The Water Bill During the Construction of “Beit Al Omra”: Is the Tiered Rate System Fair?

I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude and appreciation to the staff of the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy whom I interacted with during my visit to the ministry. I was impressed by their kindness, courtesy, and dedication to assisting visitors. What I am raising here, however, does not concern employee performance, but rather the system for calculating water bills under the “flat-rate” system and its suitability for properties under construction.

My water meter was connected in late 2020, coinciding with the start of construction works, when the project had barely progressed beyond foundation excavation. With the onset of 2021 and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic—including restrictions, shortages, and the departure of labor—the pace of construction slowed significantly. Naturally, this affected water consumption. Subsequently, sharp increases in the prices of construction materials and labor wages forced the postponement of certain construction phases, some of which were delayed for several months. During these periods, work was either completely halted or severely limited, resulting in extremely low or negligible water consumption.

I completed the construction of my home in January 2024. Due to delays in paying my electricity and water bills, I visited the relevant administration, where the staff kindly assisted me and facilitated the procedures. Regarding electricity, the matter was straightforward and easily resolved thanks to smart meters, which allowed for a more accurate determination of actual consumption.

However, what surprised me was the method used to calculate the water bill under the “flat-rate” system, which applies to the period from the installation of the meter until the bill is settled. The problem arises from applying a single rate to variable consumption. Water usage during construction is not constant. Some stages require larger quantities of water, while others require less. There were also periods when work was completely halted for several months due to personal circumstances faced by citizens. Furthermore, water consumption during construction differs fundamentally from consumption after the home is completed and occupied.

This raises several questions that I place before the ministry’s officials: How is consumption calculated during a period marked by significant disparities between different stages? How does the system address months during which construction was halted and there was no actual water consumption? Is it logical to apply a single rate to both the construction and occupancy phases, despite the clear difference in consumption patterns?

This is not an objection to paying for a service that has been consumed, but rather a matter of principle: citizens should pay for what they actually consume, not for an estimated consumption that may not reflect reality.

While the best solution is undoubtedly the widespread adoption of smart water meters, providing, installing, and distributing them across all properties may take time—potentially at least six months for their arrival, distribution, and installation. This is what the ministry is currently working on, and I thank them for their efforts. Therefore, I urge the officials to urgently study the implementation of a transitional mechanism that is fairer for properties under construction until the new meters are deployed.

For instance, billing could be separated between the construction phase and the occupancy phase. It should be possible to record long periods of work stoppage and rely on actual readings when available. Citizens should also have the right to object and provide proof of work stoppage if the calculated flat rate does not reflect actual consumption.

This is not an isolated issue. Many citizens are building their “dream homes” amid high costs for materials, labor, and contractors. They may need every amount, no matter how small, to complete their houses. Therefore, I hope the ministry will reconsider the suitability of the “flat-rate” system for properties under construction until smart meters are widely implemented. Justice does not mean that citizens should pay less than they have consumed, nor should it mean they pay more than they have consumed; rather, it means they should pay for what they actually consume.