Dubai residents complain of hikes in electricity tariffs

Complaints about hidden increases in power or water tariffs are baseless, according to Dubai Government officials who said residents who feel their utility bills are extraordinarily high should first check wastage in their homes before blaming utility meters or wrong consumption readings.Officials at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) advised residents to stop wastage of "precious resources".Saeed Al Tayer, managing director and chief executive officer of Dewa, told Gulf News: "Prices for water and power in Dubai have not increased since being revised in January."However, he attributed the higher power bills to the increase in consumption especially during the summer months.Gulf News checked the readings in a number of bills, compared them with the figures in the corresponding meters and checked the way the total amount in the bill was calculated, and found that there were no hidden increases in utility bills issued by Dewa.In January this year, water and utility rates were increased by around 15 per cent in addition to fuel surcharges. "The 15 per cent increase in water and electricity tariff had to be done in accordance to the ongoing increase in fuel and gas prices in the global market," Al Tayer said.He also added that additional fuel surcharge would be shown separately in electricity and water consumption bills.This value added is to show the cost of the fuel used in the water and electricity consumption. It will fluctuate according to the fuel prices globally. However, the value balance will be credited back to the bill holders in case of a fuel price drop.Al Tayer said, "Even the price of fuel surcharge was fixed during the last six months."He said the existing tariff in Dubai is one of the most competitive when compared with international tariffs.