The headquarters of Electricité du Liban, in the Mar Mikhael neighborhood in Beirut. (Credit: João Sousa)
Électricité du Liban (EDL), the public institution responsible for providing electricity across Lebanese territory, announced Thursday in a statement that it is implementing exceptional measures for its subscribers affected by "the Israeli aggression in Lebanon," following the war between Israel and Hezbollah that began on Oct. 8, 2023.
"Due to the exceptional circumstances resulting from the Israeli aggression in Lebanon since October 2023, which continues to this day in certain Lebanese regions," which have led to the total and partial destruction of many homes connected to the electrical network, making them uninhabitable, EDL announced a procedure that aims to "guarantee the rights of the institution and its subscribers."
The measures implemented differ according to the damages sustained and are divided into two ways.
In the event of total destruction of the home, based on the census conducted by EDL and its service providers, billing for subscribers is suspended from the date of the attack until reconstruction and the return of subscribers to their homes and the installation of meters in the rebuilt buildings. Subscriptions will be renewed in the names of the former subscribers without charge if the subscriptions existed before the attack. If new sections, which did not previously exist, were added to the rebuilt building, all applicable fees would be demanded from the subscribers, according to the power mentioned in the subscription, the statement specified.
In the case of partial destruction or collapse of the home, the same aforementioned measure applies to the uninhabitable section, provided that it remains so for more than two months. The institution will, however, continue billing the intact parts or those requiring repairs.
Regarding the energy consumed by subscribers before the violent events, EDL emphasizes that it will proceed with billing this consumption and that the amounts due will be collected by the agents of its service provider distribution companies, with the last bill issued before the suspension of the subscription in the case of destruction.
The electricity sector in Lebanon suffers from structural deficiencies and insufficient capacity to meet the country's needs, relying on private generators to supplement its supply.
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
