Residents of Sharjah living in freehold properties will have their electricity fees reduced by almost 40 per cent, the emirate’s electricity and water authority (Sewa) announced on Wednesday. More than 50,000 Sewasubscribers will benefit from the reduction, that will be backdated from January 1 and that was announced following orders from Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. Under the new scheme, residents living in freehold housing or properties owned by non-Emiratis will pay 28 fils per kilowatt down from 45 fils per kW – representing a 37.7 per cent decrease. Dr Rashid Al Leem, chairman of Sewa, praised the move, saying it stemmed from Sheikh Sultan’s aim to maintain the social stability of expatriate families in Sharjah. He said 90 per cent of Sewa subscribers were already being charged the reduced amount after updating their information with the authority. The move follows the electricity fee reduction announced by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority. Fewa reduced their tariff to 45 fils per kW for residents living in freehold properties too. Some 35,000 are said to benefit from the new rate. The reduction will likely bring relief to those living in large villas in Sharjah, who last year said the addition of VAT to their utility bills had <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/uae/vat-in-uae-residents-say-tax-on-water-and-electricity-will-add-to-rising-utility-bills-1.674562">caused them to double</a>. <strong>_______________</strong> <strong>Read more:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/vat-in-uae-water-and-electricity-bills-to-be-subject-to-5-1.674175">VAT in UAE: Water and electricity bills to be subject to 5%</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/exclusive-sharjah-s-utility-provider-targets-electricity-self-sufficiency-by-2021-1.683262">Sharjah's utility provider targets electricity self-sufficiency by 2021</a></strong>