Electricity prices for consumers have not increased since January 2013, Minster of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said Sunday in a statement. Parliament must approve any increase in electricity tariffs, he said, adding that the government is conscious of country's different economic classes and will keep the poor in mind when considering price increases. The statement, from the ministry's official website, said any complaints about bills should be directed to the companies providing the service – not the government. State-owned Al-Ahram reported last year, however, that electricity fees increased in February 2013 for the second time in a matter of months. The consumption of the category of 200 kilowatts per hour increased by 4.4% at the time. Over the past year, repeated electricity cut offs and increasing tariffs have sparked protests, during which dissatisfied citizens banded together to pay their bills in change as an expression of dissatisfaction, Al-Borsa reported. The ministry could not be reached for further comment.
