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Article 20 of the Saudi Electricity Law

المادة 20 من نظام الكهرباء · الفصل الثامن: المخالفات والعقوبات

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.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

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 ينيبه- أن تتخذ في حقه واحداً أو أكثر مما يأتي:

أ- إلزامه بالتوقف عن المخالفة.

ب- إلزامه بإصلاح الوضع واتخاذ الإجراءات التصحيحية اللازمة لمعالجة نتائج المخالفة، فإن تأخر فللهيئة أن تقوم بذلك على نفقته.

ج- إيقاف مزاولته لنشاط الكهرباء جزئيًّا أو كليًّا بما لا يتجاوز (6) ستة أشهر.

د- اتخاذ ما يلزم لإدارة نشاط الكهرباء مؤقتاً لمدة محددة لا تتجاوز (6) ستة أشهر قابلة للتجديد مرة واحدة، بما يكفل ضمان استمرار ذلك النشاط، وفقاً للقواعد والإجراءات التي تحددها اللوائح.

2- ينفذ القرار الصادر في هذا الشأن من تاريخ إبلاغ المخالف به، على أن تحيل الهيئة المخالفة خلال (10) عشرة أيام عمل من تاريخ صدور القرار إلى اللجنة -المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (التاسعة عشرة) من النظام- للنظر فيها، وعلى اللجنة أن تصدر قراراً في هذا الشأن خلال مدة لا تتجاوز (20) عشرين يوم عمل من تاريخ إحالته إليها، فإن لم تبت اللجنة خلال هذه المدة، أو لم يقبل صاحب الشأن بما تقرره، جاز له الاعتراض أمام المحكمة الإدارية وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية المتبعة في هذا الشأن.

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 20 explained in plain English

This article gives the Authority urgent tools to deal with violations before the committee decides on them.

When are they used? When a person violates any provision of the law, the regulations, or the conditions of the license or exemption, or begins to do so, and the case is urgent and necessary. The decision is issued by the Governor or his delegate.

Possible measures (one or more):

  1. Requiring the violator to stop the violation.
  2. Requiring the violator to remedy the situation and take corrective measures to deal with the consequences of the violation. If it is slow to do so, the Authority may do it at the violator's expense.
  3. Suspending the violator's electricity activity, partly or wholly, for no more than 6 months.
  4. Managing the electricity activity temporarily for a period not exceeding 6 months, renewable once, so as to ensure the activity continues, under the rules of the regulations.

Execution, referral and objection:

  • The decision takes effect from the date the violator is notified of it.
  • Within 10 working days of the decision, the Authority refers the violation to the committee referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 19, the five-member committee formed by the Council to examine violations.
  • The committee must issue its decision within no more than 20 working days of the referral.
  • If the committee does not decide within this period, or the person concerned does not accept what it decides, he may object before the Administrative Court in accordance with the legal procedures.

The urgent measures are temporary by nature, limited by short periods and by later review by the committee and then the court. A person against whom an urgent decision is issued is well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases to follow the deadlines.

Practical example

The Authority found that a distribution licensee in a certain region was running a station in a way that threatens residents' safety. The Governor issued an urgent decision requiring it to stop the violation and remedy the situation, the decision took effect from the date it was notified, and the Authority then referred the violation to the committee within 10 working 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 20 of the Saudi Electricity Law

Can the electricity regulatory authority suspend a company's activity immediately?

In urgent and necessary cases, a decision of the Governor or his delegate may suspend the activity, partly or wholly, for no more than 6 months.

What happens after the urgent decision?

The Authority refers the violation to the committee within 10 working days, and the committee must decide within 20 working days; otherwise an objection may be made before the Administrative Court.

Can the Authority manage the electricity activity in place of the violator?

Yes, temporarily for a period not exceeding 6 months, renewable once, so as to ensure the activity continues under the regulations.

Articles this article refers to

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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.