NEUC employees suspend operations

The employees of NEUC, one of the three power distribution service companies (DSPs), have suspended their operations in the South, saying they have not been paid their salaries.

NEUC, a subsidiary of local firm Debbas, has not been paying its employees their salaries due to financial problems. The company’s General Manager Carla Aoun said: “We sent a memo to all 1,000 of our employees stating that we will pay their dues for September within two weeks.”

A source close to service providers said that NEUC terminated its contracts with its two subcontractors, one in the southern suburbs and the second in Mount Lebanon. The two subcontractors are in charge of maintenance and collection but have not paid NEUC its dues. This hindered its ability to pay its employees their salaries.

Marie Tok, a representative of Electricité du Liban (EDL), said: “NEUC has not informed us that it has suspended work and if there are any violations of the contract we will send the company a warning.”

BUS, a subsidiary of BUTEC in charge of works in the North, will continue its operations as usual. Fady Abou Jaoude, General Manager of the company, said: “We are having some problems in cashing some of the money EDL owes us because they require upper management approval.” Despite these issues, BUS will continue its operations as the company is not facing financial issues, according to Abou Jaoude.

A source at KVA, the third service provider, which is operating in Beirut and Bekaa, said the company is working out its problems with EDL.