FEWA rewards consumers for power, water conservation

Lucrative prize money up to Dh132,000 were presented to the most rationalising consumers of FEWA, monthly, ranging from Dh10,000 for the first, Dh7,000 for the second, and Dh5,000 for the third.

Dubai – The Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) on Tuesday honoured 18 families for their effective participation in the nationwide rationalization award, and cutting consumption by up to 80 per cent in the last three months.

The honourees, including three people from six emirates and areas in the country, have managed to cut consumption by minimum 12 to 80 per cent in just three months.

Lucrative prize money up to Dh132,000 were presented to the most rationalising consumers of FEWA, monthly, ranging from Dh10,000 for the first, Dh7,000 for the second, and Dh5,000 for the third.

Suhail Mohammed Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy, who is also Chairman of FEWA, said the level of water and power consumption in the UAE is far beyond international levels. “Seven to 15kw/h is the average consumption of electricity worldwide as compared to 25 to 35kw/h here in the AUE.”

The same applies to water consumption which amounts to daily 170 to 200 liters per person all over the globe while it hits 500 to 550Lt/pp in the country, he added. “This is triple international consumption,” he said, urging the public to be more concerned about energy conservation.

Mohammed Khalil Al Shamsi, Director of Corporate Communication, FEWA, on Tuesday told Khaleej Times that the winners were from the northern emirates of Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Ajman, along with Dibba Al Fujairah and the central region of the emirate of Sharjah.

“The same prize money of the Award, launched in 2014, will be presented to most conservative consumers every three months in four categories, spanning schools, mosques, and government departments.”

The Emirates Conservation Award is meant to promote conservative consumption of water and electricity, and instill the values of rationalisation in young generations, he added. “We should all participate in preserving these critical natural sources to future generations.”

Al Shamsi said participation is open to all nationalities. “The list of winners included Emiratis, Arabs and Asians.

“The targeted conservation was 12 percent, however some families managed to rationalize consumption by up to 60 and even 80 percent.”

FEWA does not only develop consumers’ awareness, but also helps them technically with competent who paid them field visits and fixed free water saving devices or aerators, which unnoticeably bubbles into water reducing consumption by 30 to 60 percent without affecting its pressure. 

Ibrahim Yusuf, a Lieutenant with the UAQ civil defence department and father of four, said he managed to secure the third position in rationalisation. “I have been very keen to participate in the Award to rationalize our natural sources and keep them for future generations.”

Talat Mahmoud, a Palestinian father of four and resident of Ajman who works with Sharjah Police, said he managed to cut water and electricity consumption by 80 percent. “Developed countries are not better than us in this regard. We’d rather do the same and even do better for the benefit of this great country under the prudent UAE leadership.

“Some people are deprived of water, and the UAE does not have rivers and even suffers lack of rains. Therefore, we should all chip in, and be part of this promising drive,” he added.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com 

• UAE