Are EDL smart meters coming, and what changes for my bill?
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Short answer
Not on any published plan we found. The last plan dates from September 2013, when As-Safir reported that EDL meant to contract for about 1.2 million smart meters (2013 plan)[1] and to pilot 1,000 meters first. No later source we found says how many were installed or how bills would change. Ask your EDL customer office.
Also asked as: “EDL smart meter” · “Is EDL installing digital meters?” · “Smart electricity meter in Lebanon” · “Will EDL have a night tariff?”
As of 14 October 2026, Al-Modon reported that a demand to raise the EDL tariff was before the Council of Ministers. The report gave no new tariff figure, and we found none published[2]. This page covers what was published up to 17 October 2026.
Key facts
- The only plan found
- about 1.2 million smart meters (2013 plan)[1], reported by As-Safir in September 2013
- Pilot areas (2013 plan)
- 1,000 meters in Qbayat, Bsalim, Nahr el-Mot and Dekwaneh[1]
- Promised benefits (2013)
- Flexible payment and lower night tariffs[1]
- Rollout and coverage now
- Not published. Ask EDL
- EDL tariff (reported 1 April 2026)
- USD 0.10 per kWh for the first 100 kWh, USD 0.27 per kWh above[3]
What was planned in 2013
In September 2013, As-Safir reported that EDL was preparing to contract for about 1.2 million smart meters within two years, starting from the end of the first quarter of 2014. A pilot of 1,000 meters was to run in Qbayat, Bsalim, Nahr el-Mot and Dekwaneh. The plan expected consumers to gain more flexible payment and lower night tariffs[1].
At the time, one of EDL's service providers reported 700 digital meters installed in the pilot[1]. That is the last concrete figure we found.
What is not known
We found no source after 2013 on whether the full contract went ahead, how many homes have a smart meter, whether a night rate or any other tariff change applies to them, or how to request one. EDL is the body to ask, at the customer office that serves your area.
EDL smart meters are separate from generator meters. Meters for private generator subscribers are mandatory under a Ministry of Economy and Trade decision[5,6]. More in paying your generator by meter or a flat rate.
What sets your EDL bill now
On 1 April 2026, Lebanon24 reported EDL as saying its tariff was unchanged: USD 0.10 per kWh for the first 100 kWh, USD 0.27 per kWh above[3]. The report describes only these two bands, with no day or night rate, and does not say whether the 100 kWh are counted per month. The details are in how much EDL charges per kWh.
Supply was also low. Al-Modon reported EDL supply of 2 to 4 hours a day (October 2026)[2,4]. Fewer supply hours also limit how much EDL power you can use and be billed for. See how many hours of EDL power you can expect and what electricity costs in total each month.
How to find out about your own meter
- Find your bill or meter-room number. EDL asks you to bring a subscription bill or the building's meter-room number to any visit[7].
- Visit the EDL customer office for your area. Ask whether your meter is digital or smart, whether a different tariff applies to it, and whether smart meters are being installed in your building or area.
- Ask for the answer in writing. Keep a copy with your lease or deed papers.
- If the meter is not in your name, fix that first. EDL carries out no transaction on a subscription until the arrears are paid[7]. Here is how to move an EDL meter into your name.
It depends on
- Where you live. The 2013 pilot named four areas. Whether any pilot meters are still in use is not published. Ask the EDL customer office for your area.
- The cabinet's tariff decision. A demand to raise the tariff was before the Council of Ministers as of 14 October 2026[2]. Check with EDL before relying on the April 2026 figures.
- Whether you rent or own. The subscription holder deals with EDL. If you rent, agree in the lease who handles the meter and any old bills.
Common questions
Can I ask EDL to install a smart meter?
We found no published procedure for requesting one. Ask at the EDL customer office for your area, and bring a bill or your building's meter-room number.
Will a smart meter give me a cheaper night rate?
Sources
Checked against these sources. The numbers in the text point here.
- 1.Electricity of Lebanon preparing with service providers to install 1.2 million smart meters
As-Safir (republished on Khiyam.com) · 16 Sept 2013 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 2.Electricity crisis: more supply hours await an international consultant's oversight
Al-Modon · 14 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 3.On supply and tariff adjustment, what Electricité du Liban announced
Lebanon24 · 1 Apr 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 4.From the citizen's pocket to the institution's deficit: how Electricité du Liban stumbles
Al Jazeera · 16 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 5.Private generator tariff for September 2026
Beirut24 (reproducing National News Agency / Ministry of Energy and Water statement) · 1 Oct 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026
- 6.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
- 7.EDL: transfer a subscription to a new subscriber
Electricité du Liban (EDL) · undated · read 17 Oct 2026
Related questions
- 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.
- 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 do I pay my EDL bill?We could not confirm EDL's payment channels, so ask an EDL customer office. What EDL lists, the April 2026 tariff, arrears and paying from abroad.
- How do I get a new EDL meter or subscription for my flat, and what does it cost?Apply to EDL with ID, the meter-room number and a deed or lease. Its fee table is undated and in LBP. Documents, capacity rules, arrears and costs.
- 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.
- 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.
