Families of deceased Bahrainis will have 90 days to adjust electricity accounts before the government subsidy is removed, the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has told councillors.
EWA customer service head Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said during the Southern Municipal Council meeting yesterday that the Information and eGovernment Authority automatically updates a customer’s status once a death is officially registered.
However, he said the EWA was willing to examine a proposal by the Southern Municipal Council to allow the subsidy to continue for 30 days following the death, giving families time to transfer or adjust the account.
Shaikh Salman said the existing 90-day period provides families with time to complete the necessary procedures, while stressing that the issue raised by councillors would be considered.
“We will settle amounts whenever a deal is reached with subsidy rates used from day one of death,” said Shaikh Salman.
The issue was raised by councillor Hamad Al Zoubi, who argued that removing the subsidy simply because the account holder had died could place an unfair burden on the family.
“The deceased is Bahraini, and his family is Bahraini too. They are the ones who will continue paying the bill,” Mr Al Zoubi said.
He also criticised cases where an electricity account in the name of a deceased father was transferred to a son without the latter’s knowledge, arguing that the new account holder should not be treated as a party to an arrangement he had not requested.
Mr Al Zoubi said soaring electricity bills could not automatically be blamed on excessive consumption, particularly in large Bahraini households where several family members share the same home.
He also raised concerns over homes with shared electricity arrangements and the absence of separate meters for individual families, saying this could result in bills that do not fairly reflect each household’s actual consumption.
“The increase in electricity consumption is sometimes a technical problem because there are no separate meters for families sharing the same property,” he said.
Mr Al Zoubi also called for greater scrutiny of electricity meters and billing systems, noting that meters are supplied by different manufacturers and that the system should undergo regular checks when there is an unusual spike in consumption.
“Not everything is because the citizen is wasteful in using electricity,” he said.
He urged EWA to investigate bills that appear unusually high and verify whether the readings and billing calculations are accurate.
Shaikh Salman said the authority was prepared to check cases where customers believed there could be an error, stressing that problems could arise in the receipt of bills rather than their issuance.
The meeting also examined electricity consumption categories and the impact of summer temperatures on household bills.
Councillor Khalid Shajra proposed merging the first and second subsidised electricity consumption categories, saying this could ease the financial burden on families.
He also highlighted the need to consider the circumstances of larger households, where higher consumption may reflect the number of residents rather than unnecessary use.
Domestic Electricity Tiers (First Home/Single Account for Citizens)
First Threshold (0-3,000 units): 3 fils per unit
Second Threshold (3,001-5,000 units): 9 fils per unit
Third Threshold (5,001-7,000 units): 16 fils per unit
Fourth Threshold (Above 7,000 units): 32 fils per unit
Shaikh Salman said bills are generally calculated according to the actual consumption period, normally 29 to 30 days, and urged customers to compare their consumption over different periods to identify unusual changes.
Councillors also questioned the impact of longer billing periods on customers who could inadvertently move into a higher consumption bracket.
Shaikh Salman highlighted the role of energy-efficient air conditioners and electrical appliances in reducing consumption, while noting that thermal insulation can also significantly lower electricity use.
The discussions also covered smart meters and the importance of modern technology in improving readings, monitoring consumption and identifying unusual patterns.
Shaikh Salman said the EWA would continue checking customer complaints and billing data while developing its electronic services and communication channels to make it easier for subscribers to raise concerns and resolve disputes.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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