Oman- MEDC to invest RO45m to meet electricity demand 

(MENAFN - Times of Oman) Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC) has announced plans for a number of projects to expand and enhance their current network and accommodate the growing demand for electricity in Muscat. The company has invested in a number of primary sub stations of international standard to ensure an efficient distribution of electricity to all in Muscat.

Zahir Abdullah Al-Abri, General Manager of MEDC said, "In 2009 alone we have invested RO31 million in various projects. We have also approved a budget of RO45 million for 2010, indicating our commitment to our policy of the development and improvement."

The Government owned company, was established pursuant to Royal Decree No. 78/2004. "We are really proud of what we have achieved so far, and we are aware that we still have a lot to do to offer a better service to our valued customers," Al Abri added.

Over the past four years MEDC has provided and distributed electricity throughout Muscat, and continues to focus on expanding its network to meet increasing demands for energy. The company's customer base recently reached 193,000 subscribers in 2009 and the Regulated Units Distributed increased by nine per cent.

"In line with the diverse range of projects currently being implemented, we are also in the process of adding different services to our subscribers; such as online services via our website to enable customers to check their accounts," Al Abri revealed.

Speaking on MEDC's recent campaign to encourage their customers to pay their dues on time, Al Abri insisted that they had received a 'great response' from customers.

As it is well known to everyone, the electricity distribution business is a capital intensive business where we need to make huge investments to expand and maintain the network. We see that customers' payment on time is very crucial to our operations and it will assist us to develop an infrastructure that will serve the whole economy. Payment on time will also assist the company to put together a robust Business Plan and will help us to reduce the connection time from two weeks for areas where electricity network is available and three month where we need to develop the network to even less number of days. We believe it is the duty of all customers to pay on time and contribute to the development of the company and the sector as whole.

"MEDC is committed to provide the best services to its clients and hopes that in return customers will be committed to paying their bills on time. As a Government owned company we follow the collection process approved by the Authority of Electricity Regulation, and have the right to disconnect services in case of defaulting payments as per Sector Law. The collection procedure is critical to the company's continued improvement and expansion, and is an ongoing, important process for us" commented Al Abri.