Following its previous statement dated 30/11/2023, the "Electricity of Lebanon" institution announced today, Tuesday, that "within the framework of implementing the national emergency plan for the electricity sector, it has started, since last month, rounds to collect electricity consumption values from Syrian refugee camps in various Lebanese regions, starting from 1/11/2022, based on open records of consumption similar to those prepared for electricity consumers who are not regular subscribers, according to readings from electronic meters, approximately 900 meters which the institution installed about a year ago in these camps."
It added: "While the institution praises the positive atmosphere it encountered in collecting these values from Syrian refugee camps in several areas, especially in Jeb Jannin and Marjeyoun, where the refugees there have paid several of the records prepared for this purpose, with the remainder pending payment, the institution wishes that these positive atmospheres reflect in all Syrian refugee camps across other regions through their commitment to paying the dues arising from the values of electricity consumption according to the prepared records based on meter readings."
It continued: "The institution also warns once again that obtaining electricity unlawfully and failing to pay these dues, as previously affirmed by the UNHCR, according to its statement circulated on 29/8/2023 and published on its website, is considered a violation of the law and has consequences, such as cutting the electricity supply to violators and imposing fines on them, in addition to the risks of overloading the electrical network."
It concluded: "Since electricity is a commodity in itself, the institution incurs significant costs to produce, transport, and distribute it to subscribers, as well as to secure necessary maintenance and repairs for its facilities and electrical network. Therefore, consumers are required to pay for it, just as they pay for other goods they consume. Accordingly, the Electricity of Lebanon institution once again requests all Syrian refugees, based on UNHCR directives, to fully cooperate with the institution's teams responsible for monitoring this issue and to commit to paying the financial values due for their electricity consumption, under the penalty of cutting electricity to those who fail to pay from these camps, similar to what is applied in this regard to all subscribers in various Lebanese regions, and in the interest of collecting these dues which are public funds."
