RIYADH – Subscribers in Al-Muzahimiyah governorate, about 40 kilometers west of Riyadh, have complained that the alleged delay in issuing electricity bills by the power company has led them to accumulate thousands of riyals in outstanding dues. Some of the subscribers said they have accumulated as much as SR14,000 in outstanding dues and they want the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to collect the amount in installments, instead of forcing them pay up at once. Mahdi Al-Habbabi, one of the victims of the billing delay, said he received a telephone call from the SEC informing that the power supply to his house has been disconnected. «The company had removed my power meter," he told Al-Watan Arabic daily. Al-Habbabi then visited the local electricity office and found a long line of customers who came there seeking bills which they did not receive for more than six months. Some of them have accumulated bills ranging from SR4,500 to SR14,000, he said. He said the company had not disconnected power from their houses in the past six months even though they did not pay the bills. This led to accumulating the dues, making it difficult for them to pay at once. Mohammed Al-Jassas also said the company had disconnected supply to his house and removed the meter. "When I approached the SEC office in Muzahamiya, they told me that they are not responsible for the delay in distributing electricity bills." The company said customers should pay their bills to get the service restored irrespective of whether they received the bills or not. "We have requested the company to allow us to pay the outstanding dues in installments as we are unable to pay the huge amounts in one go but the official said it was not possible," Al-Jassas. A senior SEC official told Al-Watan that the company had been dealing with the subscribers transparently. "We distribute bills monthly via email, SMS or in print form," he explained. When asked about the delay in receiving bills by the company›s customers in Muzahamiya, the official said it was not their fault and put the blame on the subscribers. He claimed that the bills got accumulated because some of the subscribers reneged on the terms of the contract by delaying payment for several months although the company had distributed the bills on time. "We have been distributing bills as usual. About 90 percent of customers in Muzahamiya have subscribed to our SMS service, which help them get various information, including the bills and the date of disconnecting the service in case the bills are not paid," the official said. He said customers can contact the toll free number 920001100 or visit the company's customer care office to receive various information, including bills.
