Kuwait will take legal action against excessive electricity consumption as the country braces for the sweltering summer months when energy use typically surges.
The Ministry of Electricity has recently observed an “unusual increase” in electrical loads across several areas, raising suspicions of unlawful practices, according to ministry spokesperson Fatima Hayat.
The ministry “will not hesitate to take legal action against any entity or individual proven to be involved in excessive electricity consumption through unlicensed activities that affect the stability of the country’s electrical system,” she said in media remarks.
Authorities have launched a large-scale campaign in the Al Wafra residential area, part of Al Ahmadi governorate, where nearly 100 houses were found to have exceptionally high electricity consumption rates.
The ministry suspects that electricity may be used for unauthorized activities, including possible cryptocurrency mining.
An in-depth technical analysis revealed that the consumption patterns in these houses showed no typical variation between day and night or across seasons.
Instead, consistently high consumption was recorded throughout the day — an indication of intensive, non-stop operation of devices and equipment.
According to the ministry, some houses in Al Wafra recorded usage exceeding 100,000 kilowatts, which is 20 times higher than the typical consumption of neighboring households.