Egypt's Ministry of Electricity pushes new meter policies to curb theft and replace aging prepaid meters

The Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy is expanding the deployment of "meter‑ghafir" (aggregate meters) to monitor whole buildings, detect non‑technical electricity theft and reduce multi‑billion‑pound losses. The smart meters are equipped with SIM cards for real‑time data transmission, and the cost of purchase and installation is placed on the property owner or occupants.

Separately, the Electricity Engineering Department of the Bahira Electricity Distribution Company warned that standard prepaid (card) meters have a limited lifespan of 10‑15 years. After this period the devices suffer reduced processor efficiency, card‑reader wear and battery failure, which can trigger service interruptions and fines. Consumers are advised to request an official inspection and replacement to avoid penalties.