“The new tariffs are unfair and illogical compared to wages and income – they will drive up prices and production costs, pushing small producers out of the market and increasing unemployment.”
With this remark, one Syrian summed up widespread anger over the government’s decision to raise electricity prices, which took effect on 1 November 2025. Across social media and local platforms, Syrians voiced frustration at the move, fearing yet another blow to already unbearable living costs in a country long battered by inflation and a collapsing purchasing power.
One user quipped, “Don’t use electricity… only turn on what’s absolutely necessary at home.” Another added, “The problem isn’t the price – it’s the income. Electricity may seem cheap, but it consumes a huge share of what people earn compared to neighbouring countries.”
Many told +963 that the new bills could exceed half a monthly salary, calling the decision “an economic disaster” that deepens poverty and leaves families with impossible choices. “If the new bill takes half my income,” said one employee, “how can I live on what’s left?”
Others suggested the change might encourage solar energy use, while some said the government must raise salaries to offset the increase – a promise yet to materialise.
The anger reflects a common feeling: higher prices have not been matched by any real improvement in electricity supply. Long hours of rationing persist, and many households remain dependent on costly private “ampere” generators to meet their basic needs.
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Government rationale
The Syrian interim government defended the price rise as part of its “power-sector reform” plan, saying it was essential to reduce annual losses estimated at $1 billion, stabilise electricity supply, and attract investment.
Ahmad Suleiman, the Ministry of Energy’s communications director, said government institutions – which consume around 30% of total output – would now pay from their own budgets, while extra revenues would fund upgrades to transmission networks, fuel supply, and distribution systems.
Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir wrote on X: “Adjusting the tariff is a first and necessary step towards reforming Syria’s electricity system to ensure efficiency and sustainability.” He added that future measures would include installing smart meters, boosting production capacity, and cutting technical and commercial losses.
Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar argued that the rise was meant to “correct old policies” and build a sustainable energy sector, stressing that the government had begun increasing public-sector wages and was working with the private sector to help families adapt to higher costs.
Steep price jumps
A look at past tariffs highlights the scale of the increase. Before the war, the price per kilowatt-hour in the lowest bracket (0–600 kWh) was 10 Syrian pounds. By 2023, it had risen to 150. Now, in 2025, it stands at 600.
For the second bracket (601–1000 kWh), the price climbed from 25 pounds pre-war to 450 in 2023 – and now 1,400 under the new system. The first subsidised tier alone has risen nearly sixtyfold since before the war.
The government has now reduced the pricing system to just two main tiers, maintaining a 60% subsidy for households consuming up to 300 kWh per month. Industrial and commercial users face rates between 1,700 and 1,800 pounds per kilowatt-hour.
The numbers behind the power gap
Syria needs around 7,000 megawatts of electricity but produces only about 2,200, largely due to shortages of gas and fuel. The country generates roughly 6 million cubic metres of gas daily – far short of what is required for full operation.
Transmission networks and transformers are in disrepair and require full rehabilitation. The government has launched a programme to install 6.5 million prepaid smart meters and restore damaged generation plants. It also plans to import gas from Azerbaijan via Turkey through a grant from the Qatar Development Fund.
Economist Mohammad al-Alloush told +963 that the latest rise had sparked fears of a ripple effect across prices of goods and services. “Electricity feeds every stage of production,” he said. “Any increase immediately drives up costs for consumers. The public’s anger is understandable – the service hasn’t improved, rationing remains severe, and there’s no transparency about actual subsidies or losses.”
He suggested several remedies: restructuring tariffs transparently and fairly, direct support for low-income families, regular publication of sector performance data, promoting energy-efficient appliances and renewable energy, and greater private-sector participation in solar and wind projects.
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Balancing the bill and the burden
Academic Khaled al-Ba’aj told +963 that the real challenge is finding a balance between “fair billing for citizens” and “fair cost recovery for the state”.
He stressed that reform must go beyond collection, requiring a comprehensive approach that links higher prices to gradual improvements in supply, reduction of losses, and full transparency through public reporting. He also urged the government to make it easier for individuals and businesses to invest in renewable energy, easing future pressure on households.
For most Syrians, the dilemma remains – electricity is a basic right, but its rising cost weighs heavily on already strained family budgets.
Observers agree on one point: Syrians will not accept higher bills without tangible improvements in service. Real reform, they say, must tackle the roots of the crisis – ageing infrastructure, chronic fuel shortages, and widespread inefficiency.
Rebuilding Syria’s electricity sector will require a long-term strategy – investment in infrastructure, better fuel supply, reduced waste, and serious incentives for renewables. Sudden tariff hikes, without visible progress, only deepen public mistrust and hardship.
