Opinion: Summer Arrives Again

Generator sellers are charging 8,000 Iraqi dinars for one ampere of electricity because of the fuel (shortage) and the rising cost of gasoline that is necessary to operate the generators. We can imagine the added financial burden on families' budgets, realizing that a single family needs at least four or five amperes. Most Iraqis forgot that (they are entitled to) state electricity because of the continuous power cuts. It only runs a few hours a day and is not enough to make ice or let people take a short nap in the afternoon (because of the heat.) Recently, the Baghdad provincial council promised to buy big generators and distribute them in Baghdad's districts. The electricity will be sold for a low price per ampere with subsidized fuel from the ministry of oil. It is much better to have the oil ministry coordinate with generator sellers (who provide power to neighbourhoods) so that they can provide lower-priced electricity. But the most important thing is for the government to work aggressively to solve the electricity problem once and for all.