Amman – Energy experts say heating practices in Jordan are gradually shifting away from traditional methods towards more energy-efficient electric heating solutions.
While modern electric appliances and energy-efficient air conditioners are emerging as more efficient alternatives, the transition remains dependent on the purchase and operating costs of the equipment, as well as the level of thermal insulation in homes. Experts also warn that rising electricity demand could place additional pressure on the national grid and increase the country’s energy costs.
They stressed that improving thermal insulation and managing consumption are essential steps towards reducing heating bills and strengthening energy security.
Data from the 2017 Household Expenditure and Income Survey showed that gas was the primary heating source for approximately 47.6% of Jordanian households, while around 32% relied on kerosene, 7.5% on firewood, coal and olive pomace, 6% on electricity, and 3.7% on central heating.
Energy and oil expert Hashem Aql said the shift from traditional heating methods, such as gas and kerosene, to electricity would be partial and gradual, given the economic, technical and social factors influencing household decisions.
He explained that advances in electric heaters, particularly infrared, ceramic and inverter technologies, are supporting this trend. Greater awareness of the risks of suffocation and fires associated with the improper use of gas and kerosene heaters and inadequate ventilation, alongside the convenience and cleanliness of electric appliances, are also encouraging households to consider electric heating.
However, Aql noted that the cost of electricity during intensive use, the possibility of households moving into higher consumption tariff brackets, and poor thermal insulation in older homes are limiting the shift.
He also pointed out that limited household incomes make purchasing modern appliances or installing gas-based central heating systems—which require infrastructure and substantial initial investment—unaffordable for many families.
Aql expects gas to remain the leading heating option, while kerosene will continue to be widely used by lower-income households. Electricity and energy-efficient appliances, meanwhile, are likely to see gradual growth among households better able to afford their costs.
He added that stable prices for gas and kerosene, along with government support, continue to make these fuels attractive options.
Regarding household expenses, Aql said the monthly cost of gas and kerosene in most typical cases ranges between JD 20 and JD 50. By contrast, relying on electricity could increase winter electricity bills by between 30% and 60%, or even more for some households.
A 12.5-kilogram gas cylinder costs approximately JD 7, while kerosene is priced at around 550 fils per litre. Subsidised electricity tariffs stand at 50 fils per kilowatt-hour for the first 300 kWh, 100 fils for consumption between 301 and 600 kWh, and 200 fils for consumption above that level.
Aql warned that expanding electric heating would increase demand on the national grid during winter and could require additional investment in electricity generation or imports, particularly since the residential sector accounts for approximately 40% or more of total electricity consumption in the Kingdom.
Although reduced reliance on diesel for central heating could ease some pressure on petroleum product imports, he said the overall impact would remain limited because such systems are not widely used.
He stressed that energy conservation does not mean sacrificing thermal comfort. Instead, it involves improving insulation, setting indoor temperatures at 20–21 degrees Celsius, maintaining appliances and limiting operating hours.
These measures can reduce energy consumption by 20% to 30% or more, according to studies. He called for directing support towards energy-efficient appliances and thermal insulation, alongside continued public awareness campaigns.
Al-Balasmeh: Heating Is Becoming an Economic and Strategic Issue
Energy expert and investor Dr Firas Al-Balasmeh said heating was no longer simply a seasonal choice between gas, kerosene and electricity. It had become part of a broader economic and strategic equation involving household purchasing power, energy efficiency, grid stability, import costs and security of energy supplies.
He explained that the findings of Jordan’s 2023 Population and Family Health Survey indicated that approximately 62.9% of households relied on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as their main heating source, compared with 13.4% using kerosene and 12.5% using electricity. Central heating accounted for 2.9%.
These figures, he said, demonstrate the continued dominance of gas and suggest that future competition will increasingly be between gas heating, highly efficient electric heating and modern central heating systems.
Al-Balasmeh stressed the importance of distinguishing between conventional electric heaters and the heat pumps used in modern air-conditioning systems.
