Khoury Gets Berri’s Support in Measures against Generator Owners
Caretaker Economy Minister Raed Khoury on Thursday announced that he has the support of Speaker Nabih Berri regarding the ministry’s decision to regulate the private power providers sector.
“The Speaker supports us in using all the available legal measures to impose the state’s authority and he is ready for any help,” said Khoury after talks with Berri in Ain el-Tineh.
“We’re not concerned with the escalation of generator owners, we’re only concerned with implementing the laws and we will act accordingly,” the minister added.
He also revealed that “850 fines have been issued over the past month and have been referred to the judiciary.”
Caretaker Justice Minister Salim Jreissati had on Wednesday issued a stern warning to neighborhood power generator providers, telling them that authorities would “confiscate” their generators should they stage another cut-off protest.
Providers had switched off their generators for two hours on Tuesday, plunging most Lebanese regions into darkness, to protest perceived maltreatment at the hands of authorities and security forces.
Authorities have been trying to implement a decree obliging providers to install meters for their subscribers amid an uproar over new tariffs and alleged technical difficulties.
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