Soaring temperatures and a hot summer ahead are being reflected in the high electricity bills of Jeddah residents who fear that the excessive use of air conditioners will rev up the already exaggerated cost of electricity depending on the size of the house.

“The electricity bill was for more than SR400 although we have only four rooms and a hall,” said Mazen Abdel Jawad, who usually pays SR200-300 a month.

Air conditioning units consume more than 80 percent of the electric bill, he said.

“The air conditioners are on throughout the day owing to the 40 degree and above temperatures,” he added but admits that other machines also consume energy such as the microwave, vacuum cleaner and iron.

“My salary of SR4,000 is not sufficient to pay such high utility bills. I am not sure how much higher the bill will go during Ramadan when the heat will be at its peak,” he said worriedly.

Energy expert Hassan Al-Raqqas advises that regular maintenance of air conditioners and cleaning the filters periodically will help decrease the bill, especially if the units are of high quality.

Al-Raqqas cautioned that all parts of the Kingdom are expected to witness very high temperatures this summer especially in the afternoons and residents need to take precautionary measures to beat the heat.