What is the official private generator tariff this month?
On this page
Short answer
The Ministry of Energy and Water's latest guideline tariff, for September 2026 and published on 1 October 2026, is LL52,840 per kWh (cities, below 700 m); LL58,124 (villages, above 700 m)[1,2]. Metered subscribers also pay a fixed monthly part of LL385,000 (5 A), LL685,000 (10 A), +LL300,000 per extra 5 A[1]. The tariff changes every month. We had not found the October 2026 tariff as of 17 October 2026.
Also asked as: “Lebanon generator rates” · “Lebanon generator kWh price” · “Generators Lebanon price list” · “Ministry of Energy generator tariff September 2026”
The ministry sets a new tariff each month from that month's diesel price and dollar rate, so the figures on this page go out of date quickly[1]. This page covers what was published up to 17 October 2026.
Key facts
- Per kWh, September 2026
- LL52,840 per kWh (cities, below 700 m); LL58,124 (villages, above 700 m)[1,2]
- Fixed monthly part
- LL385,000 (5 A), LL685,000 (10 A), +LL300,000 per extra 5 A[1]
- Legal basis
- Council of Ministers Decision No. 2 of 14/12/2011[1]
- Built on
- That month's average diesel price and the parallel-market dollar rate, LL89,700 per USD for September 2026[1]
- Not allowed on top
- no unregistered VAT, maintenance fees or solar surcharges[1]
- Where it is published
- energyandwater.gov.lb (mediafiles/prices)[4], and in National News Agency releases
How to work out a bill from the tariff
The official tariff is for metered subscribers[1,2]. Your monthly bill is the fixed part for your amperage plus the kWh you used times the kWh price[1]. In September 2026 the fixed part was LL385,000 (5 A), LL685,000 (10 A), +LL300,000 per extra 5 A, the same in cities and villages. By that rule, 15 A comes to LL985,000 (our arithmetic; the notice does not state it).
Here is a worked example, with our own arithmetic. Take a 5 A subscription in the city zone that used 100 kWh in September 2026. The bill is LL385,000 plus 100 × LL52,840, which makes LL5,669,000, or about USD 63 at the notice's LL89,700 per USD[1]. At that rate, LL52,840 per kWh on its own is about USD 0.59[1,2].
The higher kWh price applies in villages, remote areas or above 700 m altitude, and the lower one in cities, crowded areas or below 700 m[1,2]. The notice we read does not say who decides which zone an address falls in. Ask your operator which zone they bill you under, and ask the municipality if you are unsure.
Why it changes every month
The ministry issues the tariff under Council of Ministers Decision No. 2 of 14/12/2011[1] on controlling private-generator prices. Each month it recalculates the price from the average price of a 20-litre container of diesel and the average parallel-market dollar rate. For September 2026 these were LL2,675,217 and LL89,700.
The National reported in October 2026 that the tariffs had risen almost 60% in six months[3]. We could not confirm the published figures for earlier months of 2026, so this page does not compare them month by month. For what state power from EDL costs per kWh, see the EDL tariff per kWh.
What the tariff does not guarantee
Many operators ignore the tariff. The National reported in October 2026 that many do not comply with it or do not install the mandatory meters[3], and that many charge a fixed monthly rate by amperage instead of metering. The same paper said that despite occasional government crackdowns, operators have largely set prices at their own discretion. If your building charges a flat rate, read metered versus flat-rate generator billing.
Reported bills vary widely. The National put the median monthly generator bill at USD 310 in August 2026, from about a dozen people it interviewed. A commercial expat guide, ExpatLife.ai, puts typical subscriptions at USD 50-100 a month (data dated August 2026)[3][5]. Neither source says what amperage those bills are for. For the whole monthly picture, see what electricity costs in total each month.
How to check your generator bill against the tariff
- Find the tariff for the month you are billed. The ministry has posted monthly PDF notices on its website, but the folder returned an error in October 2026. The National News Agency also publishes each month's tariff[4].
