Rebates from an electricity meter

QUESTION:-

Is it permissible to accept rebate monies from an electricity company?

If a meter is owned by the landlord and is installed at a place, and the tenant makes purchases of electricity, who’s right is the money of rebate?

ANSWER:-

In the queried scenario, we understand that the consumer (who is the tenant in our case) receives rebates when purchasing or loading units on his electricity meter. The rebates will be considered as a gift from the supplier to the consumer, which will be permissible for the consumer to accept. Again, if the rebate is provided for by purchasing or loading units on the meter, then the tenant is entitled to receive the rebates, and not the landlord, as the tenant is the one buying the units. The landlord has simply provided the electricity meter, which should be attached to every home. Also, if the home is left unoccupied for one year (for example), then we assume that the landlord will not receive any rebates as the meter is not being loaded with electricity vouchers. This, again, clearly indicates that the tenant is the rightful recipient of the rebates.

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date:- 26 Dhul Qa’dah 1444 / 16 June 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb