State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has announced a minimum 10 per cent discount on electricity bills for all customers during Ramadan.

Unlike the previous year, a single bill will be issued for the entire fasting month to ensure a uniform discount.

STELCO General Manager Mohamed Saleem stated that last year’s Ramadan discount was divided between two billing periods due to the reading schedule, which caused confusion. He confirmed that, following directives from President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, this year’s discount will be applied to a single bill covering the full duration of Ramadan.

To facilitate this, STELCO Senior Manager Ali Mujtaba Mohamed outlined measures to streamline the billing process. On the day before Ramadan begins and on its final day, 350 STELCO employees will conduct meter readings across all households to ensure accurate billing. He assured that this approach would not result in financial loss for consumers, allowing them to benefit from the Ramadan discount without disruption.

The discount will be calculated based on the difference in charges between the readings taken before and after Ramadan. Mujtaba confirmed that all customers will receive at least a 10 per cent reduction on the total amount for the fasting month.

Addressing concerns over previous billing delays, STELCO stated that, following Ramadan, meter readings will be conducted in the last week of each month, with bills issued promptly the following day. This revised schedule aims to align with salary payment periods, ensuring customers have adequate time to settle bills within the standard 10-day payment window.

STELCO has urged public cooperation in facilitating the meter reading process. Customers unavailable for in-person readings can submit their meter readings via the company’s hotline 1545. If readings cannot be taken, bills will be calculated based on a 30- or 31-day cycle in consultation with the respective households.