The energy ministry plans to impose a four-month limit on the use of the country’s universal electricity supply service by black-listed household and business consumers who have been shunned by suppliers over payment failures.

The ministry has already forwarded a draft of its plan to all electricity suppliers for comments, by the end of this week, following a short extension, before it finalizes the revised service rules.

At present, black-listed consumers no longer accepted by electricity suppliers can rely on the universal electricity supply service for unlimited periods.

Provided collectively – by law – by the electricity market’s top five suppliers, based on market share, the universal electricity supply service has grown to become a key supplier.

According to most recent related data provided by RAAEY, the the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Environment, and Water, the universal electricity supply service served 210,415 power meters in May. This is nearly ten times over the total of roughly 22,500 power meters served a decade ago.