Oil-filled and ceramic heaters, as well as conventional resistance heaters, convert each kilowatt-hour of electricity into approximately one kilowatt-hour of heat. Heat pumps, however, transfer heat from the outside environment into buildings and can produce approximately three kilowatt-hours of heat for every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed.
Consequently, a heat pump with a coefficient of performance (COP) of three can theoretically reduce the electricity required to produce the same amount of heat by around 67%, although its efficiency is affected by outdoor temperatures and operating conditions.
According to Al-Balasmeh, a hypothetical comparison of the cost of producing 1,000 kWh of useful heat, assuming thermal efficiency of 85% for fuel-powered appliances and a COP of three for a heat pump, puts the cost at approximately JD 52 for household gas, JD 68 for kerosene and JD 108 for diesel.
A conventional electric heater would cost approximately JD 100, based on an electricity tariff of 100 fils per kWh, compared with JD 33 for a heat pump. The latter cost would rise to approximately JD 67 under the 200-fils tariff.
He emphasised that these are illustrative estimates that exclude equipment purchase prices, maintenance and fees. However, they demonstrate that electricity is not always the cheaper option and that economic viability depends on the technology’s efficiency and the applicable consumption tariff, rather than simply switching from one fuel to another.
Al-Balasmeh expects greater use of inverter air conditioners and efficient heating systems in modern apartments and well-insulated buildings, as well as in some housing projects, hotels and commercial complexes, provided feasibility studies demonstrate lower operating costs over the system’s lifetime.
However, he ruled out a rapid shift by most households to electric heating, given the lower purchase cost of gas appliances compared with advanced electric systems and the difficulty lower-income families face in financing the initial investment.
At the national economic level, he said reducing petroleum product consumption would limit Jordan’s exposure to global market fluctuations and import pressures.
He noted that the government had borne approximately JD 290 million in subsidies and price differences for petroleum products from the beginning of the crisis through the end of October 2026. This figure covers petroleum products collectively and is not limited to heating fuels.
Nevertheless, he warned that switching to electricity would not eliminate dependence on imports, since a significant share of Jordan’s electricity is generated using natural gas.
As an example, he said operating 2,000-watt heaters simultaneously in 100,000 households would add an instantaneous load of 200 megawatts to the electricity grid. If those households used heat pumps with a COP of three instead, the additional load would be approximately 67 megawatts.
This illustrates the importance of appliance efficiency in reducing pressure on electricity generation, transmission and distribution systems.
Al-Balasmeh stressed that improving insulation in roofs, walls and windows, sealing air leaks and regulating indoor temperatures could be more cost-effective than replacing one heater with another.
He explained that poorly insulated homes waste a significant amount of energy. Furthermore, households may increase operating hours when heating becomes cheaper, reducing the expected savings in what is known as the rebound effect.
Al-Sarhan: Efficient Heating Could Gradually Change Household Consumption
Financial and economic expert Dr Mohammad Al-Hadab Al-Sarhan said advances in heating technologies and the growing range of energy-efficient options could gradually encourage households to change their consumption patterns, particularly as living costs rise and families seek alternatives that are less expensive in the long term.
He explained that the 2023 Population and Family Health Survey showed that 63.6% of households relied on gas heaters, compared with 14% using kerosene and diesel, and approximately 11.4% using electric heaters and air conditioners.
These figures confirm the continued dominance of traditional heating methods while highlighting room for modern alternatives to expand.
Al-Sarhan noted that operating a 2,000-watt electric heater for five hours a day consumes approximately 300 kWh per month. The additional cost could range between JD 30 and JD 60 if consumption falls within the 100-fils and 200-fils tariff brackets.
He stressed that air conditioners using heat pump technology provide heating while consuming significantly less electricity than conventional electric heaters.
Al-Sarhan added that the transition towards more efficient heating methods has implications beyond household electricity bills. It could reduce consumption of imported petroleum products and make the economy less vulnerable to global price fluctuations.
However, he stressed that effective management of winter electricity demand would be essential to ensure that energy costs are not simply shifted from one sector to another.
Source: Al Ghad Newspaper
