The State Electric Company (STELCO) has announced plans to conduct energy audits for households experiencing unusually high electricity bills this month. This decision comes in response to recent anomalies in billing, prompting the company to take proactive measures to address customer concerns.
During a press conference held earlier today, STELCO’s Managing Director Hussain Fahumy detailed the company’s plans. Fahumy noted that while complaints about high bills are a common occurrence, this month saw a notable decrease in grievances. “Ninety-four percent of the bills issued this month have decreased compared to last month,” he reported. Despite this, STELCO identified a subset of households with significantly increased bills, leading to the decision to conduct energy audits.
The focus of these audits will be on 15% of households in Hulhumale and 6% in Male’ City, where the most significant billing spikes were observed. “We believe that both the company and the customer should understand the details behind these high bills,” Fahumy explained. “Our teams will visit these households to conduct thorough energy audits.”
The audits will involve examining the condition of the apartments, the equipment used, and the insulation. “After reviewing this information, we will explain the reasons for the high bills to our customers,” Fahumy said. “We will also provide them with steps to save electricity.”
STELCO initiated the audit process today, with teams already visiting some homes in Male’ City. The company serves approximately 70,000 households in the area, with electricity demand during peak hours reaching up to 100 MW. At the peak of the year, this consumption can rise to 113 MW. According to STELCO, the average electricity consumption increases by 8-10 percent annually.
Fahumy emphasized the importance of this initiative, highlighting STELCO’s commitment to transparency and customer satisfaction. The audits aim to provide clarity and assist customers in managing their electricity usage more efficiently.
