Discounts were provided for bills sent in Ramadan but not for water and electricity used during the month, utility companies have said.
As water and electricity bills are higher than usual during Ramadan, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu instructed the companies to cap bills in order to alleviate the burden on the public. However, households have been receiving water and electricity bills for Ramadan without any discount.
The utility companies said they decided to offer discounts only for bills sent during Ramadan. The government also said it chose to discount bills during Ramadan in order to help reduce expenses during the month.
"Overall our peak was during Ramadan and the month before Ramadan. It's the bill for that month that would be higher. We don't see that peak these days. Therefore, we have now given a discount on that bill. A further discount won't be given for the next bill," said Hussain Fahmy, managing director of the State Electricity Company (STELCO).
STELCO gave a discount worth more than MVR 30 million to all domestic customers, Fahmy said.
Abdul Matheen, managing director of the Male' Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), said the concept of providing a discount in Ramadan was alleviating the financial burden of a high water bill received during Ramadan.
"People won't get a bill called Ramadan bill. They will get the bill for March or the bill for April. After discussions, we decided that [the discounts should be given for] the bill sent during Ramadan," Matheen said.
Matheen said MWSC gave a total discount of MVR 14.2 million to its 35,906 customers in Ramadan.
Contrary to what the utility companies said, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had pledged to solve higher water and electricity charges during Ramadan.
"Water and electricity bills get very high in Ramadan. That's how it happens naturally. It's something that causes a big burden. That won't happen this time. Water and electricity bills in Ramadan will be capped at the rate of a normal month, meaning it won't go higher than that," the President said on March 4 in Baa Eydhafushi.
