The Parliament of the Maldives has passed an amendment bill that allows utility service providers to charge tenants instead of landlords. The amendment bill to the Utility Regulatory Authority Act passed with 57 votes in favour.
Parliamentarian Ibrahim Shareef proposed the amendment bill to solve the issues faced by customers due to utility service providers billing them at different times. The amendment proposes to protect the rights of both parties while also setting a specific window in which providers are allowed to bill their customers.
The amendment proposes to make it easier for customers to pay their bills. As such, the amendment bill states that utility meters can be registered to the customer who is using the service even if the meter is placed in a household that is registered under another person's name. The amendment will allow citizens, especially residents of Male’, to easily pay their utility bills and receive subsidies.
The Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Climate Change held discussions with the relevant authorities prior to approving the amendment bill.