4 genius DEWA bill hacks every Dubai resident should know

Time Out Dubai

4 days ago

We're all looking for ways to save a few dirhams and instead of reducing our spend on all things fun, doesn't it make more sense to save money elsewhere?
Alongside your rent or mortgage, one of your other monthly outgoings will be to DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority), the exclusive provider of electricity and water services in Dubai.
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Ever wondered how you can reduce your bill? Luckily for you, we have some top hacks straight from DEWA itself.
Everything to know about your DEWA bill
An example of an average DEWA bill (Credit: DEWA)
Each month, you'll receive a bill from DEWA charging you for your energy and water consumption, as well as waste and air conditioning.
If you're receiving your first bill or have never really studied it before, here's what to know.
Covering around six pages, the first page of the bill is a summary, while the rest shows you in detail just how much energy, water and other services you're using.
On the left-hand side, you'll see your information, with the summary of your charges on the right. DEWA covers the first section, followed by charges from Dubai Municipality for housing, sewerage and irrigation, as well as AC costs if your unit isn't chiller-free.
The following pages have a breakdown of each charge (Credit: DEWA)
The following pages are a breakdown of each, for example, you can see just how many kWh of electricity you've used and at what rate.
To pay the bill, you can scan the QR code on the bill, or log into your account on the DEWA app. If you're having issues, call customer care on 04 601 9999.
How to save money on your DEWA bill
(Credit: Supplied)
1) Use a Smart Living Dashboard
As it turns out, the keys to a cheaper bill are hiding in plain sight, but we're going to take a wild guess and say you're not making the most of them.
For starters, DEWA says using the Smart Living Initiative can literally tell you when you're using too much electricity or water, as well as where to cut down.
A DEWA spokesperson said: 'The Smart Living Initiative allows DEWA customers to monitor their daily, monthly and yearly consumption of energy and water.
The DEWA Smart Living dashboard should appear like this (DEWA)
'This data is presented on the Smart Living Dashboard in an easy-to-read format, allowing customers to track and manage their consumption trends, becoming more energy and water efficient and reduce their consumption.'
2) Consider the 'Away Mode'
The next hack is to use the dashboard's 'away' mode, which will keep a *very* close eye on your consumption when you're not at home.
Especially in summer, the organisation urged that making smart choices and using the feature could reduce wastage and ultimately bring down that bill.
DEWA explained: 'This is a separate tool that allows users to receive alerts about unusual consumption patterns when they are not home.
'This feature ensures that any sudden spikes in energy and water use are promptly addressed, preventing unnecessary costs and waste.'
So whether you've left the taps running or your lights are costing you a fortune while you're at work, this eagle eye will sort that right out. Additionally, be sure to close valves and inspect for leaks before you travel.
(Credit: Adobe)
3) Look out for a high usage alert
The second feature might be of use less often, but could save you from an expensive bill now and again. What is it you ask? It's the 'high water usage' alert.
It might not have the most glamourous name, but this notification could be the first to tell you you're spending more than usual, or alert you to a water leak.
You can check you're receiving alerts on the DEWA app (Credit: DEWA)
Available for free to everyone with a smart meter DEWA stats that this service proactively detects any unusual rises yet issues early alerts to examine internal connections and stop leaks.
This allows leaks to be resolved within minutes of their occurrence, which prevents water wastage and damage to property or premises.
4) Learn more with an assessment
Finally, you might be thinking that you've done everything you can do reduce your bills, and can't see where you could cut costs further.
Enter the DEWA consumption assessment, which will show you *exactly* where you're using the most every month, alongside some tips on how to optimise it.
You can download the DEWA app and find step by step instructions to the consumption assessment (Credit: DEWA)
All you need to do is fill out a brief form and DEWA does all the work for you, and even shows you how you compare to similar households.
Giving you clear areas to work on, all you need to do is take the advice and hey presto, you're saving money (you're welcome).
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