A group of private generators in the Furn al-Shubbak neighborhood of Beirut, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros/L’Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — The Energy and Water Ministry has set the price for private generator operators so that they must charge their subscribers in January at 28,355 Lebanese liras(LL) (0.31 dollars) per kilowatt-hour.
These generators provide power to Lebanese residents during rationing periods by Électricité du Liban (EDL), which is unable to supply electricity to the entire country at all times.
To calculate their bill, each subscriber must multiply the set price by the number of kWh corresponding to their consumption, as recorded on an individual meter that the operator is supposed to have installed for them.
This price is down by 1,620 LL (0.02 dollars) compared to the rates set for December’s bills, which had already marked a decrease from the previous month.
To calculate this price, the ministry based it on a diesel price of 1,292,237 LL (14.40 dollars) for 20 liters of fuel consumed by the majority of generators — using a still-stable exchange rate of 89,700 LL to the dollar.
As every month, generator owners may increase the kWh price by 10 percent in more remote areas — beyond 700 meters in altitude and/or in rural areas — making it 31,190 LL or nearly 0.35 dollars.
The fixed charges remain unchanged: 385,000 LL (4.29 dollars) for the monthly flat rate for a maximum intensity of 5 amperes (A) and 685,000 LL (7.64 dollars) for 10 A. Beyond 10 A, the ministry maintains the surcharge of 300,000 LL (3.34 dollars) for each additional 5 A increment.
For installations connected to a three-phase meter, such as elevators, an additional flat fee is calculated based on a reference capacity. For example, an elevator powered by three phases of 15 A each should only be billed 985,000 LL (10.98 dollars) by the generator owner, instead of 2,785,000 LL (31.05 dollars).
