EDL threatens to cut power to public institutions, including water utilities

The board of directors of Electricité du Liban (EDL) announced Friday evening that its teams will cut off power, starting the morning of Nov. 2, to public administrations and institutions ... that have not settled their overdue bills despite repeated formal notices.

EDL specified that the water utilities, which manage water distribution throughout Lebanon, are also covered by this ultimatum. Public hospitals, however, are exempt.

The autonomous agency is calling on the public entities concerned to pay the amounts due starting next week "to avoid a power cut." The chronic difficulties EDL has faced for decades have worsened in recent months following the surge in fuel prices triggered by the regional war between Iran and the United States.

Energy Minister Joe Saddi insists that the public utility, which struggles to provide even a few hours of electricity per day, must fund its fuel purchases through its own revenues. These have fallen due to Israeli destruction in southern Lebanon since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah and the exemptions granted by the state to some residents of regions affected by the war.

The various administrations and institutions owe more than $200 million in arrears to EDL, which is now attempting to recover these funds to finance future fuel purchases.

EDL had issued a similar ultimatum over the summer before softening its stance. Since then, Nassib Nasr was appointed chairman of the board by the Cabinet in September, replacing Kamal Hayek, who had held the position since the 2000s but remains general manager.