Electricity Ministry said the annual increase of electricity prices set to be applied in July will not take place in 2015 with regard to the first three consumer categories, consuming up to 200 kilowatts monthly, in accordance with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s instructions.
Mohamed al-Yamani, ministry spokesperson, said Minister Mohamed Shaker was instructed during his meeting with Sisi on Sunday not to apply the price hike for the first three categories during the coming period. Electricity distribution companies have been notified about the decision.
Sources from the ministry have stressed the necessity of issuing a regulation amending the cabinet’s last year's decision, which stipulated the planned pricing until 2019. All consumers will benefit from the new decision, as the first-category consumers will pay according to the 2014 tariff.
The first category, consuming less than 50 kilowatts per month, will pay 7.5 piasters instead of 9 piasters per kilowatt. The second category (between 51 and 100 kilowatts), will pay 14.5 piasters instead of 17 piasters per kilowatt. As for the consumers of 101- 200 kilowatts, they will pay 16 piasters instead of 20 piasters per kilowatt,
However, in the 201-350 kilowatt sector, each kilowatt will cost 29 piasters instead of 24 piasters, while in the 351 to 650 kilowatt range, onw unit will cost 39 piasters instead of 34 piasters. Between 651 and 1,000 kilowatts, each unit costs 68 piasters, which constitutes a 13 percent increase. The consumption of more than 1,000 kilowatts will cost 78 piasters per kilowatt.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
