Zameer says no further electricity bill discounts planned

Finance Minister Moosa Zameer said on Wednesday that the government has not identified unusual irregularities in recent electricity bills and has no current plans to offer further discounts.

The remarks came after public concern over post-Ramadan bills, with some households reporting charges higher than previous months.

Under a pledge by President Mohamed Muizzu, household electricity bills during Ramadan were capped at MVR 400.

Following the end of Ramadan, consumers began sharing bills on social media showing substantial increases. Some users said households that had previously paid less than MVR 1,000 received bills exceeding MVR 3,000 this month.

Speaking at a press conference held by a ministerial committee formed to address possible economic impacts arising from the Middle East conflict, Zameer said the government was not considering additional subsidies.

He said electricity consumption usually rises during March and April due to seasonal conditions.

According to the Minister, power demand in Malé currently peaks at around 130 megawatts, representing an increase of about 15 per cent.

“The government does not have any immediate plans to provide further discounts on this month’s bills,” Zameer said.

He added that if any administrative or technical errors are found in individual bills, utility companies would review and correct them.

Separately, Fenaka Corporation said higher temperatures had contributed to increased consumption and stated that meter re-readings would be carried out where customers report discrepancies.