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Lebanon's state utility cuts power to public institutions over unpaid bills

Lebanon's state utility cuts power to public institutions over unpaid bills

Built World

About 100 government bodies owe roughly $248 million; Beirut's airport kept power by agreeing to a payment plan

November 2nd, 2026: EDL cuts power to public institutions

Overview

Updated 2 days ago

On Monday, Lebanon's state electricity company began cutting power to about 100 public institutions that owe roughly $248 million. The list includes the finance and interior ministries, Beirut's municipality and water authorities.

Beirut's international airport stayed on after its civil aviation directorate agreed a down payment and installments, and public hospitals are exempt. EDL says the disconnections are not aimed at the state but are meant to protect public funds, and warns it will cut again if an institution misses a payment. The grid already delivers only two to four hours a day in Beirut, down from about 21 before 2019.

Why it matters

Lebanon's grid runs two to four hours a day. A $248 million arrears fight shows why the state utility cannot afford fuel.

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Key Indicators

$248M
Unpaid bills owed by public institutions
The total arrears on EDL's list of roughly 100 public bodies.
~100
Public institutions on the cutoff list
Ministries, municipalities, water authorities and other state bodies named in the campaign. Public hospitals are exempt.
2-4 hours
Daily state electricity in Beirut
Down from about 21 hours a day before the 2019 crisis.
~$1,500
Gasoil price per metric ton
Roughly double the $680 a ton EDL assumed in its 2026 budget, according to the utility's own figures.

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People Involved

Joe Saddi
Joe Saddi
Lebanon's Minister of Energy and Water
Boycotting cabinet meetings; facing speculation of resignation
 Nawaf Salam
Nawaf Salam
Prime Minister of Lebanon
Under pressure over the electricity standoff
JO
Jessica Obeid
Lebanese energy expert
Analyst commenting on the crisis
SZ
Sami Zoughaib
Economist and research manager at The Policy Initiative
Analyst commenting on the crisis
 Gebran Bassil
Gebran Bassil
Leader of the Free Patriotic Movement; former energy minister
Critic of Saddi's management of the ministry

Organizations Involved

ED
Électricité du Liban (EDL)
State-owned utility
Executing the cutoff campaign

Lebanon's state-owned electricity company, which generates, transmits and distributes power.
ME
Ministry of Energy and Water
Government ministry
Pushing collection and sector reform under Saddi

The Lebanese ministry responsible for the country's energy and water sectors.
Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Forces
Political party
Saddi's party; ministers boycotting cabinet

A right-wing Christian party that holds the energy ministry and is pressing the government over electricity.
FP
Free Patriotic Movement
Political party
Critic of Saddi's management

A Christian party and rival of the Lebanese Forces that previously held the energy ministry.
TP
The Policy Initiative
Think tank
Providing analysis on the crisis

A Beirut-based think tank whose researchers analyze Lebanon's economy and policy.

Timeline

2019 November 2026

10 events Latest: November 2nd, 2026 · 1 week ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. EDL cuts power to public institutions

    Latest Utility

    EDL begins disconnecting about 100 public bodies that owe roughly $248 million.

  2. Some institutions pay and get reconnected

    Utility

    Several bodies make partial payments and promise installments; EDL restores their power.

  3. Beirut airport avoids the cut with a payment plan

    Utility

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation reached a last-minute agreement with EDL, pledging an immediate down payment and scheduled installments for the rest, keeping power on at Rafic Hariri International Airport.

  4. Communications Ministry says its bills went to Finance

    Government

    The ministry said it had settled $5.199 million in electricity bills and sent another $1.275 million to be paid from a Treasury advance. It said bills for 2023 and 2024 await a decision on credit transfers it requested on July 13, 2026.

  5. Lebanese Forces ministers join boycott

    Politics

    Three ministerial colleagues from the Lebanese Forces join Saddi's cabinet boycott.

  6. Draft 2027 budget draws electricity objections

    Politics

    The Lebanese Forces and Saddi say the budget gives electricity too little attention.

  7. Saddi begins cabinet boycott

    Politics

    Saddi boycotts cabinet meetings over the government's handling of the power sector.

  8. EDL issues five-day ultimatum

    Utility

    EDL gives public bodies five days to pay arrears, exempting public hospitals.

  9. Reformist-led government takes office

    Politics

    A government led by reformists takes control, raising hopes for the power sector.

  10. Lebanon's economic crisis begins

    Economic

    A banking and currency crisis starts; state electricity supply begins a long decline.

Scenarios

1

Institutions settle bills and EDL restores power

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: EDL's board statement; L'Orient-Le Jour

EDL said a large number of public bodies contacted it, paid part of what they owed and pledged monthly installments. It restored power to those that did. If the rest follow, the collection campaign winds down without a wider confrontation between the utility and the government.

2

Cabinet reshuffle removes Saddi

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Al Jazeera; Lebanese media speculation

Saddi's boycott and the Lebanese Forces' pressure have raised speculation about a reshuffle or his resignation. A new energy minister could reset the standoff, though the underlying fuel and debt problems would remain.

3

Qatar energy deal is signed

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Reuters; Al Jazeera

After its prime minister visited Beirut, Qatar offered to build two power plants over three years and a 20-year liquefied natural gas supply deal. Approval would add generation, but analysts say the damaged grid still needs rehabilitation and reform.

4

EDL publishes its final list of disconnected bodies

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: EDL's own statement

The utility said it would issue a follow-up statement with the details and final count of institutions affected. That tally would show how many bodies actually lost power and how many settled, which the partial figures so far do not.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2019-2021

Lebanon's Economic Collapse (2019)

A banking and currency crisis wiped out savings and crippled the state's ability to buy fuel. In Beirut, state electricity fell from about 21 hours a day to two to four.

Then

Private diesel generators became the main power source, run by parties and businessmen.

Now

The state utility never recovered its finances, and reform efforts stalled.

Why this matters now

Today's cutoff is the latest attempt to make public institutions pay into a system that still cannot fund itself.

August 2021

Lebanon's National Grid Blackout (2021)

EDL ran out of fuel and the national grid went dark, leaving the country with almost no state power for a day and intermittent supply afterward.

Then

Generators and solar panels filled some of the gap at far higher cost.

Now

The blackout showed how quickly a cash-strapped utility can fail entirely.

Why this matters now

It explains why a collection campaign matters: without revenue, EDL risks another full collapse.

Sources

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Al Jazeera L'Orient Today LBC Group BBC News Arabic Al Arabiya Levantine Report An-Nahar Lebanon Debate The National Nessma EconoTimes Daily Beirut Asharq Al-Awsat L'Orient Today