Muscat: Citizens and residents of the Sultanate received electricity bills at a value less than expected with the start of the new tariff.
As part of the initiatives to shore up government revenues, last December, the government approved the removal of subsidies for electricity and water, which will eventually see prices gradually rise for all, including citizens, expatriates, and large companies in the industrial sector.
The new tariffs for electricity and water services came into effect from January 2021.
According to the Authority for Public Services Regulation, the electricity tariff for citizens receiving national subsidies must range between 15 Bz for 2000 kWh/h to 30 Bz for over 4000 kWh. However, in the bills for January, people were billed 10 Bz for 2000 kWh and 20 Bz for over 4000 kWh.
The electricity tariff for expats and local with additional account was billed at 14 Bz for 2000 kWh and 22 Bz for over 4000 kWh, whereas the authority had previously announced prices of 20 Bz for 2000 kWh/h and 30 Bz for over 4000 kWh.
