EMRC urges electricity companies to prepare for winter weather

AMMAN — Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission (EMRC) Chief Commissioner Farouq Hiyari has called on electricity companies to ensure the continuity of the power supply over winter, the EMRC said on Saturday.

Hiyari urged the companies to ensure they are prepared to deal with winter weather, to reduce blackouts and fix them as promptly as possible.  

In a statement from the commission, Hiyari called on companies to open operation rooms and call centres to avoid power cuts.  

Electricity suppliers should work with the army, security agencies, the Civil Defence Department and the public works and municipal affairs ministries to open roads blocked by snow for maintenance teams when necessary.  

The commissioner asserted the need to increase workshops and training in the regions where heavier snow is expected in winter, noting that the commission will follow up to check compliance with the law and regulations.

Hiyari also urged people to contact the commission with any suggestions or complaints, asserting that the EMRC is ready to follow up on complaints with the concerned companies at all times.

The EMRC has recently conducted a drill in the southern region to ensure that the emergency rooms and call centres of the National Electricity and the Electricity Distribution Companies are ready for winter. 

The commission will conduct more drills to check that all electricity companies across the Kingdom are prepared, the EMRC chief said. 

Hiyari and 60 EMRC personnel have conducted inspection visits in the south of the Kingdom, including the Rashadiah transfer station which usually witnesses strong winds and heavy snow during the rainy season.

They also visited Aqaba Thermal Plant and other energy facilities in the southernmost governorate.