Qatar cracks down on ‘excessive’ energy consumption

Dec 10, 2016

State utilities company Kahramaa posts video urging public to cut down on water, electricity use

Qatar’s state utilities company has stepped up a campaign to crack down on electricity and water wastage, according to reports in local media.

Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) is conducting a fresh inspection drive to identify those who flout strict rules on utilities waste in the country.
Qatar has among the highest per capita consumption of water and electricity in the world – largely because the utilities are heavily subsidised by the government.

The government has introduced tough rules around use of water and electricity, to help it to meet targets for cutting energy consumption in the coming years.

For example, it is against the law in Qatar to keep outdoor lights on between 7am and 4pm or to use running water from a hose to water gardens and clean cars.

Last year the government doubled the penalties for flouting the rules – residents who use drinking water to wash cars can be fined up to QR20,000, and those hat leave outside lights on can be fined up to QR10,000.

The Peninsula newspaper reported that Kahramaa last week published a video on its social media accounts as part of a drive to ramp up inspections to enforce the rules.

The video reportedly shows a Kahramaa official inspecting a facility and registering violation for not switching off a light during day.

Fahad Al Hanzab, head of the Legal Monitoring Unit at Qatar’s National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed), said in the video: “There are inspectors with judicial powers. They visit the facilities to enforce the Tarsheed law.

“The law No 20 of 2016 has banned using drinking water for washing vehicles, equipment and outer parts of homes with gushing hoses.

“The unit is responsible for monitoring the commercial, industrial and residential facilities across the country.”

Source: Arabian Business