The Regulation and Supervision Bureau, the independent regulatory body of water, wastewater and electricity sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, ADDC, and Al Ain Distribution Company, AADC, has announced a new structure of water and electricity tariffs effective 1st January 2015.
The changes aim to encourage efficient use of water and electricity, and raise awareness of the importance of reducing consumption to support the sustainable growth of the emirate, to ensure adequate supply of water and electricity and secure its resources and its diversification.
The Bureau's Acting Director-General, Saif Al Qubaisi, said, "The smart use of natural resources is one of the guiding principles for Abu Dhabi. Over the past few months, we have been actively raising awareness of the importance of conserving our precious resources for future generations. The restructuring of tariffs will help drive understanding of the true value of water and electricity which, in turn, supports the sustainable growth of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. " The changes to the tariff structure are part of a wider initiative aimed to drive behavioural change in how water and electricity are currently consumed in the Emirate.
Al Qubaisi continued, "We all have a part to play in reducing consumption. With small changes to our daily habits we can make a big difference, especially if we all act together." The new tariff structure will apply to water and electricity consumption from 1st January 2015 and will be reflected in bills from then onwards. "The distribution companies, ADDC and AADC, are ready to assist all customers by implementing new water and electricity conservation initiatives through an awareness strategy that will help instil a culture to conserve these precious resources," he explained.
Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Executive Director of Customer Service at ADDC, said, "Customer satisfaction is one of the most important criteria in assessing institutional performance. At ADDC, we are working hard to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction that is apparent in the quality of our services and staff efficiency in the customer service contact centres. Our staff is available around the clock to answer all customer questions related to the new tariff structure and help customers manage their consumption using simple conservation tips available on our website." "We strongly believe that our customers have played an essential role in developing ADDC's performance and achieving excellence in the services we offer. We encourage our customers to provide their feedback and communicate with us on a regular basis. In addition, we would like them to be part of our recently launched programme, ‘Shoorkum', to provide valuable recommendations that aim to enhance the company's technical and administrative performance," Al Shamsi added.
Abdulla Al Sheryani, Customer Service Director at AADC, said that the company is ready to implement the new tariffs for water and electricity, both efficiently and effectively, to help customers understand the proposed new structure and how it will affect them.