time being,” he underlined, noting that new rates will continue for at least three years before any reconsideration.

Boshehri added that smart meters would be installed and operated by the first quarter of 2019 and stressed that MEW had stopped cash payments since 2016 because some corrupt employees had been manipulating bills by writing lower amounts than what they actually collect from elderly consumers.