Residents of Souss-Massa protest sharp increases in electricity bills

Residents in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco are raising alarms over significant increases in their electricity bills, some claiming their charges have doubled since the introduction of regional multi-service companies.

Many residents have expressed their frustration over electricity bills for November, which they say have seen dramatic increases. Complaints have sparked widespread unrest, prompting local officials to take action.

“Many customers have seen their bills double, which has caused a great deal of anger,” said a resident of the region. “It’s far beyond what we used to pay before the new regional company took over.”

The introduction of regional multi-service companies, which began operating in four regions, including Souss-Massa, has shifted the responsibility for distribution and billing from the National Office of Electricity and Potable Water to these regional entities. The National Office now only handles production.

According to local sources, the regional companies were established under Law No. 83.21, which governs the distribution and billing of services in Morocco’s twelve regions. The shift has put the responsibility for the increased rates squarely on these regional companies.

In response to growing complaints, the Taroudant provincial administration organized an emergency meeting on Thursday. Mubarak Thabet, the provincial governor, and the director of the regional multi-service company in Souss-Massa attended, along with local municipal leaders. They proposed several solutions, including reviewing increases exceeding 25% for customers whose consumption was based on estimated readings, and allowing private companies to take on billing duties to avoid future increases.

The regional company clarified that the fixed fees listed on new bills were essentially the same as the previous maintenance and meter rental charges, urging customers to check their bills for confirmation.

Despite these explanations, the Moroccan Consumer Protection and Guidance Association in Oulad Taima criticized the increases, calling them “excessive” and demanding that meters be inspected and updated regularly.

Hussein Youssefi, a civil society leader in Taroudant, acknowledged the record increases in November electricity bills, and questioned why many bills lacked previous month figures. Youssefi believes the increases stem from reliance on estimated consumption rather than actual meter readings.

Residents have also launched a petition calling for an inspection of the meters and a review of the bills for accuracy. They demand that the regional multi-service company in Souss-Massa take immediate action to address the issues.