Private electric generators remain a critical source of electricity across various Lebanese regions, especially due to the inconsistency in power supply from the official grid. Subscribers are therefore keen on tracking the monthly tariffs issued by the Ministry of Energy to understand their bills and ensure they are charged according to official rates.
Generator subscription costs in Lebanon are based on two main factors: a fixed subscription fee according to the number of amperes and the cost of power consumption by kilowatt-hour. There are slight variations between coastal and mountainous regions due to differing operational costs.
How is the Generator Bill Calculated?
The monthly bill consists of two main components:
- A fixed subscription fee (based on amperes).
- The cost of consumed electricity as per the meter reading.
This means the final bill value is the sum of these two components.
First: Fixed Subscription Fee
The fixed fee is determined by the subscription capacity in amperes. This is a monthly payment regardless of consumption amount. A 5-ampere subscription costs about 385,000 Lebanese Lira monthly. Meanwhile, a 10-ampere subscription reaches 685,000 Lira, 15 amperes cost 985,000 Lira, and a 20-ampere subscription is 1,285,000 Lira. For requests requiring higher power, an additional 300,000 Lira is added to the fixed fee for every 5 extra amperes.
Second: Kilowatt-Hour Rate
Besides the fixed fee, the actual consumption value is calculated based on the kilowatt-hours recorded on the meter. The official rate in cities and areas below 700 meters elevation is 41,973 Lira per kilowatt-hour. This rate increases to 46,170 Lira for villages and mountainous areas above 700 meters due to differing operational and transport costs.
Example of Bill Calculation:
If you have:
- A 10-ampere subscription.
- A monthly consumption of 150 kilowatt-hours.
- Reside in a coastal area.
The bill calculation would entail:
- The fixed fee.
- The cost of 150 kilowatt-hours times the official rate.
- Summing these values for the final amount.
For elevator and communal area subscriptions, the Ministry of Energy uses a different mechanism for three-phase subscriptions (Triphase).
In this scenario:
The fixed fee is calculated on a single-phase (Monophase) basis.
The combined amperes of the three phases aren't calculated.
This reduces the fixed fee compared to the traditional method.
Rate Hike in Some Situations
A rate increase of up to 10% might apply in areas receiving over 17 hours of daily power from generators. This is to cover operational and maintenance costs.
What Generator Owners Cannot Do
The Ministry of Energy has outlined several restrictions, including:
- No imposition of additional maintenance fees without legal basis.
- No special fees for solar energy system owners.
- No VAT addition unless the generator owner is officially registered with the Ministry of Finance.
Subscribers can object to any charges violating the official tariff.
Tips to Reduce Generator Bills
Bill amounts can be reduced by:
- Using high-efficiency electrical appliances.
- Turning off unused appliances.
- Replacing traditional lighting with LED bulbs.
- Operating high-consumption devices outside peak hours if possible.
- Regular maintenance of electrical devices to decrease energy consumption.
Why Do Bills Differ from Home to Home?
Several factors affect bill amounts, including:
- Generator operation hours.
- Monthly consumption scale.
- Family size.
- Type of electrical appliances used.
- Geographic location.
- Subscription capacity in amperes.
Conclusion:
Understanding the generator subscription costs in Lebanon and the bill calculation methods helps grasp the monthly fees and ensures compliance with the official tariffs issued by the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, conserving electricity and choosing the appropriate subscription capacity can aid in minimizing expenses, particularly with the continued dependency on private generators in many Lebanese regions.
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