The terms and phrases mentioned below – wherever they appear in this Regulation – shall have the meanings specified next to each, unless the context requires otherwise:

• The Ministry: Ministry of Energy.

• The Minister: Minister of Energy.

• The Authority: Water and Electricity Regulatory Authority.

• The Council: Board of Directors of the Authority.

• The Law: Electricity Law.

• The Regulation: This Implementing Regulation concerning the tasks assigned to the Ministry as stated in the Law.

• Energy: All types of hydrocarbon energy and electrical energy produced from conventional, renewable, and nuclear sources.

• The Consumer: Any person supplied with electrical service for personal consumption.

• Dual Production: The simultaneous production of electricity and desalinated water or steam or both.

• Electricity Activity: An activity carried out by a person or intended to be carried out in the field of electricity, including: electricity generation, dual production from any source of energy, electricity transmission, distribution, trading, retail sales, major buyer activity, and district cooling.

• The Licensee: A person holding a valid license or exemption.

• The Electricity Market: A situation in which the sale and purchase of electricity are governed by free market factors, where the price is subject to the law of supply and demand.

• Trading: Purchasing electricity from a Licensee for the purpose of selling it to another Licensee or to a large consumer, or importing it from outside the Kingdom and exporting it from it.

• Electricity Sector Integration System: A system operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy with the participation of entities working in the electricity sector and relevant concerned parties to coordinate efforts towards achieving the policies and plans of the electricity sector.

• Databases: Information bases, documents, statistical data, and technical information related to the electricity sector.

If the Ministry deems that any licensee possesses information that the Ministry considers necessary for the application of the Law concerning the tasks of the Ministry and this Implementing Regulation, the licensee must provide this information within a reasonable timeframe specified by the Ministry. If the licensee is unable to provide this information as requested by the Ministry, within the specified timeframe, or in the specified manner or form, they must provide the Ministry with justifications for this and identify any alternative information available that may meet the Ministry's requirements. The Ministry may take one of the following two actions:

• • Accept the alternative information provided in the response while retaining the right to require the licensee to submit the originally requested information at a later date.

• • Reject the justifications for not providing the information within the specified period or any additional period set by the Ministry, and mandate the submission of the required information within the specified period or any other additional period determined by the Ministry.

Without prejudice to what is required by National Security in terms of confidentiality, the Ministry may allow the public, in a manner it deems appropriate, to access the databases for the electricity sector, which include the following:

• 1 – A copy of the Electricity System, this Implementing Regulation, and any amendments that may occur to them.

• 2 – Royal Orders, Decisions of the Council of Ministers, and government circulars related to the electricity sector.

• 3 – Decisions related to the electricity sector issued by the Minister or his delegate.

• 4 – Approved strategies for the electricity sector.

• 5 – The long-term plan for electricity activities, energy mix, expected energy demand, and its periodic updates.

• 6 – Studies and research, and approved development programs for the electricity sector.

• 7 – Periodic reports for the electricity sector issued by the Ministry or relevant authorities.

• 8 – Technical and economic data for the electricity system, including but not limited to, data on the capacities of power generation stations, transmission and distribution systems, consumption, system economics, and its periodic updates.

• 9 – Any other information that the Ministry deems appropriate to make available to the public.

The Ministry may, for the purpose of managing exceptional cases, request operational data, data regarding the exceptional case, and data for the purpose of support on a regular basis. Those whom the Ministry deems necessary must provide this information within the timeframe specified by the policies, strategies, and plans approved by the Ministry.

The Minister may, by decision, exclude information from the databases referred to in Article (3) of this Regulation, if the Ministry deems, at its discretion, that the inclusion of this information may be harmful to the public interest or contrary to the objectives of the Law.

The Ministry sends notices regarding the decisions it issues in a manner it deems appropriate, in order to achieve their purpose.

The Ministry is responsible for preparing policies and strategies for the electricity sector in light of the state's policies and directives, aiming to achieve economic growth and community welfare, without prejudice to the competencies of other entities. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• 1 – Providing electrical service to the cities, governorates, and villages of the Kingdom, ensuring fairness without discrimination according to the approved plan for delivering electrical service.

• 2 – Supporting the electricity sector and overcoming the challenges it may face.

• 3 – Addressing exceptional cases, when a situation or threat occurs in the Kingdom – or is about to occur – that affects fuel or electricity supplies, including the use of exceptional powers to control electricity resources and fuel stock with the licensees, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

• 4 – Ensuring the security and reliability of fuel and network supplies, the quality of service delivery at the lowest possible cost, and enhancing the efficiency of the electricity system in coordination with the Authority.

• 5 – Establishing a reliable infrastructure that supports maximizing economic benefits, promoting local content growth, localizing products and services, creating jobs, and accommodating various energy sources to achieve the optimal energy mix, and connecting with other countries.

• 6 – Achieving a better level of environmental compliance, including reducing the carbon footprint in the electricity sector.

• 7 – Achieving the optimal energy mix for electricity production in the Kingdom, including the introduction of renewable energy sources, high-efficiency gas-fired power plants, and reducing reliance on liquid fuel for electricity generation.