A ministerial agreement was reached on Tuesday to solve the crisis of generators, by obliging owners to install meters to determine the use of power by each subscriber.
The decision was announced by caretaker Interior Minister Nohad al-Machnouk, caretaker Economy Minister Raed Khoury and caretaker Energy and Water Minister Cesar Abi Khalil. Owners will be ordered to track the energy usage of generator subscribers, who will then pay only for the electricity they consume, rather than having to pay large, flat rates for generator subscriptions. The decision is set to take effect Oct. 1.
In a joint press conference, Machnouk noted that the main objective of the decision was to preserve the right of the consumer to pay the value of electricity consumed, as is the case in other countries that face electricity problems.
The ministers said their ministries would collaborate and take the necessary actions to ensure the proper implementation of this decision.
The Minister of Energy underlined the importance of the “firm implementation of this decision by the municipalities, under the control of the Consumer Protection Department of the Ministry of Economy, and with the support of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities.”
Khoury, for his part, said that the government would not allow owners of private generators to take advantage of Lebanese citizens.
“We will also not allow any form of violation in this area,” he said.
