Consumers are complaining about prepaid electricity meters

Prepaid electricity meter users are complaining that they are being overcharged for their consumption, according to the local press. Consumers allege that they were charged additional “installment” fees when topping up their cards, despite paying the full meter balance. According to Electricity Ministry spokesperson Ayman Hamza, these “extra” fees are just deducting an overdraft in cases where a meter’s balance had fallen below zero before being topped up again. Electricity subsidies were partially lifted in June, seeing a 16-30% increase in electricity bills while the government has a plan in place to wipe all subsidies by 2025. Electricity distribution companies have faced consumer complaints after the price hike.