At a Glance:

• Nearly 800,000 electricity subscribers across the Kurdistan Region settled their legacy debts under the government's 50% discount initiative.
• The debt relief program ran for approximately 40 days, launching in early August and officially concluding on September 10, 2026.
• Residential households accounted for 60% of all beneficiaries, with commercial businesses and private enterprises comprising the remaining 40%.
• The Ministry of Electricity framed the campaign as a critical transition phase to clear past arrears ahead of implementing full-scale, 24-hour grid modernization.

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Nearly 800,000 electricity subscribers across the Kurdistan Region have settled their outstanding balances under a 50% debt discount program that concluded on September 10, 2026. According to an official press release by the KRG Ministry of Electricity, the 40-day initiative successfully cleared legacy debts for both residential and commercial sectors, clearing the path for the full deployment of Project Runaki to modernize the regional power grid.

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Key Statements and Focus Area:

• Ministry of Electricity (Kurdistan Regional Government):
  "Most subscribers who held accumulated debt prior to the initiative were able to utilize the discount and settle their balances. In order to supply 24-hour electricity across the Kurdistan Region and maintain equity among consumers, the ministry will continue supporting citizens across all sectors."

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Metrics and Implementation of the KRG Electricity Debt Discount Program

Program Dimension	Official Figures / Specifications	Operational Context & Impact
Total Beneficiaries	~800,000 Subscribers	Majority of consumers holding legacy balances cleared arrears.
Discount Rate	50% Debt Reduction	Applied across accumulated residential and commercial balances.
Campaign Duration	Early August – September 10, 2026	40-day temporary debt relief window prior to grid reforms.
Residential Share	60% of Total Beneficiaries	Provided direct financial relief to private households.
Commercial Share	40% of Total Beneficiaries	Utilized by local businesses, industrial facilities, and private firms.
Payment Channels	E-Bill System & Branch Offices	Processed through digital e-billing portals and local utility desks.

Modernization and Project Roonaki Readiness

The Ministry of Electricity emphasized that clearing legacy arrears was a necessary precursor to launching Project Runaki, the KRG’s strategic initiative designed to upgrade grid infrastructure, transition consumers to modern digital metering, and guarantee 24-hour continuous power supply. By providing a 50% discount over a 40-day period, authorities aimed to establish operational fairness, ensuring all subscribers enter the new system with settled accounts and consistent billing schedules.

Digital Payment Integration

Payments were processed via the ministry’s digital e-bill platform alongside direct transactions at local municipal electricity offices. While the ministry did not publicly disclose the total gross monetary revenue collected during the campaign, officials confirmed that the vast majority of delinquent subscribers took advantage of the program before the September 10 deadline passed.

FYI

Clearing legacy utility debt for nearly 800,000 accounts provides immediate revenue for the Ministry of Electricity while reducing financial friction as the KRG scales up Project Runaki. Securing widespread buy-in from both residential and commercial sectors is essential if regional authorities hope to transition the Kurdistan Region toward a sustainable, 24-hour municipal power grid.

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