CNI News

27 June 2025

Despite the rising electricity prices in Myanmar, the Ministry of Electricity needs to transparently inform the public about the circumstances and rates at which the increases have been made, business owners and the public have pointed out. 

Businesses, including those from the lower classes, are facing rising living costs and business operating costs due to the increase in electricity rates, businessman U Aung Pyae Sone told CNI News.

"The electricity that is provided in our country is distributed by the government in three ways: first, hydroelectric power, electricity generated from natural gas, and coal. The most is obtained from hydroelectric power. Currently, only half of the country's electricity consumption can be supplied, so  the electricity is being provided to Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay by percentage. However, there has been no announcement yet why the electricity bill has increased or how much it has been increased. Has the electricity bill gone up if over 50 units are used instead of an increase in the bill only if more than 100 units are used? The Ministry of Electricity needs to make a public announcement on this issue. The ministry needs to inform the public why the electricity bills increase or that the bills have not increased. It's necessary that the people strongly believe they have to pay more only because they used more electricity. At a time like this, the grassroots are in a difficult situation. If they have to pay more for the electricity, it could cause difficulties for them," he said.

While announcing the increase in electricity bills

The Ministry of Electricity announced on August 30, 2024, that the electricity tariff for household use was designated 50 kyats per unit for 1 to 50 units, 100 kyats per unit for 51 to 100 units, 150 kyats per unit for 101 to 200 units, and 300 kyats per unit for 201 units and above. 

It was announced that the electricity consumption fee for commercial use would be designated 250 kyats per unit for 1 to 5,000 units, 400 kyats per unit for 5,000 to 20,000 units, and 500 kyats per unit for 20,000 units and above.

While seeing the electricity bill

Economic analyst U Htay Aung Kyi told CNI News that the increase in electricity rates should not happen at a time when the economic situation in Myanmar is bad.

It is known that electricity is not yet available nationwide in Myanmar, and the cities of Yangon and Mandalay are provided on a rotating basis, with 4 hours on and 4 hours off per day.A housewife said that electricity bills have increased by half, and that while she used to pay only 40,000 kyats, she is now paying up to 80,000 kyats.