The shock of the recent electricity bills that burdened Jordanian families was not merely a fleeting event or a technical error, it is a symptom of a deeper disease, and an inevitable result of years of faltering planning and chaos in managing one of the most important files of national sovereignty: energy. Amidst the justified public uproar and the mutual accusations, a more calm and deep reading is absent from the scene, one that does not look for a scapegoat but tries to decipher the crisis code from an economic and social viewpoint.
The story goes beyond just increased consumption in winter. While the citizen suffers from bill spikes, data from the National Electricity Company shows that the very tariff structure is designed to be “punitive.” Moving from a consumption tier (1-300 kilowatt/hour) at a price of 50 piasters to a tier (301-600 kilowatt/hour) at a price of 100 piasters means doubling the cost just by exceeding the consumption of 300 kilowatts, even by a small amount. This design overlooks the fact that the average income of Jordanian families struggles to cover the basics, making heating in winter a costly luxury.
The hidden angle that many avoid looking at is the “cost of lost opportunities.” According to official statements, the interruption of Egyptian gas alone cost the treasury a total of six billion dollars, an amount that could have revolutionized the renewable energy sector if directed correctly. What if a portion of this massive amount had been directed to support thousands of families in installing solar energy systems? Today we would face a more flexible network, a less burdensome bill, and a citizen involved in the solution. Although Jordan, according to reports from the Ministry of Energy, has made good strides with renewable energy contributions reaching about 29% of electricity generation, this figure is still far from exploiting the immense potential of a country that enjoys more than 300 sunny days a year.
This leads us to the international dimension and reliance on imports. Data from the 2023 Energy Balance indicates that Jordan still imports a large part of its energy needs, making national energy security subject to geopolitical fluctuations and global energy prices. For instance, figures from the National Electricity Company reveal that the company's accumulated losses exceeded 75% of its paid-up capital in previous years, reflecting the size of financial pressures resulting from the cost of purchasing energy. Self-reliance in the energy sector is not a luxury but an economic and political safety valve. Every kilowatt hour we generate from our sun and wind is a step towards liberation from the pressure of debts and global price fluctuations.
The trend of high bills is not just a passing wave of anger, but it is an indication of the erosion of the social contract. When citizens feel that economic policies are designed in ivory towers, detached from their ability to bear, they lose trust in the feasibility of planning altogether. The problem is not only in the technical loss of the network, but in the loss of trust between the decision-maker and the service recipient.
Exiting this vortex does not lie in technical justifications or vague promises, rather it requires a radical reconsideration of the philosophy of the energy sector. The state must transition from the role of “collector” to the role of “enabler,” through real and smart support policies for home-level renewable energy, revisiting the tariff structure to be fair and stimulating, and opening a transparent national dialogue about the real cost of energy and its future, which the kingdom aspires to reach 50% of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2030. Before we ask citizens to read their bills calmly, the state must read its reality with depth and responsibility.
