Summer electricity and water bill ‘shocker’ awaited by expats in Bahrain
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
Summer is just around the corner, which means cranking up those air conditioning units again. Cooling down the house amid the sweltering summer heat is going to cost more than usual.
As every hot summer begins in May and lasts through October, it is expected that power expenses will increase beginning in May. The problem has raised serious concerns among expatriates, who account for 52.6% of the total population and are crucial to the growth of the country’s economy.
Every household’s monthly budget includes a significant amount for utility costs. Additionally, as always, the summer months see the highest utility bills due to the increased use of air conditioners and water, which is very difficult for expats.
The burden on expats has increased due to the addition of the 5 percent VAT on utility bills. Many expats living in the Kingdom are middle-class or have lower incomes. Sara Fahim, an East Riffa resident, told The Daily Tribune that her area’s power bills are particularly high when compared to those in other places.
“Last year, we went back to India for two months for summer vacation." We left the fridge on and turned off the rest of the appliances, but when we got home, the power bill was more than BD70 for the entire month.
"I was astonished, which is why we will exercise greater caution this year,” she said. “We already feel the heat, and this is just the beginning." Without turning on the air conditioner, we won’t be able to sleep.
"Currently, our power and water bills are above BD100.” Sara added: “For example, a two-bedroom apartment in Riffa might cost you no more than BD230 or less, but the power bill would be significantly higher, so even with the low rent, it would still be an expense for a middle-class family.”
Many are forced to move into shared accommodations because they are struggling to meet the rising expenses. In some cases, expats are paying utility bills that are even higher than their monthly rent.
However, the majority of expatriates who receive high electricity and water bills remain silent and don’t voice their concerns, instead, they try to reduce their expenses or move to smaller, easier-to-maintain apartments.
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