Damascus Seesโค Improved โElectricity, But Concerns Remain Over โคFairness and Cost
Damascus โฃis experiencing a noticeableโค improvement in electricity service after years of crippling power cuts, offering a welcome relief to residents and โขbusinesses. While challengesโฃ persist, the increased stability is โalready positively โขimpacting daily life across โthe city.
Easingโ Burdens on householdsโ & Education:
Residents like Maha Damashqieh, a โDamascus housewife, โare celebrating the change. “Electricity is โคmuch โbetter now, and food noโค longer spoils,” she toldโข Levant24, highlightingโข the return of basic comforts. Lawyer Fares al-Ahmadโ echoed this sentiment, noting the โขcritically important benefit โขfor students who can now study without interruption. Though,he cautioned against further price increases,arguing โคthat “electricity is a citizen’sโฃ right” given current economic pressures.
Revitalizing Businesses:
the improved power supply is also boosting the commercial sector. Abu Omar,a sweets shop owner in Mezzeh,reports operating solely onโข grid electricity,eliminating expensive backup โขpower costs.Elias Farah, a restaurant โowner in Bab Touma, emphasized the importance of a stable supply for essential equipment like ovens and refrigerators.
Uneven Access & pricing Debate:
Despite the progress, concerns remain. Residents point to disparities in service between neighborhoods, with some areas like Al-Muhajirin โคreceiving better โaccess than others. Calls for aโค fairer distributionโ system are growing.
the โขrecent price โincrease to 600 Syrian poundsโ per kilowatt-hour โฃis attributed byโค the Ministry of Energy to rising operational costs and the need for grid โคmodernization.โข An official โคsourceโ explained that subsidies โคare maintained forโฃ low-income households and limited โconsumption,with a subsidized bracket offering prices up to 60% below production costs. The โMinistry also introduced incentive rates for small businesses to encourage โฃproductivity.
Theโ Ministryโ maintains its commitment to building a more efficient, โbalanced, and equitable electricityโ system for all citizens, focusing on reliability toโ reduce the indirect costs of outages. However, ensuringโข fair access and affordable pricing remain key challenges as Damascus โขstrives for a stable powerโฃ future.
[Image: Syrian women walk past a privately owned electricity generator in the Ain Tarma area, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus (Louai Beshra/AFP)]





