A family of two living in a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai Marina pays approximately AED 1,100 (USD 300) per month for utilities, which annually adds up to AED 13,200 (USD 3,600). Half of this amount covers DEWA services, which includes water and electricity based on metre readings, while the other half is spent on waste disposal, bottled gas, internet and TV.
To reduce your water bills, it's a good idea to follow some simple rules. On average, two people use around 1,100 gallons per month. To decrease this volume and pay less, you can try:
Electricity consumption for two people during the summer period is around 1,300 kWh. Of this, 50% goes to the air conditioning, which runs for an average of 12 hours a day, and the remaining 50% is used by appliances like the washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator, gadgets, etc. To save on electricity, you can try:
When it comes to the air conditioning, it's best to keep the temperature at around 24°C, since reducing it by every degree increases energy consumption. Don't forget to clean the filters at least once a month. It's important to consider the area your air conditioner is designed to cool. For instance, if your AC is technically capable of cooling 323 sq. ft, and you want to cool 753 sq. ft, it will take more time to lower the temperature, and therefore, use more electricity.This approach can help you save about AED 108 (USD 30) on DEWA services, and over the course of a year, that's AED 1,300 (USD 360).You can also save on internet and TV services. Reach out to your provider and switch to a more affordable plan to save more money!
If you receive a bill that shows an unbelievable payment for electricity or water, don't panic, instead, investigate. First, before reaching out to DEWA, carefully review the bill you've been issued. Make sure you have all the necessary information: previous paid bills, your contract number, and cross-reference with the Smart Living panel and check the payment history for the last 13 months.
Importantly! Smart Living is a DEWA-based platform designed to help you understand your bills and track your payments. It sends you alerts about high water consumption and provides a comparative analysis based on consumption patterns in homes similar to yours.
If you do not find any errors or omissions in the payment and still believe that the bill is unreasonably high, you can file a complaint on the official website or in the DEWA app. Another option is to send an email to customercare@dewa.gov.ae or call 046019999. It usually takes three business days to resolve or receive a response. It is also possible that, for example, there was a technical failure and this is a DEWA error.
Most disputes often arise with water bills because property owners or tenants may not notice water leaks. For instance, a garden irrigation system might be leaking, and gallons of water seep into the soil unnoticed. There are also situations where a property owner is away, and the water supply system malfunctions, leading to a leak. You'll still have to pay this bill because the breakdown occurred due to the property owner's oversight, but to avoid such situations, you can contact DEWA to install a smart metre that will detect leaks and promptly notify you about them.
To save money on utility bills, it's essential to pay attention to your water and electricity consumption. Installing LED light bulbs, energy-efficient appliances, and aerators can significantly reduce your monthly expenses by approximately AED 108 (USD 30). This might seem like a small amount, but it adds up over the year, resulting in savings of around AED 1,300 (USD 360).
To prevent leaks that you might not even notice, it's a good idea to install a smart metre in your home. To do this, you can contact DEWA. If there's an error in your bills due to a technical mistake, which can happen, you can dispute it, and the payment will be recalculated. You can also save on internet and TV services by switching to a lower tariff, and making sure you only pay for what you actually use
