Freedom of Information Policy

Scope

The provisions of the Information Freedom Policy apply to all requests from individuals to access or obtain public information - non-confidential or protected - produced by The Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority, regardless of its source, form, or nature. This includes paper records, email messages, information stored on computers, sound or video tapes, maps, photographs, manuscripts, handwritten documents, or any other form of recorded information.

What is Information Freedom?

It is public information, unprotected or confidential, processed by the platform regardless of its source, form, or nature. Open data falls under public information. The process of providing public data to individuals for a fee is called "information freedom" or as known, "the right to information access."

Key Principles

First Principle: Transparency

Every individual has the right to know information related to the activities of public entities, promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability..

Second Principle: Necessity and Proportionality

Any restrictions on requests to access or obtain protected information received, produced, or dealt with by public entities must be justified clearly and explicitly..

Third Principle: Presumption of Public Information Disclosure

Every individual has the right to access public information - unprotected - and it is not a condition that the requester has a specific status or particular interest in this information to obtain it, nor shall they face any legal accountability related to this right..

Fourth Principle: Equality

Open data sets should be comprehensive and include as much detail as possible, reflecting recorded data in a manner that does not contradict personal data protection policies. Descriptive data explaining and elaborating on the raw data should be included, along with explanations or equations illustrating how the data is extracted or calculated.

Fifth Principle: Non-Discrimination

Dealing with all requests to access or obtain public information is based on equality and non-discrimination among individuals..

Authority Responsibility

The Saudi Authority for Electricity is not responsible for intellectual products, studies, or reports based on this data, alongside any harm or misuse suffered by entities due to the use of this data. Additionally, the authority is not liable for any errors or missing data in open data and does not guarantee the continuity of the availability of this data or any part of it. The authority also assumes no responsibility towards users of this data and any harm or loss they may suffer due to its reuse.

Who Can Request Information

• Individuals have the right to know information related to the activities of the authority to enhance the system of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
• Every individual has the right to access public information - unprotected - and it is not necessary for the requester to have a specific legitimacy or a particular interest in this information in order to obtain it, nor shall he be subject to any legal accountability related to this right.
• All requests for access to or obtaining of public information shall be dealt with on the basis of equality and non-discrimination among individuals.
• Any restrictions on requests for access to or obtaining of protected information received, produced, or dealt with by the authority shall be justified in a clear and explicit manner.
  
  

Rights of Individuals Regarding Access to or Obtaining of Public Information

• Individuals have the right to access and obtain any unprotected information from any public entity.
• Individuals have the right to know the reason for the refusal to access or obtain the requested information.
• Individuals have the right to appeal against the decision to refuse the request for access and obtainment of the requested information.

Main Requirements for Requests for Access to or Obtaining of Public Information

Main Requirements and Steps for Requesting Access to or Obtaining of Public Information

• Requests must be made by filling out the "Public Information Request Form" - electronically or on paper - and submitting it to the entity holding the information.
• The entity, within a specified period (30 days) from receiving the request for access to or obtaining of public information, shall take one of the following decisions:
• If the individual wishes to appeal against the refusal of the request by the entity, they can submit a written or electronic complaint to the entity's office within a period not exceeding (10) working days from receiving the entity's decision, and the Appeals Committee at the entity's office shall review the request and make the appropriate decision, notifying the individual of the review fees - to be refunded if the committee approves the request and the appeal decision.

• Approval: If the entity approves the request for access to or obtaining of information in whole or in part, the individual must be notified in writing or electronically of the applicable fees, and the entity must provide this information to the individual within a period not exceeding (10) working days from receiving the amount..
• Rejection: If the request for access to or obtaining of information is rejected, the rejection must be in writing or electronically, including the following information:
  • ─Whether the request is rejected in whole or in part.
  • ─Reasons for the rejection, if possible.
  • ─The right to appeal this rejection and how to exercise this right.
    
    
• Extension: If it is not possible to process the request for access to information within the specified time, the entity must extend the response period by a reasonable period depending on the size and nature of the requested information - for example, an additional (30) days - and provide the individual with the following information:
  • ─Notice of extension and the expected completion date of the request
  • ─Reasons for the delay
  • ─The right to appeal this extension and how to exercise this right.
    
    
• Notification: If the requested information is available on the entity's website or is not within its jurisdiction, the individual must be notified of this in writing or electronically, including the following information:
• Type of Notification: For example, the requested data is available on the entity's website, or it is not within its jurisdiction.
  • ─The right to appeal this notification and how to exercise this right.

Processing Time

• The entity shall process the request and inform the requester within 30 days of receiving the request.
• The individual shall be provided with the requested information within 10 working days of receiving the amount.
• If the entity decides to extend, the response period to the requester shall not exceed an additional 30 days depending on the size and nature of the requested information.
• In case of appeal, the requester must file the appeal within 10 working days of receiving the entity's decision.

Related Legislation