The Managing Director of the State Electric Company (STELCO), Hussain Fahmy, has clarified the recent issuance of two bills in close succession.

In a post on social media platform X, Fahmy reassured the public that STELCO, a company with a 75-year history of national service, would never mislead its customers. He emphasised that this billing approach had been disclosed in advance through the media.

He explained that the two bills are not for the same usage period and that each bill clearly indicates its respective billing period. This measure was introduced to clear a 20 to 25-day backlog in the billing process that arises after meter readings are taken. To ease any financial strain, customers have been granted a 30-day grace period to settle their bills without penalties.

Another key reason for this adjustment is to ensure that the Ramadan month bill is issued as a single monthly bill, incorporating the Government discount. Fahmy noted that if the backlog had been included in the Ramadan bill, the discount would have only applied to part of the Ramadan period.

"If we had sent the bill with the backlog, the discount would only have applied to one portion of the Ramadan usage. Our goal was to ensure customers receive the full benefit of the discount," he explained.

Additionally, clearing the backlog will allow STELCO to take meter readings in the last week of each month, starting in April, with bills being delivered the next day. This will enable customers to compare their bill readings with their meters, enhancing transparency and trust in the company.