Iraq anti-corruption body proposes smart meters, sanctions for private generators

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity has recommended creating a joint security and service cell to regulate electricity distribution by private generators, according to a report seen by Iraqi outlets. The proposal calls for coordination between the ministries of electricity and petroleum and local administrations. Following inspections of a company under the Oil Ministry, the commission proposed penalties for operators who violate the rules, including fines, the suspension of fuel allocations and the replacement of non-compliant generators. Inspectors said fixed-amperage billing should be replaced with smart meters that measure consumption per subscriber. The report also urged the registration of unlicensed generators, on-site load assessments for new installations, and rules allowing outage hours to be deducted from monthly subscriber fees. It further called for measures to prevent the illegal sale of fuel. No further details on implementation or a timeline were immediately available.