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Villa owner fined Dh10,000 for illegal power hookup

An Emirati who had sued both Al Ain Municipality and Al Ain Distribution Company in the Administrative Court, demanding that the latter restore power supply to his villa, has lost his case with the court ordering him to pay his pending electricity bills and fining him as well.

Al Ain Distribution company had filed a case against the man, saying the villa had been obtaining electricity through an illegal hookup. It demanded that the owner pay for the electricity consumed as well as a fine.

In response, the man went to the Court of First Instance, saying the municipality had refused to give him the building completion certificate due to differences between the approved architectural blueprint and the actual construction. He also asked the court to order the power distribution company to provide electricity to his villa.

The Court of First Instance rejected the lawsuit and ordered him to pay the Dh3,000 power bills as well as another Dh10,000 in fine for obtaining power illegally. However, the power company and the municipality contested the verdict, arguing that the power bill had increased to Dh9,000.

Finally, the dispute went to the Court of Cassation, which said that since the Emirati had no second wife, he was entitled to a reduced power tariff. His power bill would therefore be Dh3,000. However, the apex court also said the man must pay the Dh10,000 fine too for obtaining power illegally.— news@khaleejtimes.com