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Sewa increases security deposit to Dh3,000

SHARJAH - Several residents of Sharjah have expressed concern over a Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa) notice received by them recently urging payment of Dh3,000 as additional security deposit within 10 days, failing which power and water supply to the apartments would be disconnected.

The notice says that residents who paid Dh1,000 security deposit upon moving into the apartment need to furnish the receipt so as to enable them to pay only the balance of Dh2,000.

According to Sewa spokesperson Abdul Rahman Al Salman, the security deposit notice has only been sent out to residents who consumed more power over a period of time and that their dues exceeded the security deposit of Dh1,000 paid at the time of moving into a new residential unit.

“But now residents are required to pay Dh3,000 as security deposit and in the future, high-end consumers will also be required to pay higher deposit amounts based on their consumption,” he added.

The notice to residents to pay Dh3,000 as deposit, according to Salman, comes in the wake of recent cases where residents have left the country without settling their Sewa dues which, in many cases, have been much higher than their security deposit of Dh1,000.

He urged the residents to settle their dues on time and conserve electricity and water to avoid payment of high bills which exceed their domestic budget.

Meanwhile, a number of residents who received the new notice said that it was difficult for them to pay Dh3,000 within 10 days, adding that it was a huge amount and they had not made provisions for it in their budget for next month.

Murtada, a resident of Al Mussalah, said, “I was shocked to see the notice at my doorstep because I cannot afford to pay this amount. I earn a monthly salary of Dh3,500. I hope Sewa finds some other solution to this problem.”

Tanweer Ali, another resident, said, “I have been living in the building for seven years and my family consists of my wife and daughter who, most of the time, are outside the house. I am surprised to find we are among the list of consumers who consume high electricity volumes.” He called the Sewa decision to increase the security amount as “unwarranted.”

Several other residents, who did not wish to be named, said many of us will be forced to live without power and water because we cannot afford to pay this huge deposit. If only the payment is staggered over a period of time, most middle and low-income families may be able to settle the amount.”

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