CAIRO, Apr 12 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's State Council referred on Sunday the draft electricity law back to the cabinet after amending it, ahead of the legislation's issuance.

The legislation, which is yet to be referred to the presidency for issuance, allows the state to give up the management of the electricity sector's public utilities. The state would only be responsible for organising and observing the electricity sector.

The cabinet had earlier said in a statement that the draft law would preserve the rights of electricity service providers and consumers.

The draft law stipulates that whoever vandalises electricity facilities would be punished by a maximum of three years in prison and/or a 500 thousand Egyptian-pound fine.

Since the ouster of president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, militant attacks have been on the rise. Electricity pylons and railway tracks are often targeted.