Lebanon cuts electricity to public institutions over unpaid bills

Lebanon's state power provider, Electricite du Liban, has initiated power cuts to public institutions that have not settled their bills. The company has followed through on previous warnings to public sector bodies, some of which have not even attempted to contact EDL to settle their accounts. Among those potentially affected are the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, certain municipalities, and water companies.

The struggling state electricity provider, which was damaged in the 2020 Beirut port blast, is reportedly owed millions of dollars in unpaid bills.

EDL stated that while some institutions have reached out to resolve their issues, others have not. The decision to cut power, they defend, is not aimed at the state or its institutions, but rather to protect government funds. Hospitals, however, are exempt from this measure, although some villages in the Western Bekaa region are affected due to unpaid water bills.

Local MP Hassan Mourad criticized the move, stating, "Water is not a luxury." The country's only international airport in Beirut was at risk of having its power cut off until it agreed to a payment plan with EDL. Lebanon's state electricity sector, plagued by under-investment and neglect for decades, can only generate a few hours of power each day.

Those who can afford it rely on expensive private generators, but many state institutions, including hospitals, struggle to afford the costly diesel-powered generators due to Lebanon's dire economic situation and public finances.

The import-dependent nation is particularly sensitive to inflation and fuel price hikes resulting from the US-Iran war.