Barran Press
The Marib branch of the General Electricity Corporation launched the first phase of a campaign to install electricity meters and collect consumption fees in the northeastern Yemeni city.
The initiative targets over 1,500 commercial and industrial facilities, focusing on establishments along the Marib-Safer international line, Al-Arsh Street, Al-Samda Complex, and surrounding districts.
According to the official Yemeni news agency, Saba, Marib Electricity Director General Abdul Hadi Al-Shabwani stated the campaign aims to "rationalize consumption, reduce waste, and collect electricity fees effectively." These measures seek to improve the corporation's revenue stream and financial capacity to fulfill its obligations.
Five engineering and technical teams, led by Deputy for Technical Affairs Engineer Abdullah Dughaish, have been assigned the task. They are empowered to complete meter installation procedures, collect connection fees, and collect fees for the installation process itself.
Marib Governorate Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs Abdullah Al-Bakri emphasized the importance of community collaboration during the campaign launch. He stressed the need for "solidarity of all community forces and official bodies" to support electricity services and enable the corporation to fulfill its obligations.
Al-Bakri highlighted the crucial role of electricity in "life, stability, production, and development." He acknowledged the high cost of "investment, production, and distribution of electricity" borne by the local authority and the state.
"Connecting meters and collecting fees will guarantee reductions in energy waste and unjustified consumption," Al-Bakri explained. "This will minimize losses and ensure service continuity for citizens, with the corporation committed to repairing any station or transmission line defects."
The Undersecretary emphasized the importance of accelerating the second phase, which will target farms and homes currently relying on "random connections." He urged cooperation from citizens, facility owners, local councils, and community leaders to ensure the success of the technical teams. Al-Bakri also directed "security services to support and arrest anyone who abstains, lags, or obstructs the teams' work process."
For nearly a decade, the Marib local authorities have provided residents with near-free electricity, including energy purchased before 2020 at a significant cost. Recent outages due to rising temperatures and strain on the unmaintained power station prompted awareness campaigns and now, the meter installation initiative, as part of a wider effort to manage electricity loads.