Finance Minister: No policy yet for further electricity bill discounts

Finance Minister Moosa Zameer stated on Wednesday that the government currently has no policy to provide additional discounts on electricity bills for the ongoing month.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had previously announced a cap on electricity bills at MVR 400 for all households during the month of Ramadan, with the government also covering the MVR 150 WAMCO fee. However, since the conclusion of the holy month, citizens have taken to social media to voice concerns over a significant surge in billing, with some households reporting costs that have doubled.

During a press conference held at the President's Office by the Middle East War Committee on Wednesday, a journalist questioned the sharp price hike and asked if the state intended to offer relief.

Minister Zameer, who also chairs the committee, explained that the Finance Ministry collaborates with relevant agencies annually to manage bill increases typically seen in March. He noted that electricity consumption in the city reached 130 MW during this period, marking a 15 percent increase.

The Minister assured that any major technical discrepancies in individual billing would be investigated and resolved. 

“But there is no government policy yet to give bills a discount like we mentioned this month,” Minister Zameer clarified.

Historically, bills have often surged following the Ramadan discount period. This year’s spike is largely attributed to the intense heat, which forces air conditioning units and fans to consume more energy to maintain cool temperatures. 

The Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office) has noted that April consistently remains one of the hottest months of the year. 

While a 10 percent discount was applied to electricity bills during Ramadan last year, similar complaints regarding high costs persisted. State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) maintained that the higher figures are a direct result of increased usage during the peak heat season.