Title: LFTIT Denies Increase in Water and Electricity Bills, Affirms Commitment of Regional Companies to Previous Rates
Follow-up
Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has entered the debate regarding the significant increase in water and electricity bills following the implementation of the regional multi-service companies system in four regions of Morocco. The minister denied these claims, emphasizing that the established rates have not changed and have been maintained according to the previous methodology used by former distributors.
During a session of oral questions in the House of Representatives, Laftit confirmed that the ministry is monitoring all observations expressed by citizens regarding the regional companies. He stressed that the rise in bills in some cases does not reflect a change in rate but is linked to issues in meter readings and consumption estimates by previous distributors, particularly in remote or low-density areas.
The minister clarified that the regional companies are required to read meters accurately and rely on actual consumption rather than estimates, which should reflect more accurate billing. He also highlighted that these companies are open to receiving citizen complaints and responding to inquiries quickly and effectively.
Laftit disclosed that the regional companies received the infrastructure as it was from former distributors, noting that one of the goals of the reform is to enhance investments in the distribution sector. He mentioned an investment program valued at 253 billion dirhams aimed at this purpose, with approximately 32% of it implemented during the first five years.
The minister added that the Ministry of Interior has accompanied the stages of establishing these companies, supervising management contracts, transferring assets and employees, and ensuring continuity of service without interruption or disturbances. He affirmed that all rights and privileges of the transferred employees have been respected.
He explained that the management contracts were implemented between October 1 and November 15, 2024, in the regions of Souss-Massa, Casablanca-Settat, the East, and Marrakech-Safi, while they became effective in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region starting June 1, 2025. He indicated that other regions will see the establishment of similar companies before the end of 2025.
Laftit added that the Ministry of Interior has ensured the presence of regional and provincial representations for the new companies and has also undertaken the transfer of contracts and agreements that were established with the previous distributors to ensure continuity in service delivery.
He concluded that these measures have contributed to achieving an organized and disruption-free transition in managing water and electricity services, explaining that the ministry has created, in partnership with local authorities, local development companies to coordinate efforts, ensure coherence among projects, and achieve spatial equity and efficiency in managing resources.
