Commission Explains the Regulatory Requirements for Electricity Consumption Tariffs in the Cloud Computing Activity

The Communications and Information Technology Commission held an introductory workshop on the regulatory requirements for electricity consumption tariffs in the cloud computing activity, attended by representatives from the Ministry of Energy, the Water and Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Saudi Electricity Company, Marafiq Electric Power Systems Company, in addition to cloud computing service providers registered with the Commission.

During the workshop, the Commission presented an introductory presentation covering the requirements for applying the electricity consumption tariff to the cloud computing activity, which included having a valid license to provide cloud computing services or data center and hosting services, separating the costs of the cloud computing activity in independent accounts from the establishment's other activities, in addition to having electricity consumption meters dedicated to the cloud computing activity, among other requirements.

The workshop also reviewed the Commission's classification of categories of establishments operating in the cloud computing activity, and highlighted the key technical requirements for data centers and hosting, before the workshop concluded by explaining the steps for submitting a request and obtaining confirmation of meeting the requirements for applying the electricity consumption tariff for the cloud computing activity from the Commission, in addition to reviewing the timeline for the new electricity consumption tariff for the computing activity for establishments that fulfill all regulatory requirements.