Article 8 of the Saudi Electricity Law

This article requires certain categories of facilities to secure a backup source of electric power, subject to three controls:

• It must be at the facility's own expense.
• Its capacity must not be less than the minimum needed in emergency cases.
• It must be in accordance with the conditions of the Saudi Building Code.

The facilities required to do so:

1. Health facilities designated by decision of the Minister of Health in coordination with the Authority, vaccine warehouses, and blood banks.
2. The main sewage pumping and treatment stations of cities.
3. Receiving and transmitting stations and main telecommunications exchanges of licensed bodies, and official radio and television stations.
4. Airports, important and sensitive buildings of government bodies, and places those bodies designate among those under their supervision, in coordination with the Authority.
5. Factories and cold and frozen food warehouses designated by decision of the competent Minister in coordination with the Authority.
6. Atomic energy and radiation technology facilities.
7. Other facilities designated by decision of the Council.

Note that the obligation covers some categories only if they are designated by decision, such as health facilities, factories and food warehouses. Not every factory is therefore bound by this article alone, only those designated by decision of the competent Minister in coordination with the Authority.

Article 9 follows and defines the emergency cases mentioned here as any incident beyond the reasonable control of the transmission or distribution licensee that results in a partial or total power outage, for technical or other reasons.