Article 18 of the Saudi Electricity Law
المادة 18 من نظام الكهرباء · الفصل الثامن: المخالفات والعقوبات
The article sets the penalties for violating the Electricity Law: suspension of the activity for up to a year, license revocation, and a fine of up to ten million riyals, with committee powers on daily fines, doubling, publication and refunds.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها أي نظام آخر، يعاقب من يخالف أيًّا من أحكام النظام أو اللوائح أو شروط الرخصة أو الإعفاء بواحدة أو أكثر من العقوبات الآتية:
أ- إيقاف مزاولة نشاط الكهرباء جزئيًّا أو كليًّا لمدة لا تتجاوز سنة.
ب- إلغاء الرخصة.
ج- غرامة لا تزيد على عشرة ملايين ريال.
2- يحدد مقدار الغرامة عن كل مخالفة ضمن حدها المنصوص عليه في النظام، وفق قواعد يصدرها المجلس، يراعى فيها طبيعة كل مخالفة وجسامتها، والظروف المشددة والمخففة لها.
3- للجنة المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام ما يأتي:
أ- فرض غرامة بما لا يتجاوز (10%) من قيمة المخالفة الأصلية عن كل يوم يستمر فيه المخالف في مخالفته بعد تبليغه بقرار اللجنة.
ب- مضاعفة الغرامة الموقعة على المخالف في حالة تكرار المخالفة نفسها، وتعد المخالفة مكررة إذا وقعت خلال (3) ثلاث سنوات من تاريخ ارتكاب المخالفة التي سبقتها.
ج- تضمين القرار الصادر بتحديد العقوبة النص على نشر منطوقه على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة محلية تصدر في مكان إقامته، فإن لم تكن في مقره صحيفة ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو نشره في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وآثارها، على أن يكون نشر القرار بعد تحصنه بمضي المدة المحددة نظاماً أو تأييده من المحكمة المختصة.
د- تضمين القرار الصادر بتحديد العقوبة النص على إلزام المخالف بإعادة المبالغ التي حصلها نتيجة المخالفة لأصحابها.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 18 explained in plain English
This article sets the penalties for violating the law, the regulations, or the conditions of the license or exemption, without prejudice to any more severe penalty in another law.
1- The main penalties, one or more of which may be imposed:
- Suspension of the electricity activity, partly or wholly, for a period not exceeding one year.
- Revocation of the license.
- A fine not exceeding SAR 10 million.
2- Setting the fine: the amount of the fine for each violation is set within its legal limit under rules the Council issues, which take into account the nature and gravity of the violation and the aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
3- Powers of the committee referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 19, a committee of five members formed by the Council that examines violations and imposes penalties:
- A daily fine not exceeding 10% of the value of the original violation for each day the violator continues after being notified of the committee's decision.
- Doubling the fine when the same violation is repeated. A violation is repeated if it occurs within 3 years of the date the previous violation was committed.
- Publication: providing in the decision that its operative part be published at the violator's expense in a local newspaper where he resides, or in the nearest region to him if there is no newspaper where he is based, or by any other suitable means, according to the type, gravity and effects of the violation. Publication takes place only after the decision becomes final by the lapse of the period set by law or is upheld by the competent court.
- Refunds: requiring the violator to return to their owners the sums he collected as a result of the violation.
Paragraph (5) of Article 19 provides that an objection to the committee's decisions is filed before the Administrative Court within 60 days of notification of the decision, and the objection does not suspend its execution. Because the period is fixed and execution does not stop, a person against whom a decision is issued is well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases early.
Practical example
The committee issued a decision fining an establishment in Riyadh for an irregular connection to the system, and it was notified, but it continued the violation for ten days. The committee may impose a fine not exceeding 10% of the value of the original violation for each of these days.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 18 of the Saudi Electricity Law
What is the maximum fine for violating the Electricity Law?
A fine not exceeding SAR 10 million, which may be combined with suspension of the activity or revocation of the license.
When is an electricity violation considered repeated?
If the same violation occurs within 3 years of the date the previous violation was committed, in which case the committee may double the fine.
Is the penalty decision published against the violator?
The committee may provide in the decision that its operative part be published at the violator's expense, according to the type and gravity of the violation, after the decision becomes final or is upheld by the competent court.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Electricity Violations and Penalties
- Article 17
The article lists violations of the Electricity Law, including operating without a license, tampering with an electricity meter, irregular connection, giving misleading information, and withholding necessary information.
يعد من مخالفات أحكام النظام القيام بأي من الأفعال الآتية: 1- القيام بنشاط كهربائي دون الحصول على رخصة أو إعفاء. 2- التقصير بالالتزام بأي قرار صادر من الهيئة فيم
- Article 19
The article covers amicable settlement of electricity disputes through the Authority, the violations committee and its formation, objecting to its decisions before the Administrative Court within 60 days, and the powers of inspectors.
1- عندما ينشأ أي نزاع في قطاع الكهرباء، يجوز لأطراف النزاع التقدم إلى الهيئة بطلب تسويته وديًّا بحسب ما تحدده اللوائح، ودون المساس بأي وسيلة أخرى لتسوية النزاعا
- Article 20
The article allows the Authority, in urgent cases and by decision of the Governor or his delegate, to order a violator to stop and remedy, suspend its activity or manage it temporarily, then refer the violation to the committee.
1- إذا خالف شخص أيًّا من أحكام النظام أو اللوائح أو شروط الرخصة أو الإعفاء، أو شرع في ذلك، يحق للهيئة في الحالات العاجلة والضرورية -بقرار يصدر من المحافظ أو من
- Article 21
The article makes anyone who tampers with an electricity meter or its accessories liable for all damage to the licensee's facility or third parties, including repair costs and compensation for lost benefit.
1- يكون مرتكب مخالفة العبث في عداد قياس الخدمة الكهربائية أو أي من ملحقاته؛ مسؤولاً عن جميع الأضرار التي لحقت بمرفق المرخص له، أو الغير، بما في ذلك تكاليف إصلاح
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.