Widows face bill transfers as BD20 utility discount offered

TDT | Manama

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Up to BD20 is being knocked off electricity bills for low-income families under a royal grant, according to the Electricity and Water Authority’s response to a parliamentary question. The support is arranged in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development, which provides lists of eligible households. Most receive a BD10 deduction, though some are granted twice that amount depending on their circumstances.

Income

The Authority said it does not sort subscribers by income, explaining that this is the role of other government bodies. It relies on existing classifications already used by the Ministry of Social Development and similar entities.

The response followed questions from MP Zainab AbdulAmeer, who raised concerns about the treatment of poorer families, the practice of transferring debts following a subscriber’s death, and the longer-term direction of electricity and water subsidies. On inherited arrears, the Authority said it does not seek payment from heirs unless the debt is linked to property they have received.

Owned homes do not require deposits, so the property itself is treated as the guarantee. If a family chooses to keep using the supply after the death of the account holder, one of the heirs must take over the account and settle any outstanding bills. It is not lawful to continue providing the service in the name of someone who has died, the Authority said, as the person no longer has a financial or legal standing.

It added that in such cases, the financial and social conditions of the widow and children are considered before any action is taken. To reduce the risk of disconnection, the Authority offers fixed-rate monthly plans for Bahraini subscribers. These allow people to spread the cost of electricity and water evenly throughout the year. Those who fall behind may be allowed to pay what they owe in instalments, depending on the case.

Options

Even with these options in place, the Authority said that current rates paid by Bahrainis with a single account cover only a fraction of the real cost. The present tariff accounts for just 21.7 per cent of the cost of electricity and 6.2 per cent of the cost of water.

Electricity and water are produced using modern equipment that is designed to use fuel efficiently. Competitive tendering is used to keep down the cost of supply while maintaining reliability. The Authority said it chooses machinery that consumes less fuel, helping reduce production and purchasing costs.

It also urged people to be more careful in their use of water and electricity, arguing that less waste would ease the financial load on both households and the government. A more measured approach to consumption would also help preserve resources and limit harm to the environment. Subsidies are currently applied based on usage brackets set out in a ministerial order issued in 2016. The Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs said it remains ready to continue working with Parliament to achieve shared aims.