Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority

The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) is a regulatory agency of the Abu Dhabi government, specializing in the production, transmission, and distribution of electric power and desalinated water within the Emirate.

Established in March 1998 by the government of Abu Dhabi to replace the Water and Electricity Department (WED), ADWEA has legal, financial and administrative independence. In addition to its main activities, ADWEA develops, implements, and manages the water and electricity policies and procedures that are carried out by its subsidiaries in the Emirate.

ADEWA produces, transmits and distributes electricity and water to more than 1.4 million customers in Abu Dhabi, as of December 2007. It generates electricity in gas-fired power stations; maintains and operates transmission lines at voltages of 400, 220, 132 kilovolts as well as 33 and 11 kilovolts. ADWEA produces potable water from desalination plants and distributes it through pipelines and pumping stations.

The company announced a 5-year strategic plan, in May 2008, which will provide for the water and electricity needs of the Emirate, during this period. The plan will also provide an investor-friendly environment, will improve treatment capacity and provide investments in renewable energy research.

In keeping with these objectives, ADWEA also announced in May 2008, that it had begun projects worth AED11.3 billion (USD3.07 billion) to be completed by 2013. The projects include the building of water, electricity and wastewater facilities. In anticipation of a 43% increase in water demand by 2013, ADWEA announced in August 2008, that it will double its desalination capacity to produce 969 million gallons per day, by the close of its strategic plan.