Article 23 of the Saudi Electricity Law

This article specifies when the Electricity Law begins to apply and its effect on the previous law:

First: the date it takes effect. The law takes effect 180 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, so it does not apply as soon as it is published.

Second: replacing the previous law. This law replaces the Electricity Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/56 dated 20/10/1426 AH and its amendments. The previous law and its amendments do not remain in force once this law takes effect.

Third: repeal. The law repeals provisions that conflict with it. This provision is wider than replacing the previous law, since it covers any conflicting provision whatever its source, without the article naming particular provisions.

This article is linked to Article 22, which requires the Minister and the Council to issue the Implementing Regulations, each within their own tasks, within 180 days of the date the law is published, to take effect from the date it takes effect. The law and its regulations therefore begin to apply at the same time.

The article does not state the date the law was published in the Official Gazette, so anyone who needs to fix the date it took effect precisely should consult the Official Gazette. This matters for contracts, licenses and events that occurred close to the date it took effect, since which of the two laws applies may depend on it. In such cases the party concerned is well advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative or commercial cases.