How many hours of state electricity does Lebanon get per day now?
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Short answer
Very few. Al-Modon reported on 14 October 2026 that EDL supply had fallen to 2 to 4 hours a day (October 2026)[1,2], mainly because high oil prices cut the fuel EDL could buy. Hours vary by day and area, and we found no official figure by area. Private generators supplied more of Lebanon's electricity than EDL in early 2026[3].
Also asked as: “Electricity in Lebanon today” · “EDL hours in Lebanon” · “How many hours of EDL power a day?” · “How long is the state power on in Lebanon?”
Supply depends on how much fuel EDL can buy and on a tariff increase that was before the Council of Ministers as of 14 October 2026[1]. This page covers what was published up to 17 October 2026.
Key facts
What the latest reports say
Two news reports from October 2026 point the same way. Al-Modon (14 October) put supply at 2 to 4 hours a day (October 2026)[1,2], and a Beirut-area household interviewed by Al Jazeera (16 October) said it got about 4 hours a day. Both are snapshots, and there is no official schedule behind them.
You may see higher figures online. A commercial expat guide quoted 4 to 12 hours a day in August 2026, but it cites no source and is older than the October reports[1,2]. We found no rolling official figure by area, so nobody can tell you from abroad exactly how many hours a given street gets.
What could change the hours
On 14 October 2026, Al-Modon quoted MEP's executive director as saying that restarting the Zouk and Jiyeh plants would add about 1.5 to 2 hours a day with the units as they stood, and about 4 hours after maintenance[1]. The same report said fuel stocks covered no more than about a month and a half of supply, and called the extra hours possibly short-lived. We could not confirm whether the restart has happened, or what supply looks like after it.
The tariff also plays a part. Al-Modon reported that without a cabinet response to the demand to raise the EDL tariff, EDL's fuel imports would fall and supply would return to 2 to 4 hours a day instead of 6 to 8[1]. The article gave no proposed tariff figure, and we do not know whether cabinet approved an increase after 14 October 2026. For the tariff as last reported, see what EDL electricity costs per kWh.
What this means for a flat you rent or buy
With a few hours of state power, the rest of the day usually comes from a building or neighbourhood generator, and some homes add solar. The Al Jazeera household with about 4 hours of EDL a day paid USD 140 a month (EDL USD 60 + generator USD 80)[2], and it also had a solar system costing about USD 3,000. That is one household's bill, and yours may look quite different.
Generator bills vary widely. For September 2026, the Energy Ministry's guideline tariff for metered subscribers was LL52,840 per kWh (cities, below 700 m); LL58,124 (villages, above 700 m)[2,4]. The ministry sets a new tariff every month, and we had not found the October 2026 figure as of 17 October 2026; check this month's generator tariff for the latest. The National reported in October 2026 that many operators do not follow the tariffs or install the mandatory meters[3]. For real bills, see what a generator subscription costs per amp and the total monthly electricity cost of a Beirut flat.
How to check the real power supply at a specific flat
- Ask the owner or landlord for recent bills. Ask for the last few EDL bills and generator bills for the flat itself. Together they show what the flat actually pays, which tells you more than any national figure.
- Ask the building's committee or the generator operator about hours and amperage. Ask how many hours the generator covers, at what amperage, and whether the subscription is metered or a flat monthly rate. Get the answers in writing or in a message you can keep.
- Check for unpaid EDL bills before you sign. EDL carries out no transfer of a meter until the arrears are paid[5]. Ask the owner to show the latest paid bill, and see how to move an EDL meter into your name.
- Write the split into the contract. State who pays EDL, the generator and any building charges. Here is who pays which utility in a lease.
It depends on
- Fuel and the power plants. A restart of Zouk and Jiyeh was projected to add hours, possibly only for a short time[1]. Check recent Lebanese news or ask EDL directly.
- The tariff decision. Al-Modon linked supply to whether cabinet accepts a tariff increase[1]. Ask EDL whether the tariff has changed since October 2026.
- The building's own backup. A generator subscription or solar system changes how much the EDL hours matter. Ask the owner or the generator operator what the flat is connected to.
Common questions
How many hours of EDL electricity does Lebanon get a day?
Why is EDL supply so low?
Will the hours increase soon?
That is not confirmed. MEP's executive director said in October 2026 that restarting the Zouk and Jiyeh plants could add about 1.5 to 2 hours a day, and about 4 after maintenance, but fuel stocks covered only about a month and a half[1].
Sources
Checked against these sources. The numbers in the text point here.
- 1.Electricity crisis: more supply hours await an international consultant's oversight
Al-Modon · 14 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.Private generator tariff for September 2026
Beirut24 (reproducing National News Agency / Ministry of Energy and Water statement) · 1 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 5.EDL: transfer a subscription to a new subscriber
Electricité du Liban (EDL) · undated · read 17 Oct 2026
Related questions
- 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.
- 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.
- What is the official private generator tariff this month?Latest published tariff (September 2026): LL52,840 per kWh in cities, LL58,124 in villages, plus a fixed fee by amperage. How bills work and how to check.
- 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 much does a solar system cost for an apartment in Lebanon?No price list is published; one household paid about USD 3,000 for 6 panels (Oct 2026). What to compare, roof consent, permits and BDH loans.
- 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 do I move an EDL meter into my name after buying or renting?Bring the meter bill, your deed or a municipality-signed lease, and ID to an EDL customer office, after arrears are paid. Fees, gaps and who pays old bills.
