Kurdistan Region says 24/7 power supply exceeds 90% under Runaki project

ERBIL, Iraq — The Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Electricity said the share of subscribers receiving uninterrupted power around the clock across the region has risen above 90% under its sustainable supply project known as Runaki, citing June billing data. According to the ministry, the average electricity bill in the region stood at 34,000 dinars for the period, which lasted roughly 43 days. Provincial averages were 36,000 dinars in Erbil, 30,000 in Sulaymaniyah, 38,000 in Duhok and 27,000 in Halabja. Average household consumption during the billing cycle was recorded at 462 kilowatt-hours, with Erbil at 480, Sulaymaniyah at 418, Duhok at 516 and Halabja at 368 kilowatt-hours. The ministry said most subscribers, particularly lower-income households, paid less under the new system than they previously spent combined on national electricity and private generator subscriptions. Officials also reported that instances of zero-billing have been resolved for some subscribers, with the remainder to be addressed in upcoming cycles. Runaki was announced in November 2024 by Regional Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, with the stated goal of providing uninterrupted electricity to all homes and businesses by the end of 2026.