Khaberni - Lawyer Hani Zahdeh said that he preempted the electricity bill for February, and cancelled the government subsidy for his house's electricity bill after noticing that his consumption exceeds 1000 kilowatts during the winter months, after abandoning diesel as a heating method.
Zahdeh added that he received the bill today and it showed a decrease of about 15% compared to last month despite the same level of consumption, with a note indicating that he is not supported by the government.
He continued: "What's nice in the electricity subsidy system is that it allows for an easy switch from subsidized to non-subsidized and vice versa, and the effect of the change starts from the next month's bill, allowing me to return to the subsidized tariff in spring when there is no need for heating or cooling."
He concluded saying: "Generally, I thank the government for its support during the past months, and I have paid more for this support than if it had left me without support!"
Electricity tariff tiers in Jordan
The residential tariff in Jordan depends on a progressive tier system, where the cost per kilowatt-hour varies with the amount of monthly consumption, with a subsidized tariff for limited consumption and a non-subsidized tariff for high consumption.
Firstly: The subsidized tariff for qualified subscribers
From 1 to 300 kilowatt-hours per month at a rate of about 50 piasters per kilowatt-hour.
From 301 to 600 kilowatt-hours at a rate of about 100 piasters per kilowatt-hour.
From 601 to 1000 kilowatt-hours at a rate of about 200 piasters per kilowatt-hour.
More than 1000 kilowatt-hours applies a gradually higher tariff.
Secondly: The non-subsidized tariff
Applied to consumption that exceeds the support entitlement limits or to subscribers who are not qualified, and is higher than the subsidized tariff at all tiers, with a progressive calculation of cost as consumption increases.
Experts explained that the difference in the bill amount between months despite steady consumption could arise due to changes in the distribution of consumption across the tiers or differences in the number of billing days, in addition to seasonal factors related to usage patterns.
Zahdeh's experience sparks renewed debate about the efficiency of the support system and the impact of switching between tariffs on energy costs for families, at a time when the importance of rationalizing consumption and choosing less costly heating methods during the winter season is increasing.
