Article 19 of the Saudi Electricity Law
المادة 19 من نظام الكهرباء · الفصل الثامن: المخالفات والعقوبات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 النزاعات تنص عليها الاتفاقيات السارية بين أطراف النزاع.
2- يتولى النظر والفصل في مخالفات أحكام النظام واللوائح وشروط الرخصة أو الإعفاء، وإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في النظام، لجنة -أو أكثر- تشكل بقرار من المجلس لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للتجديد، من خمسة أعضاء، على أن يكون من بينهم اثنان من المختصين في الشريعة أو الأنظمة، وخبير في أنشطة الكهرباء، ويحدد القرار من يتولى رئاسة اللجنة على أن يكون من المختصين في الشريعة أو الأنظمة، وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية على الأقل، وتكون مسببة.
3- تحدد قواعد عمل اللجنة -المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة- وإجراءاتها ومكافآت أعضائها بقرار من المجلس.
4- يصدر المجلس الضوابط الخاصة بضبط مخالفات النظام واللوائح وشروط الرخصة أو الإعفاء وإثباتها.
5- يكون الاعتراض على قرارات اللجنة -المنصوص عليها في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة- أمام المحكمة الإدارية -وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية المتبعة في هذا الشأن- خلال (60) ستين يوماً من تاريخ الإبلاغ بالقرار، ولا يترتب على الاعتراض وقف تنفيذ القرار.
6- يتولى مفتشون -يصدر بتحديدهم قرار من المحافظ- مجتمعين أو منفردين ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام، والتحقيق فيها، وإثباتها، ويكون من صلاحياتهم الاطلاع على دفاتر وسجلات المخالف، والحصول على صورة من الوثائق الثبوتية ذات العلاقة.
7- للهيئة -عند اللزوم- الاستعانة بالجهات المختصة بما في ذلك الجهات الأمنية في حالة الضبط، أو لتنفيذ أي قرار يصدر في حق المخالف.
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 19 explained in plain English
This article brings together the procedural provisions for resolving disputes and examining violations in the electricity sector:
1- Amicable settlement: when any dispute arises in the electricity sector, its parties may apply to the Authority to settle it amicably as the regulations provide, without prejudice to any other means of settling disputes provided for in the agreements in force between them. Settlement is therefore an optional route that does not cancel what the parties agreed.
2- The violations committee: violations are examined, decided and penalties imposed by one or more committees formed by decision of the Council:
- Its term is 3 years, renewable, and it has 5 members.
- Among them are two specialists in Sharia or law, and an expert in electricity activities.
- Its chair is one of the specialists in Sharia or law.
- Its decisions are by at least a majority and are reasoned.
The Council issues by decision the committee's working rules, procedures and members' remuneration, and issues the controls for detecting and recording violations.
3- Objection: an objection to the committee's decisions is made before the Administrative Court within 60 days of notification of the decision, and the objection does not suspend execution of the decision.
4- Inspectors: they are designated by decision of the Governor, and, jointly or individually, detect violations, investigate them and record them. They may examine the violator's books and records and obtain copies of the relevant supporting documents.
5- Assistance: where necessary, the Authority may seek the help of competent bodies, including security bodies, in detection or in carrying out any decision issued against the violator.
Article 18 comes before it and sets the penalties this committee imposes, and Article 20 follows and permits the Authority urgent measures, after which it refers the violation to this committee. Because the objection 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 without delay.
Practical example
A small company in Jeddah was notified of a committee decision fining it for breaching the conditions of its exemption. If it wants to object, it has 60 days from the date of notification to object before the Administrative Court, bearing in mind that the objection does not suspend execution of the decision.
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 19 of the Saudi Electricity Law
How long is the period to object to a decision of the electricity violations committee?
60 days from the date of notification of the decision, before the Administrative Court.
Does an objection suspend execution of the penalty decision?
No. The objection does not suspend execution of the decision.
Can an electricity dispute be settled amicably?
The parties to a dispute may apply to the Authority to settle it amicably as the regulations specify, without prejudice to the means of settlement in the agreements in force between them.
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 18
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.
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
- 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.