Publish Date : 10-Jun-2015
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has organised an open meeting for its staff. The meeting discussed Law number 6 of 2015 on the protection of the electricity grid and public water system in the Emirate of Dubai, issued by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The law protects the electricity and water infrastructure and maintains its availability to respond to growing demand. The meeting was attended by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, and a large number of DEWA staff. At the meeting, 85 employees from different divisions across DEWA were named as judicial officers.
The law protects the Emirate’s electricity and water infrastructure from damages that that might occur to it, keeps the readiness of the general network to meet electricity and water demand, and ensures the quality of electricity and water services provided by DEWA and that they reach customers without interruption. The law is applicable at all stations, equipment, facilities, systems, service lines and supplements that DEWA owns or manages, and the communications network. This applies to all of Dubai, including special development zones, free zones and Dubai International Financial Centre.
“Today, we highlight the procedures for implementing a key legislation that has accompanied the development of Dubai Electricity & Water Authority since the early 1990s, which is Law number 2 of 1994 concerning protection of the general network of electricity and water services. This law was annulled by the comprehensive Law number 6 of 2015 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Represented by its technical and legal staff, DEWA was able to achieve the highest levels of protection for its service network, which kept developing and expanding across the Emirate, to keep up with the unprecedented urban development of the UAE in general and Dubai in particular. In dealing with its stakeholders, DEWA has adopted an approach that is characterised by justice, and legal legitimacy. This reflected positively on DEWA’s position as an established organisation with its management and legal systems, its organisational governance, and excellent and sustainable services,” said Al Tayer in his speech at the meeting.
“To build on this excellent approach in development and organisational governance that is based on revision and correction, DEWA has decided to re-issue the grid protection law to amend shortcomings that had occurred previously during implementation, while dealing with customers and stakeholders. Thus, Law number 6 of 2015 has been developed to be comprehensive in its framework, objectives, and tools. Its articles fully explain its legal scope, DEWA’s terms of reference, customer obligations and the obligations of property owners and tenants. Furthermore, the law clearly defines all types of violations and their respective penalties, and DEWA’s detailed compensation entitlements for the damages done to its properties, networks and extensions. It also clarifies the administrative measures which DEWA’s technical departments have the authority to take, and the regulations governing the initiation of these measures. The Law also authorises DEWA to take reconciliatory measures related to compensation, and fees imposed on violators according to the rules defined by the MD & CEO. The Law grants all stakeholders the ability to appeal the decisions, measures and procedures taken against them. These grievances are ultimately resolved by a special committee delegated by the CEO to this purpose. Moreover, Law number 6 introduces, for the first time, the judicial officer system, by which authority is invested in certain employees to prove the violations committed against the provisions of the Law, and all subsequent resolutions issued thereunder. These judicial officers may investigate, draft and issue records of evidence reports in collaboration with the police, if required,” added Al Tayer.
“Accordingly, DEWA has issued an administrative resolution dated 5 May 2015 to appoint 85 employees as judicial officers, based on nominations received from their respective divisional heads. The resolution clearly describes the tasks and responsibilities of judicial officers as stipulated by the Law, underlining the fact that DEWA judicial officers are prohibited from collecting any outstanding fines, fees or compensations payable to DEWA. Their responsibility is essentially related to providing evidence of violations of the law, as detailed in the violation form. The reports will later be sent to the Legal Affairs department for follow up with both the offender and Finance. We expect that the new measures and procedures pertaining to Law number 6 of 2015 will substantially contribute to achieving more protection to DEWA’s grid and facilities, and thus, more development and excellence in our performance. This can only be achieved through dedication and integrity in performing our duties, by every member in their respective area of specialisation,” concluded Al Tayer.
Go to previous page
