LEGISLATION WATCH- Tougher penalties for stealing electricity, failure to provide services under new legislative amendments: The House Legislative Committee approved changes to the Electricity Act designed to crack down on electricity company employees who either illegally provide connections to the power grid or refuse to install electricity connections, Al Shorouk reports. The changes would impose fines of EGP 10k-100k and prison sentences of at least six months on officials who aid in electricity theft, provide electricity-related services without a valid legal reason, or knowingly fail to notify authorities of such violations. Fines of EGP 20-100k or prison sentences of up to one year would also be imposed on officials who, for any illegitimate reason, refuse to provide electricity installations to entitled parties. The proposed amendments will now be passed on to the House general assembly for a final vote.

Also approved by a House committee yesterday: Changes to the Universities Act to allow the Higher Education Ministry to alter the teaching system when exceptional circumstances arise — such as the covid-19 pandemic.