AMMAN — Social media users in Jordan have complained about receiving unexpectedly high electricity bills for the past month, expressing confusion around the reasons for this apparent surge in energy costs.
اضافة اعلان
Jordanian housewife Dalal Khalaf,
32, told
Jordan News that her household electricity bill typically ranges
between JD35 and JD40, but “I was surprised when the last bill was for JD60”.
"Our consumption of
electricity has not changed or increased compared to past months," she
added.
Twitter user Mohamad Sobeih
tweeted: "I noticed an increase in my electricity bill by JD50. I need an
explanation.”
Jordan’s energy lossesAccording to energy expert Amer
Al-Shobaki, the government has not activated proper oversight of
electricity distribution companies, allowing breaches in electricity networks that lead to
severe energy losses.
The parties responsible for Jordan’s
massive energy losses are electricity distribution companies, where leakage
occurs along medium- or low-voltage lines, and
electricity thieves, Shobaki
explained. Together, the challenges of leakage and theft lead to losses of
about 20 percent in the Kingdom.
"I noticed an increase in my electricity bill by JD50. I need an explanation.”
Globally, the figure stands
between 2 and 3 percent.
Capacity charges, limited daylightWhen it comes to electricity prices, “capacity
charges” refers to the cost of ensuring the electric grid continues functioning
at times of highest demand.
In Jordan, capacity costs the government-owned
National Electric Power Company JD380 million annually, Shobaki said. The
company also pays JD55 million every year on a floating liquified gas vessel in
Aqaba, another factor contributing to citizens’ high
electricity bills.
Energy expert Hashem Aqel suggested that soaring electricity bills in the winter season are also due to the short days, which push citizens to use lighting more frequently.
Water heatersAqel also said that some citizens power their
electric water heaters for long periods on end, due to the false assumption that it is
more economical to leave them on than to power them in shorter bursts.
Although water heaters are designed to turn on
and off automatically to keep water heated at a certain temperature, over time
and with age and use, lime deposits on internal thermostats cause the heaters
to continue operating even when the water is at the proper temperature, he
explained.
This leads to increased household energy consumption.
Together, the challenges of leakage and theft lead to losses of about 20 percent in the Kingdom. Globally, the figure stands between 2 and 3 percent.
The expert advised citizens to turn on water
heaters only as needed to maintain a reasonable consumption rate.
Government remarksOn Tuesday, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Resources provided some clarification on the rise in
electricity costs for many
citizens, for both subsidized and unsubsidized bills.
In an explanatory video on Facebook, the ministry showed that a rise in
electricity bills during the winter season is normal, and results from the
significant decrease in temperatures and longer periods of darkness, which
prompt citizens to use more lighting and heating than they use during other
seasons.
According to the video, reasons for high winter
electricity bills can include increased consumption of water heaters in the
winter for longer hours, the use of electric heaters, and raised thermostats on
AC units.
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