Electricity, water and wastewater bills in Saudi Arabia will be calculated using updated rates starting January 1, 2027. The changes will affect residential customers, businesses and other sectors, with charges depending on how much electricity or water is used and the type of connection.
Saudi Energy and the National Water Company (NWC) announced the revised tariffs in line with the procedures for adjusting energy and water prices. Here’s what the new rates mean for customers.
What Are The New Electricity Rates?
From January 1, 2027, residential electricity consumption will be charged at SAR 0.21 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for monthly usage of up to 6,000 kWh. Any usage above that level will be charged at SAR 0.33 per kWh.
Customers will also have a fixed monthly electricity charge based on their home’s circuit breaker capacity.
The new residential charges will be:
- 20 to 99 amps: SAR 70 per month
- 100 to 199 amps: SAR 80 per month
- 200 to 299 amps: SAR 90 per month
- 300 amps or above: SAR 100 per month
These fixed charges will replace the current meter reading, maintenance and billing fee. The published electricity rates exclude VAT.
How Will Electricity Rates Change For Businesses?
Electricity rates will differ depending on the type of customer.
Commercial businesses, private healthcare facilities and private educational institutions will pay SAR 0.25 per kWh for monthly consumption of up to 6,000 kWh, increasing to SAR 0.35 per kWh for usage above that level.
Industrial customers connected to the electricity transmission or distribution network will pay SAR 0.23 per kWh.
For agricultural customers, the rate will be SAR 0.19 per kWh for monthly consumption of up to 6,000 kWh, and SAR 0.23 per kWh above that level. Charitable organisations will pay SAR 0.17 per kWh for the first tier and SAR 0.21 per kWh for usage above 6,000 kWh.
Government electricity consumption will be charged at a single rate of SAR 0.35 per kWh.
Fixed monthly charges will also vary by sector and circuit breaker capacity. Agricultural customers and charitable organisations will pay between SAR 140 and SAR 200, while industrial, commercial, government, private healthcare and private educational customers will pay between SAR 350 and SAR 900.
What About Water Bills?
Water charges will also change from January 1, 2027, with the amount paid depending on monthly consumption.
For residential customers, the rates will be:
| Monthly water usage | Rate per cubic metre |
|---|---|
| First 15 m³ | SAR 1 |
| Above 15 to 30 m³ | SAR 2 |
| Above 30 to 45 m³ | SAR 4 |
| Above 45 m³ | SAR 6 |
A cubic metre is equivalent to 1,000 litres of water. The rates are applied in stages, meaning the rate for each tier applies to the amount of water used within that range.
For example, someone who uses 20 cubic metres in a month would pay SAR 1 per cubic metre for the first 15 m³, then SAR 2 per cubic metre for the next 5 m³, before any other applicable charges.
The revised water tariffs also apply to non-residential and government customers.
New Wastewater Charges
Wastewater services will have their own consumption rates, also divided into four tiers:
| Monthly usage tier | Rate per cubic metre |
|---|---|
| First 15 m³ | SAR 0.50 |
| Above 15 to 30 m³ | SAR 1 |
| Above 30 to 45 m³ | SAR 2 |
| Above 45 m³ | SAR 3 |
The monthly bill may also include fixed charges based on the size of the water meter.
Water meter fees will range from SAR 20 to SAR 100 per month, while wastewater meter fees will range from SAR 10 to SAR 50 per month. The amount depends on the meter’s diameter.
For each additional unit, an extra monthly charge of SAR 20 for water and SAR 10 for wastewater will apply.
When Do The New Rates Start?
The revised electricity, water and wastewater tariffs will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Customers can check the new electricity rates through Saudi Energy and the updated water and wastewater charges through the National Water Company.
For water bill enquiries, NWC can also be contacted on 8004411110 or through its official app.
The announcement also referred to royal directives to provide support for employees in the military, government and private sectors, although the tariff notice did not specify the amounts or eligibility conditions for that support.
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