Smart electricity meters will be installed in residential projects across the Kurdistan Region, with apartment owners required to pay $395.
The Electricity Directorate and the Runaki Project set the fee. The cost applies to the original property owner, not tenants living in the apartment.
Residents must pay the installation charge through the accounting department of their housing project. After installation, electricity use will be measured under the Runaki system. Monthly bills can then be paid through electricity offices or approved digital applications.
Kurdistan Region Board of Investment Chairman Mohammed Shukri said owners in projects without smart meters must cover the installation cost. He stressed that tenants are not responsible for the payment. If a tenant pays the fee, the amount should be deducted from the monthly rent.
Officials will also calculate electricity charges for months before meter installation. Technical teams will estimate consumption using available meter readings and issue bills for the relevant period.
Some investors have criticized the $395 charge. Soran Mohammed, executive director of Shvan Company in Sulaymaniyah, said the amount was high, especially because projects had already received electricity bills before meters were installed.
He also questioned the difference between residential projects and ordinary homes.
The government previously covered meter installation costs for regular households until June 1. However, investment projects often require three-phase meters because of higher electricity loads and cooling systems. Authorities therefore decided that property owners should pay the cost.
The Runaki Project was launched in November 2024 to provide 24-hour electricity across the Kurdistan Region. The government aims to expand the system across the entire Region by the end of 2026.
Officials say the project will eventually replace the old billing system and reduce dependence on private neighborhood generators. It covers homes, businesses and residential projects across cities and towns.
