Egypt raises high-usage electricity prices from April amid energy crisis

Egypt will increase electricity prices for some commercial and household consumption brackets starting in April due to a severe global energy crisis triggered by the ongoing war in the Arabian Gulf region, the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy said on Saturday.

The ministry stated that the increases will not affect the lowest household consumption brackets, which represent 40 per cent of total subscribers in Egypt, noting that 86 per cent of these subscribers fall within categories exempt from the hike. It added that the increases will be limited to higher consumption brackets, which include more affluent groups.

It maintained electricity prices for all consumption brackets up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours per month, while raising the price of this bracket and higher ones by an average of 16 per cent.

The ministry also decided to increase commercial electricity prices across all brackets by an average of around 20 per cent, in line with efforts to distribute burdens among different segments of society so that higher consumers bear a greater share.

It added that these measures were necessary to address the current global energy crisis, the most severe in decades, and to ensure continued electricity supply for all uses, whether household, commercial, or industrial.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English