Electricity and Gas Regulation Commission - Consumer Protection Associations - Sonelgaz Distribution - National Agency for the Promotion and Rationalization of Energy Use

(June 18, 2026) / Higher School of Hotel Management and Catering, Ain Benian

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and peace and blessings be upon the noblest of messengers,

• • Mr. The Wali of Algiers,
  • Mr. General Director of the Sonelgaz Group,
  • Mr. Representative of the Mediator of the Republic,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, representatives of Consumer Protection Associations,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, Chief Officials and Central Directors in the Energy and Trade sectors,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen, representatives of the Algerian Company of Electricity and Gas - Distribution,
  • Ladies and Gentlemen of the media,
  • Our distinguished guests,

Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

I am pleased to join you today in this important meeting organized by the Electricity and Gas Regulation Commission, and I would like at the beginning of my speech to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all organizers, partners, and actors who contributed to organizing this event, reflecting their shared commitment to promoting dialogue and consultation on issues related to serving citizens and improving public utilities.

This meeting is of paramount importance given the subject it addresses, which is consumer protection and enhancing the quality of public electricity and gas services, as it is one of the most prominent challenges and stakes that require the concerted efforts of all actors to ensure a modern and effective public service that meets the aspirations of citizens and keeps pace with development requirements.

Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen,

Consumer protection is not merely a legal or regulatory obligation, but rather a steadfast strategic choice that falls within the State's policy and its directions aimed at promoting public service and improving its quality. It also constitutes a fundamental axis at the core of the missions of the Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies, and one of the main priorities of the Electricity and Gas Regulation Commission and various sector institutions tasked with providing these vital services, foremost among them the Algerian Company of Electricity and Gas - Distribution.

In this context, the citizen remains at the center of all programs and procedures we adopt, as the primary goal of all efforts made. Therefore, ensuring their right to benefit from a public service characterized by quality, continuity, fairness, and transparency remains a firm commitment and a collective responsibility that admits no complacency, and requires continuous work to strengthen trust between the public utility and the citizen and to continuously elevate the level of performance and services provided.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The electricity and gas sector has witnessed remarkable development in recent years thanks to the joint efforts made by public authorities, the Regulation Commission, and operators in the sector, especially in improving relationships with subscribers and strengthening information and communication mechanisms.

In this regard, the Electricity and Gas Regulation Commission has been keen to enshrine the principles of transparency and consumer rights protection by enhancing communication and interaction mechanisms with citizens and consumer protection associations, in addition to ensuring the strict application of relevant legal and regulatory provisions. The Commission has also attached special importance to monitoring and evaluating the indicators of the quality of service provided, contributing to raising the level of performance, improving the handling of customer concerns, and responding to their expectations.

Sector operators, led by the Algerian Company of Electricity and Gas - Distribution, have also made considerable efforts to develop their services and bring them closer to citizens by adopting modern digital tools that have helped facilitate procedures and improve service quality. Many services are now available via digital platforms and electronic applications, allowing customers to view and pay their bills remotely, submit their requests, track their files, and report faults and outages easily and at any time.

The digitization of the public electricity and gas utility is one of the most important reforms the sector is undergoing, due to the improvements it brings to service quality, reduction of processing times, and enhancement of transparency, as well as its contribution to improving the monitoring of networks and technical interventions, which has positively impacted supply continuity and raised the level of service reliability.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today we stand on the threshold of the summer season, which annually witnesses a significant increase in demand for electrical energy due to the growing use of cooling and air conditioning equipment. In this context, the State, through the energy and renewable energies sector, has taken all necessary measures to enhance production, transmission, and distribution capacities, ensuring service continuity and meeting the growing demand under the best conditions.

However, the success of these efforts also remains linked to the extent of citizens' contribution to rationalizing energy consumption, given that the rational use of electricity is a fundamental factor in maintaining the balance between supply and demand and ensuring the continuity and quality of service for the benefit of all.

From this platform, I emphasize the importance of rationalizing energy consumption as a civic behavior and an economic and environmental necessity, and I renew the call to promote a culture of energy efficiency and responsible consumption across all segments of society. In this context, the Intersectoral Committee for Energy Management was recently installed as an advisory body bringing together various concerned partners and actors, aiming to enhance coordination and consultation to support the national policy for energy management through rationalizing consumption, improving energy efficiency, and promoting the use of renewable energies.

In conclusion, I renew my thanks to the Electricity and Gas Regulation Commission for organizing this meeting, and I commend the efforts of all partners and actors in the sector for their effective contribution to developing the public electricity and gas service, enhancing digitization, and improving communication with citizens. Our ministry will remain committed to continuing the path of modernization and upgrading, ensuring a more efficient, high-quality, and sustainable public service that responds to citizens' aspirations and keeps pace with the requirements of national development.

Thank you for your kind attention, and with this, I announce the official opening of this meeting and wish your work every success.

Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies

Dr. Mourad Adjal