Amman — Data released by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources showed that a total of 29,866 sites have been connected to the electricity grid under the Rural Electrification Levy, at a total cost of JD 227.3 million, from 1992 through the end of August 2026. The sites include 170,254 homes.
According to ministry data, approvals have been granted to connect electricity to 1,806 additional sites comprising 2,995 homes, at an estimated cost of approximately JD 21.19 million. Work is currently underway to implement and complete these projects.
The ministry explained that the Rural Electrification Levy was introduced under the 1977 electricity tariff and pursuant to the provisions of the General Electricity Law. Electricity distribution companies collect one fils from consumers for every kilowatt-hour, with the proceeds allocated to finance rural electrification projects and recorded as public revenue in the Kingdom’s Treasury account at the Ministry of Finance.
The Rural Electrification Levy is defined as a dedicated revenue and expenditure item within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources aimed at extending electricity services to rural and remote areas and supporting productive and economic projects there. It also seeks to provide electricity to farms with groundwater wells to enhance food security, support productive projects, and provide a range of public services.
The levy aims to connect all villages and population centers across the Kingdom under a comprehensive plan and established criteria. It also supports local community development by extending electricity to unserved locations and contributes to the utilization of local energy resources, particularly solar power, for electricity generation.
Eligible residential categories include communities consisting of at least five homes, population clusters of at least three homes, individual homes located outside organized municipal boundaries, and homes belonging to low-income families located within organized areas, provided a social assessment is obtained from the Ministry of Social Development.
Rural Electrification Levy projects also cover cemeteries and the lighting of roads leading to them, farms with groundwater wells, agricultural projects, and charitable and cooperative societies located outside organized areas. Support also extends to productive, investment, industrial and tourism projects, economic activities, and hotels outside organized areas.
The levy also funds projects operated by government sectors and capacity upgrades for electrical substations established through the Rural Electrification Levy during the previous 10 years.
Solar Energy Projects
In the renewable energy sector, the Rural Electrification Levy began implementing projects in 2013 to install off-grid solar systems for privately owned groundwater wells outside organized areas. As of the date of the report, nine wells had benefited from these systems at a cost of JD 156,575.
In 2016, the ministry began installing off-grid solar systems for individual homes belonging to low-income families located outside organized areas and far from electricity networks. A total of 128 homes benefited from the program at a cost of JD 597,767.
Since 2019, a project has been implemented to install grid-connected solar systems for low-income households and beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund, with a capacity of up to 2 kilowatts. The project has benefited 7,527 households at a cost of JD 7.7 million.
The installation and commissioning of an additional 940 solar systems is currently being completed, while a new tender has been awarded for the installation of 500 systems at a cost of JD 294,002.50.
In 2023, a project was launched to install 3.6-kilowatt grid-connected solar systems for the homes of military personnel with disabilities. A total of 1,610 beneficiaries have benefited from the project at a cost of JD 1.743 million.
In 2025, another project was launched to install 3.6-kilowatt-peak solar systems for the homes of families of martyrs. The project targets 500 homes, with implementation expected to begin during 2027-2029.
Also in 2025, a project was launched to install 3.6-kilowatt-peak grid-connected solar systems for 1,000 homes owned by persons with disabilities or their families. The project has an estimated cost of approximately JD 1.5 million and is scheduled for implementation during 2026-2030.
The Rural Electrification Levy allocation in the current year’s budget for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources stands at JD 6.1 million, compared with JD 5.2 million in the revised estimate for the previous year.
