MUSCAT: Smart digital meters will help to solve the problem of estimated meter readings, according to His Excellency Dr. Mansoor Al Hinai, Chairman of Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR).

Addressing a press conference on Monday, following growing complaints by citizens over inflated high electricity bills, Al Hinai said citizens will soon have a choice between remote meters or prepaid meters. “There is an official trend to switch to digital meters and the companies are currently working on implementing it, in order to solve the problem of estimated meter readings,” he said.

“Citizens will have a choice between remote reading meters or prepaid meters, considering that this is a radical solution to the problem of discretionary readings,” Al Hinai said.

Meanwhile, the APSR Chief said the authority will revaluate the bills for the month of May and June. “The bills for the months of May and June will be recalculated, and in case there is an increase in the bill, the excess amount will be deducted from the bill of the following month,” he said.

“The number of complaints received by the authority due to high electricity bills ranged from 5,000 to 7,000,” Al Hinai informed.

“There will be a delay in the issuance of the July invoice due to the implementation of the decision issued on the structure of the new tariff. We assure those who paid their bills before implementing the decision, their statements will be reconsidered,” he added.