Syrian Energy Ministry hikes power bills as government vows salary raises next year!

 On October 30, 2025, the Syrian Ministry of Energy raised electricity prices for the first consumption bracket—classified as “low-income households” (the majority of citizens)—from 10 Syrian pounds per kilowatt-hour to 600 pounds for up to 300 kWh over two months. This represents a 600% increase. The ministry stated that the new rate is subsidized by the government at 60%, with collection starting in the new year.

In a public relations campaign titled “Electricity Sector Reform Project: Achieving Sustainability and Improving Service,” the ministry announced that the new pricing system is divided into four brackets designed to reflect “social categories” and varying consumption levels:

Bracket 2: Consumption above 300 kWh over two months is priced at 1,400 SYP/kWh, targeting “middle-income households and small businesses”—a 14,000% increase.

Bracket 3: 1,700 SYP/kWh for entities exempt from power rationing, such as government institutions, companies, and factories requiring 24-hour electricity.

Bracket 4: 1,800 SYP/kWh for high-consumption industries like smelting plants.

The hike sparked public outrage, with many Syrians rejecting the new rates. Social media posts called for abandoning government electricity and switching to solar energy—a solution many already rely on due to the sector’s collapse under Assad, when power supply dropped to just one hour per day. Protests against the hike are expected.

Government Justification and Broader Context

Under the “General Notes” section, the ministry claimed it wasn’t raising prices but rather “enhancing the capacity and sustainability of the electrical system” as part of a comprehensive national reform plan aimed at:

• Ensuring fair and stable electricity access.
• Upgrading infrastructure and improving distribution efficiency.
• Attracting investment to the energy sector.

Two days before the price hike, on October 28, the ministry issued a tender for six million single-phase smart meters and half a million three-phase meters.

Salary Promises and Economic Pressures

The price hike coincides with government promises to raise public sector salaries at the start of next year, following a 200% increase last June. However, not all citizens are government employees.

Since the fall of the Assad regime, Syria has seen a wave of price liberalization. Bread prices rose 100%, from 400 to 4,000 SYP per bundle (recent panic over bread hikes was clarified to be for commercial bread only). Fuel prices, pegged to the dollar, were raised again on October 31—even after a Saudi grant of 1.65 million barrels of oil—placing unprecedented pressure on a population where over 90% live below the poverty line, according to the UN.

Signs of Recovery and Challenges Ahead

Some regions have seen improved electricity supply—up to 8 hours per day, compared to just 2 hours during Assad’s rule—likely due to Azerbaijani gas funded by Qatar, delivered via Turkey to Syrian power stations. The World Bank also contributed $146 million in June for maintenance and rehabilitation.

The new Syrian government has been working to lift Western and U.S. sanctions and open the country to global investment as the only path to economic recovery. One million Syrian refugees have returned from abroad, with another million internally displaced returning home, while others plan to follow—placing further strain on already limited resources.

Despite the hikes, prices for basic goods like food, fuel, electricity, and internet remain relatively reasonable compared to neighboring countries. However, low income levels continue to hinder the impact of improved services on Syrians’ quality of life after 14 years of war and economic collapse.

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