MP Qabbani: Parliament should vote on cabinet’s electricity bill version

March 14 MP Mohammad Qabbani told Future News television on Wednesday that his Future Movement parliamentary bloc wants the parliament to cast a vote on the electricity plan that includes the amendments that the cabinet made during its September 7 session. (more…)

Thieves break into EDL center in Baakline el Shouf

Unidentified individuals broke into the Electricité du Liban center in Baakline el Shouf ( located on the road leading to the village of Ainbal) and stole files, computers and a safe, National News Agency (NNA) reported on Monday. (more…)

Hezbollah MP calls for declaring a state of emergency in Lebanon

Hezbollah MP Ali Ammar called on Saturday for declaring a state of emergency in Lebanon to solve the electricity crisis which he said is “threatening the lives” of citizens.

Ammar told al-Risala radio station that the cabinet should “act with seriousness” and hold an emergency session to discuss ways to solve power rationing. (more…)

Lebanon is booming but no end to power cuts

On a typical night out in Beirut, glitzy nightclubs thrum with revelers, tourists pack breezy seaside restaurants and the lights from brand-new, million-dollar skyscrapers dot the horizon. (more…)

Bassil sets end July as deadline for paying past-due water bills

Lebanon’s Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil on Saturday set end July as the deadline for politicians and public figures to pay their past-due water bills,” noting that he will be firm in cutting the water supply of those who don’t pay.

Bassil noted that the June-end deadline for politicians and public figures to pay (past-due) electric bills has ended (more…)

Reduced power subsidies lead to lower budget deficit in Lebanon

Lebanon’s budget deficit narrowed from a year earlier to 1.3 trillion Lebanese pounds ($868 million) in the first five months as the government spent less on subsidizing its main electricity generating company. (more…)

EDL and the Natural Gas Find Off Shore

By Ghassan Karam
“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” is a proverb that is obviously worthy of emulating in life especially when personal gifts are given on personal occasions. One must enjoy the gift instead of examining its value.

Electricity cuts for Lebanese who don’t pay bills

Energy Minister Gebran Bassil’s press office announced Wednesday that Electricite du Liban has started on Tuesday cutting the power supply to citizens, including politicians, whose dues have exceeded five million Lebanese pounds. The aim is to treat all Lebanese equally, and help Lebanon recover its debt. (more…)

Bassil: $150 million in annual electricity bills are not paid

Lebanon’s Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said following a meeting with Electricité Du Liban’s ( EDL) General Manager Kamal al-Hayek that $150 million worth of electricity bills are not paid per year and added that collection is a “priority.”
The minister added that all the Lebanese should pay their electric bills, regardless of their region. He also called for subsidizing fuel for the poor.
According to EDL sources, electricity bill collectors are afraid of going to Hezbollah and Amal neighborhoods for security reasons. Several collectors have been either killed or attacked whenever they tried to collect electric bills. These sources are saying that since the current FPM minister is allied with Hezbollah he should be able to put pressure on the group to pay their electricity bills