- Ask the operator for your figures. You need your amperage, the meter readings at the start and end of the month, and the zone (city or village) they bill you under. If you live abroad and rent the flat out, ask your tenant or the building manager to send you a photo of each bill.
- Do the sum yourself. Add the fixed part for your amperage to the kWh used × the kWh price for your zone[1].
- Look for charges the ministry forbids. Operators may not add VAT unless they are registered with the Ministry of Finance's VAT directorate. They may not add maintenance fees for the generator or network, or extra fees because you also use solar[1].
- Raise any difference with the operator in writing. Keep your bills and readings. The sources we read name no complaint route for consumers[3], so see what to do if your generator owner overcharges.
It depends on
- Your amperage. The fixed part rises by LL300,000 for each extra 5 A above 10 A[1]. Check the breaker rating your subscription is billed on.
- Lifts and common areas. In its October 2022 notice, the ministry said lifts and common areas on a three-phase supply pay the fixed part on the single-phase rating: 3x15 A charged as 15 A[4]. We have not seen whether the September 2026 notice repeats this, so ask the building administrator. Who pays these costs is covered in generator and common-area electricity costs.
- Solar at home. The operator may not charge you extra because you also use solar energy[1].
Common questions
How much does generator electricity cost per kWh in Lebanon?
Can my generator owner charge VAT?
Only if the operator is officially registered with the Ministry of Finance's VAT directorate, according to the ministry's September 2026 notice[1].
Is a generator meter mandatory in Lebanon?
What is the fixed generator fee for 15 amps?
The September 2026 notice sets LL685,000 for 10 A plus LL300,000 for each extra 5 A. That makes LL985,000 for 15 A, by our arithmetic[1].
Sources
Checked against these sources. The numbers in the text point here.
- 1.Private generator tariff for September 2026
Beirut24 (reproducing National News Agency / Ministry of Energy and Water statement) · 1 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 2.From the citizen's pocket to the institution's deficit: how Electricité du Liban stumbles
Al Jazeera · 16 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 3.Lebanon's power failure: Diesel generators, $300-a-month bills - and a corrupt system milking the profits
The National · 14 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 4.Ministry of Energy and Water issues the private generator tariff for October 2022
Ministry of Energy and Water (Lebanon) · 27 Oct 2022 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 5.ExpatLife.ai: Renting in Lebanon 2026 (Housing guide)
ExpatLife.ai · 13 Aug 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
Related questions
- Should I pay my generator by meter or a flat ampere rate, and is a meter mandatory?Generator meters are mandatory and the official tariff is metered, though many operators charge a flat ampere rate. How the two compare and what to check.
- What can I do if my generator owner overcharges or has no meter?Check your bill against the Energy Ministry's monthly tariff, ask for the mandatory meter, refuse banned surcharges. No complaint route is published.
- How much does a generator subscription cost per month for 5, 10 or 15 amps?Under the September 2026 tariff, 5 A costs LL385,000 fixed plus LL52,840 per kWh in cities. The formula, 10 and 15 A, real bills and illegal extras.
- How much will I pay per month for electricity in a Beirut apartment?It varies widely: one Beirut-area household paid USD 140 a month for EDL and generator in October 2026. How the two bills work and what to check.
- Who pays for the building generator, lift and common-area electricity in Lebanon: owners or tenants?Owners fund lifts and shared equipment through the owners' association under Decree 88/1983; the lease decides what a tenant pays. Rules, votes, arrears.
- Who pays electricity, generator, water and internet in a rented flat in Lebanon?No published rule says who pays electricity, generator, water and internet in a rented flat: the lease decides. What to write and how meters change name.
- How much does EDL electricity cost per kWh now?EDL's last reported tariff: USD 0.10 per kWh for the first 100 kWh, USD 0.27 above (April 2026). A rise was requested. Generator costs and how to check.
- How many hours of state electricity does Lebanon get per day now?Reports put EDL supply at 2 to 4 hours a day in October 2026. Why it fell, what could add hours, and how to check a flat's real power supply.
