STELCO Urges Customers to Call 1545 for Billing Complaints Following Tariff Reduction

The State Electric Company (Stelco) has advised customers to contact its dedicated hotline, 1545, if they have any concerns or complaints regarding their electricity bills. The advisory comes in the wake of widespread public confusion over changes in billing following a government-initiated tariff reduction.

In a statement released by the utility company, Stelco confirmed that the electricity bills for May 2025 have been calculated using newly reduced tariff rates, as per the decision announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in May. Despite the revision, some customers—particularly in outer islands—have reported unexpectedly high bills this month.

Stelco began issuing the revised, lower-rate bills to households on June 1. However, many customers expressed dissatisfaction, believing their bills remained higher than expected. Addressing these concerns, Stelco explained that while the May bills reflect the reduced tariffs, the increase in amount for some customers is due to substantial discounts applied in April. Those earlier discounts, including Ramadan-related reductions and shorter billing periods, made April’s bills unusually low.

As a result, comparing May’s bill to April’s may not reflect the full impact of the new tariff rate, the company said. A more accurate picture emerges when comparing the current bill with those from the past three months, which includes two heavily discounted bills and one partial-cycle bill.

To ensure clarity and assist customers with accurate billing information, Stelco has urged affected consumers to reach out via the customer care hotline 1545. Additionally, Stelco Care services remain accessible online for customers seeking assistance without visiting physical offices.

The company reiterated its commitment to transparency and customer support, noting that all bills have been prepared in strict compliance with the new government policy aimed at easing the cost of living for Maldivian households.