Dewa introduces slab system tariff from March 1

DUBAI - The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) yesterday announced that it would introduce a slab system of tariff for electricity and water consumption from March 1.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Sun 17 Feb 2008, 11:07 PM

Last updated: Wed 1 Mar 2023, 11:30 AM

Under the system, consumers in residential and commercial units using up to 2,000 kilowatt hour (KWH) of electricity per month will be charged 20 fils per unit, which is the old rate. However, consumers using between 2,000 KWH and 4,000 KWH per month will be charged 24 fils per unit.

Consumers in the 4,000-6,000 KWH slab will be charged 28 fils per unit, while those using more than 6,000 KWH will have to pay 33 fils per unit.

Industrial units using up to 10,000 KWH a month will be charged 20 fils per unit and those using above that will be charged 33 fils per unit.

For water consumption, housing units consuming up to 6,000 gallons will be charged 3 fils per gallon and the charge in the 6,000-12,000 gallons slab will be 3.5 fils per gallon. Consumption of above 12,000 gallons will be charged 4 fils per gallon.

Commercial and industrial units consuming up to 10,000 gallons will be charged 3 fils each and between 10,000 and 20,000 gallons will be charged 3.5 fils each and above 20,000 gallons will be charged 4 fils per gallon.

The average individual consumption of 20,000 KWH of electricity per annum and 130 gallons of water daily puts Dubai among the cities with the highest power and water consumption rates per individual, exceeding even cities in well developed countries like the US, Japan, the UK, Germany and Singapore, the Press release said.

Dewa believes the revised rates would deter people from over-consumption and help preserve the natural resources in the emirate.

Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dewa, said the revised tariff would affect only 20 per cent of consumers. The move was aimed at encouraging major consumers to use less water and power.

“The new slab system is widely adopted in developed countries around the world and it doesn’t affect those using electricity and water reasonably. Therefore, consumers who fall in the first slab would not be affected, since the electricity and water bills would be directly proportional to the total consumption.”

Al Tayer said the new tarrif system was based on a sliding scale.

The UAE nationals and their houses and farms are excluded from the new tariff system at this stage.

“We firmly believe that there is an escalating necessity to implement responsible energy consumption strategies. The new tariff system will encourage people to keep a close eye on their electricity and water consumption. It will also pave the way for a more responsible utilisation of natural resources. The slab system will help Dubai to meet one of the major global challenges and to inculcate a conservation culture in the society,” Al Tayer said.