Wednesday 24 / September / 2025
Muscat: The Services and Public Utilities Committee of the Shura Council held a meeting on Wednesday with Dr. Mansour Al-Hanaei, Chairman of the Authority for Public Services Regulation, as part of its role in following up on service-related issues that directly impact various segments of society.
The meeting aimed to explore mechanisms to improve and upgrade public services in line with national policies that seek to raise living standards and strengthen the efficiency of key sectors.
At the outset, Dr. Hamoud Al-Yahyai, Chairman of the Committee, welcomed the Chairman of the Authority and his accompanying delegation, affirming that this meeting has been organised to discuss key issues raised by citizens and to strengthen coordination and integration between the Shura Council and the Authority, thereby contributing to the development and improvement of public services.
During the session, the Chairman of the Authority outlined the Authority’s key responsibilities in regulating public service sectors in Oman, particularly electricity, water, wastewater, and gas stations.
He also reviewed the Authority’s future plans, current investments, and the main challenges it faces in enhancing performance.
He emphasised that the Authority is committed to applying best practices in governance and strengthening regulatory frameworks of companies under its supervision, ensuring compliance with approved government policies while fostering service sustainability and alignment with Oman Vision 2040.
He stressed that the Authority seeks to provide high- quality services at fair and reasonable prices, balancing consumer interests with the continuity of operating companies.
The presentation also highlighted upcoming plans to expand wastewater services beyond Muscat Governorate, which has been identified as a priority due to its direct impact on infrastructure development and wider economic growth across governorates.
During the ensuing discussion, members of the Committee raised a number of interventions and queries reflecting citizens’ concerns.
These centred on the mechanisms for applying tariffs and exemptions, delays in connecting electricity to new homes, and issues related to the quality of services provided by companies under the Authority’s supervision.
Questions were also raised regarding the impact of climate conditions on electricity services in certain governorates, as well as procedures adopted by some companies in disconnecting services.
Committee members further addressed the issues of waste management across governorates and employment policies within electricity, water, and waste management companies.
They emphasized the importance of enhancing the level and coverage of services to meet the needs of all segments of society, highlighting in particular the expansion of wastewater projects in governorates beyond Muscat to ensure equitable service distribution and accommodate rapid urban growth.
Members also underscored the need to strengthen effective communication channels between Shura Council members and the private companies operating under the Authority, considering this an essential step to accelerate responses to citizens’ concerns and to improve follow-up on service-related issues, thereby fostering greater public confidence in the quality of services delivered.
It is noteworthy that this meeting was held as part of the Committee’s first session convened between the second and third annual sittings of the tenth term (2023–2027) of the Shura Council, chaired by Dr.Hamoud Al-Yahyai, Chairman of the Committee, and attended by Committee members.
