Egyptian Member of Parliament, Ahmed Al-Singidy, has submitted an interrogation request to the House of Representatives, targeting the Minister of Electricity and Energy. The request, filed on October 6, 2026, concerns the minister's handling of the code meter crisis and its impact on citizens' ration cards. Al-Singidy, a member of the Planning and Budget Committee, cited Article 130 of the Egyptian Constitution and Article 216 of the House of Representatives' internal regulations.
The interrogation request comes after 59 MPs submitted inquiries regarding the code meter crisis during the previous parliamentary session. According to Al-Singidy, the Energy Committee discussed these inquiries in the presence of the head of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company, who acknowledged that he was not authorized to make decisions to resolve the crisis. The committee recommended that the Minister of Electricity appear before the committee by June 30, but the minister failed to attend.
Al-Singidy criticized the minister's absence, stating that it undermines the parliament's authority and disrupts cooperation between the legislative and executive branches. He also expressed concerns about the multiple penalties imposed on citizens due to construction-related violations, including high fees for consuming electricity through code meters. The MP argued that these fees exceed the actual cost and the citizens' ability to pay.
Furthermore, Al-Singidy objected to the government's decision to link code meters to the cancellation of ration cards, describing it as a violation of citizens' rights to subsidized goods. He cited Article 53 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality, and Article 79, which ensures the right to food. The MP argued that linking electricity services to ration cards is an abuse of power and undermines the social aspect of state policies.
Al-Singidy requested that the interrogation be discussed in the first upcoming plenary session and that the Minister of Electricity be obligated to attend and respond to the inquiries. He also called for the immediate halt of code meters, the cancellation of related penalties, and the restoration of ration cards to affected citizens without requiring them to submit complaints.
The MP emphasized that his actions are part of the parliamentary oversight tools to address the code meter crisis, given the increasing number of citizen complaints and the inadequate response to parliamentary demands. He stressed the need for the government to address the concerns of citizens and ensure that their rights are protected.
The crisis of code meters has been a contentious issue in Egypt, with many citizens expressing concerns about the high costs and the impact on their ration cards. The government's decision to link code meters to ration cards has been criticized for being punitive and for undermining the social safety net. The interrogation request by Al-Singidy is seen as a significant development in the ongoing debate over the issue.
Key points
- Egyptian MP Ahmed Al-Singidy files interrogation request against Minister of Electricity over code meter crisis and ration card issues.
