Iraq PM orders dismissal of electricity officials over billing failures

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani chaired a meeting Sunday with the Ministry of Electricity’s technical team on revenue collection, directing measures to curb energy losses and strengthen billing systems, his office said.

The review focused on strategies to cut waste from unmetered electricity use, reduce technical losses across the national grid, and improve collection mechanisms.

Al-Sudani ordered the dismissal of 15 distribution center directors for “delays and failures in implementing collection regulations and addressing power losses.” He also instructed the ministry to expand the authority of branch managers so they can “take more comprehensive actions in reducing energy losses, controlling unmetered consumption, and holding underperforming personnel accountable.”

Statement from Al-Sudani’s media office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired today, Sunday, a meeting with the technical team at the Ministry of Electricity responsible for revenue collection. The meeting focused on strategies to reduce waste from unmetered electricity consumption, lower technical losses across the national distribution network, and improve billing and collection systems. Several advisors from the Prime Minister’s Office attended the meeting.

The discussions covered the Ministry’s detailed three-month action plan, approaches to enhance electricity bill payments, the transition to electronic payment methods, and the installation of meters for all consumer access points. It also addressed the implementation of estimated billing based on average consumption in cases where meters were not previously available, and reviewed applications submitted by private companies seeking to operate in the billing sector across Iraq.

The meeting also examined tariff rates and emphasized the importance of coordination between the Ministry of Electricity and other government institutions, including the provision of data for all public buildings to ensure they are properly billed.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani issued directives to relieve 15 distribution center directors due to delays and failures in implementing collection regulations and addressing power losses. He instructed the Ministry of Electricity to prioritize reducing losses and maximizing collections as a core responsibility of all distribution center and branch directors.

The Prime Minister further directed the expansion of administrative authority for branch managers to enable them to take more comprehensive actions in reducing energy losses, controlling unmetered consumption, and holding underperforming personnel accountable—starting with maintenance center heads, area managers, branch directors, and other officials in the distribution sector.

Additionally, the Prime Minister instructed the Advisory Board to study a proposal to settle outstanding electricity bills for all subscribers and submit a formal recommendation to the Ministerial Council for the Economy.