Runaki Cuts Electricity Costs for 80% of Subscribers, KRG Says
The 24-hour electricity program has reached more than 43,000 subscribers, with refunds and a one-time debt discount also introduced.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Electricity says about 80 percent of citizens covered by the Runaki electricity system are paying less than they did under the previous model, with low-income households reporting reductions of as much as 80 to 90 percent.
The ministry said the program, which is designed to provide 24-hour electricity, has entered a new phase focused not only on expanding coverage but also on addressing billing problems and accumulated debts.
Costs fall after shift from generators
According to ministry data, more than 43,000 subscribers have so far been brought under Runaki.
The new system is intended to reduce households' reliance on private neighborhood generators, which historically imposed additional monthly costs and provided a more limited electricity supply.
The ministry said the greatest savings have been recorded among low-income households, whose electricity expenses have fallen by between 80 and 90 percent compared with what they previously paid for generator power.
The figures offer an early indication of the financial impact of the broader transition toward uninterrupted electricity, although the ministry's statistics cover subscribers already incorporated into the system rather than the entire Kurdistan Region.
Refunds issued over billing errors
The ministry also said it has resolved billing problems affecting some subscribers.
Customers who were overcharged because of meter-reading errors during the previous six months have received refunds, while some outstanding bills were recalculated to amounts close to zero after corrections were made.
The ministry said the measure was intended to address complaints and improve confidence in the new billing system as Runaki expands.
Subscribers with older unpaid debts have also been given a one-time opportunity to settle their accumulated arrears with a discount of up to 50 percent if they pay the full amount in a single payment.
Authorities stressed that the offer is temporary and will not be repeated.
Region-wide rollout continues
Runaki was launched under the direction of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani as a central component of the KRG's plan to provide 24-hour electricity across the Region by the end of 2026.
Following the Council of Ministers' approval of revised electricity tariffs in May, implementation has been proceeding in stages across cities and districts.
The government has presented Runaki as more than an electricity-supply program, linking it to efforts to modernize the power sector, improve billing and reduce dependence on private generators.
For consumers already covered, the ministry's latest figures suggest the transition is producing a second benefit alongside continuous electricity: lower household costs.
The larger test now is whether those savings can be maintained as coverage expands and the system moves toward the KRG's 2026 goal of 24-hour electricity across the Kurdistan Region.