The Legal Status of the Beneficiary of Public Utility Services

Abstract

This research examines the legal status of the beneficiary of public utility services by studying the impact of public utility management methods on determining the nature of this status. The research seeks to clarify the developments affecting the beneficiary’s position resulting from the transition from direct administration to modern mechanisms in public utility management, such as privatization contracts and public-private partnerships. The study concludes that direct administration establishes an organizational status for the beneficiary, governed by the rules of public law, and grants the beneficiary fundamental legal and judicial safeguards. In contrast, privatization and partnership arrangements have contributed to the emergence of a more adaptable contractual status for the beneficiary, linked to service efficiency and the realization of public interest. The research further concludes that the beneficiary has become a central element in assessing the legality and efficiency of public utility management, which necessitates strengthening legal protection mechanisms capable of safeguarding the beneficiary’s rights.