ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Tuesday said that over 80 percent of the Region’s households pay less for electricity under the Runaki Project than before, with the average cost being 28,000 dinars [around 21 dollars] for June.

The KRG on Tuesday reported June data for its round-the-clock electricity project, Runaki, in the three provinces in which the initiative has been implemented. The figures show households in Sulaimani on average being the lowest billed with 16,000 dinars [around 12 dollars], Erbil the highest with 29,000 dinars [22 dollars], and finally Duhok with 25,000 dinars [19 dollars].

“Based on the data available from Runaki, around 80% of households, and in particular low-income households, pay less now than they previously did for the national grid and neighborhood diesel generators combined,” read the government report, based on data collected from 700,000 households, comprising 40 percent of the population.

The average business bill across the three provinces was 63,000 dinars [around 48 dollars] in June, according to the report.

The Runaki Project is set to be launched in Halabja next month, the project’s team told The New Region earlier this week, and is expected to cover 42,000 beneficiaries in the province.

Halabja Governor Nukhsha Nasih on Wednesday said that they will submit a proposal to the Kurdish cabinet to take into consideration the province’s “financial situation, the nature of the area, and its population,” when implementing the Runaki Project in Halabja.

KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani assured the governor that they will deliver their demands to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, stressing the premier’s commitment to supporting the province.

The Runaki Project was announced by Prime Minister Barzani in October 2024, aiming to eliminate the electricity issues that the Region has struggled with for decades.

Over 2.7 million people across the Kurdistan Region, accounting for 40 percent of the population, currently have access to 24-hour electricity thanks to Runaki, according to official data. The project aims to cover the entire Region by 2026.

Reporting by Hevi Karam