Al-Riydah newspaper

I guess everyone received an electric shock when the new electricity tariffs were announced. It is high time we became responsible when it comes to electricity consumption. My advice to everyone is to sit with their family members and think about ways to reduce consumption. Since the breadwinner will, undoubtedly, be the only one responsible for paying utility bills, including electricity bills, he should educate his family members about the best way to efficiently use electricity.

Unfortunately, many families are careless when it comes to using energy. This should now change because of the new increased tariffs. If families do not start to rationalize the use of electricity, they will find it difficult to meet their other financial needs, as the careless use of electricity will cost them a lot of money. The ball is in their court.

I am sure that some segments of society, especially those that have a fixed monthly income, will face difficulty in making ends meet if they do not set their priorities right and organize their spending.

The new tariffs will make many people stop wasting power. We should also look at the big picture here and understand that our consumption patterns have resulted in a lot of economic consequences. We have to realize that the new tariffs have come at the right time. We need to change our negative behavior when it comes to using electricity.

The rationalization of electricity will make our economy more economically and environmentally sustainable and help us avoid the risks posed by the fluctuations in the price of oil. We all have to act responsibly and try our best to change our lifestyles and learn the importance of power saving.

The concerned authorities need to launch awareness campaigns to educate the public about the best ways to be responsible when it comes to energy consumption. I hope that the Citizen Account Program, which the government has launched to protect Saudis against the expected direct and indirect impact of economic reforms, will financially support families and enable them to pay their electric bills.