The Power "Saga" Ends

A continuation of my previous post...
I have finally completed the daunting task of getting the electricity and water transferred into my name.

In the last post, I had completed the step at the Municipality and was calling AADC (Al Ain Distribution Company) to read the meter.

So, I called to have the meter read and was instructed to wait to receive 2 text messages. I got the first message on June 23 and the second on June 24. I have no idea what either of them say since both are in Arabic. 

On June 25, I take the paper from the Municipality and the 2 text messages to the AADC branch on Khalifa Street (the most friendly of the branches, I'm told). I wait my turn and finally am called to the desk. I give the man the letter and my phone to show the 2 text messages. He asks for my rental agreement. I explain that the Municipality kept the rental agreement and gave me this letter. He tells me that he can't input the information without the rental agreement. I explain again I don't have the rental agreement that the Municipality kept it and told me I only needed this letter. The man explains again he can't input the information without it and tells me to go to the "Main" building across from Jimi Mall and ask to speak to his boss, Yasser Al Amri, but that they have already closed for the day since it is after 3pm. 

So, the next morning, I get permission to leave school and go to AADC to get this taken care of. I get there and tell the security guard what I need and that I was told to see Yasser Al Amri. He asks for my ID and gives me a pass to go to the next door and go see this man. When I finally locate his office, I am informed that his is not there but in a meeting. So, I head back to the security desk. Another man asks me what I need and I explain to him. He goes off and speaks to someone else and comes back about 5 minutes later and tells me to take a number and wait. 

Finally, my number is called and this nice Arabic woman is extremely helpful. She takes all of my information and tells me that it will be a 1000aed deposit ($271.74) and then the usage of 1540.30aed ($418.56). While this may sound high to begin with, keep in mind that this is the usage from September to June. So for 10 months, the power bill was approximately $42 American dollars per month. That never happened when I lived in the US. 

So before I left, I asked if I would get a text message to tell me how much the bill was for the month. She said "No, just come in once a month and pay." So, I guess that is one more thing to remember. 

Transferring Electricity to my name

Ok, so now that I have lived here since September, I have decided it's time to have the electricity put into my name. One would think that this would be a simple, painless experience. I'm here to tell you that is NOT the case. 

A month ago, I went to ADEC to get a letter stating that I work for them and a copy of a lease to give to the electricity company. After going to ADEC 6 times in 3 weeks, I finally got the letter I needed, so I thought. I was told that I needed to take this letter to the Al Ain Municipality and I would get another letter that would go to the electric company. Oh, and they close at 2pm. 

School was dismissed at 1pm, so I think this will be a great time to go and get my letter. 

I arrived at the Municipality and give my letter, written entirely in Arabic, to the man at the Information Desk. He says go through those doors to counter 36. I go through the doors and another man looks at my paper and he says "counter 35 or 36". I ask if I need a number because the others get were getting a number. He says "No, just wait over there." Now that may seem pretty simple to those of us who grew up in the USA. Lines are normal and we know how to stay in line and we are respectful of those who arrive before us. Here, NOT the case. 

So, I sit and wait and watch numerous people just walk to the counter with no regard to those of us already waiting. Finally, there seems to be some semblance of a line and as we all sit in the line, we begin to move seats to show we are next. Basically, like musical chairs while waiting for the man we need to see. 

Finally, it's my turn. I give the man my letter. He looks at it and says "This page doesn't have your name on it" (the contract page). So, I smile and say "Well, just write my name there". He laughs and says "It has to be typed." So, now I start to get nervous thinking I will have to go back to ADEC. I tell him it took me 3 weeks to get that letter and he says he will ask his colleague. Thankfully for me, I am not the first person this has happened to. The other man tells me I need to see Mr. Masalem Al Amri and he writes a note on my letters. He tells me where to go and off I go to find this other man. 

Well, NOT so simple. The place he said go, is not where I need to be. So, this other guy who is kind of like a "gopher" at an office tells me to go somewhere else. So, I tell him to show me. Directions here are not always good especially when someone may know 2 or 3 languages. So, this guy walks me down the stairs and around to some more offices where the man I am apparently looking for is not working. So, he asks someone else and the new guy in a kandoura says to copy my ID. So finally, I think I am in business. The "gopher" takes my ID and tells me to sit. So I sit and sit and sit. Another man asks if I need help and I say "I was told to sit here and wait." He says, "OK" and leaves. So, I continue to sit. Finally, the "gopher" comes back with my ID and tells me to just wait. After about 30 more minutes, the man in the kandoura comes out of the office and says "Here. Take this to the Electric Company."

So, I have the letter and I will pray that when I go to the Electric Company I will have all of the necessary documents. 

Now, I must call the Electric Company and have them come read the meter and send me a text message before I can go and pay the bill. So this adventure will be continued....