Electricity prices in Algeria (2026): Sonelgaz tariff by block
In Algeria a household kWh costs between DA 1.78 and DA 5.48 before tax, depending on your quarterly consumption. The CREG tariff has been unchanged since 1 January 2016 and is heavily subsidised. Here are the official blocks and a calculator to estimate your Sonelgaz bill.
| Item | kWh | Amount |
|---|
Sonelgaz tariff in force (tariff 54 M)
The household tariff 54 M is progressive: each block of quarterly consumption is charged at its own price, before tax. The first block, at DA 1.7787/kWh, is the social block.
| Consumption block (quarter) | Price |
|---|---|
| 0 – 125 kWh | 1.7787 DA/kWh |
| 125 – 250 kWh | 4.1789 DA/kWh |
| 250 – 1,000 kWh | 4.8120 DA/kWh |
| 1,000 – ∞ kWh | 5.4796 DA/kWh |
- Fixed levy introduced by the 2025 Finance Law: DA 25 (70–190 kWh a quarter), DA 100 (190–390 kWh) or DA 200 (above 390 kWh) per bill, according to press reports.
- VAT: 9% on the first two blocks (up to 250 kWh a quarter) and 19% above that.
- Contracted power charge: DA 4.37 per kW per month (not included in the calculator, as it depends on your contracted power).
How much is an electricity bill in Algeria?
Estimated quarterly bills including VAT and the fixed levy, excluding the contracted power charge and housing tax:
| Monthly consumption | Bill (quarter) | Per month | Average per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 kWh | 381.22 DA | 127.07 DA | 2.5415 DA/kWh |
| 100 kWh | 1,198.04 DA | 399.35 DA | 3.9935 DA/kWh |
| 150 kWh | 2,156.98 DA | 718.99 DA | 4.7933 DA/kWh |
| 200 kWh | 3,015.92 DA | 1,005.31 DA | 5.0265 DA/kWh |
| 300 kWh | 4,733.81 DA | 1,577.94 DA | 5.2598 DA/kWh |
| 400 kWh | 6,610.58 DA | 2,203.53 DA | 5.5088 DA/kWh |
How the Sonelgaz bill is calculated
Sonelgaz reads meters and bills every three months. For 600 kWh a quarter (200 kWh a month):
- 125 kWh × 1.7787 = DA 222.34
- 125 kWh × 4.1789 = DA 522.36
- 350 kWh × 4.8120 = DA 1,684.20
- VAT: 9% on DA 744.70 (DA 67.02) and 19% on DA 1,684.20 (DA 320.00)
- Fixed levy: DA 200
Total: about DA 3,015.92 for the quarter, before the contracted power charge and housing tax.
The turnover tax code sets the reduced 9% rate for "consumption below 250 kWh per quarter". We apply it to the first two blocks, as in the most commonly described practice; the texts we consulted do not spell out the exact rule when consumption exceeds 250 kWh.
Prices frozen since 2016
CREG decision D/22-15/CD set the prices in force since 1 January 2016, leaving the first two blocks unchanged and raising blocks 3 and 4 by about 15% and 31%. In February 2025 the energy minister confirmed that this tariff still applies, and we found no newer tariff decision.
These prices are below the cost of supply and the state covers the difference. In 2025 Sonelgaz was studying a move to monthly billing, not yet confirmed.
What else appears on the bill
The 2025 Finance Law introduced a quarterly fixed levy of DA 25, 100 or 200 depending on consumption (amounts reported by the press; we could not consult the Official Journal text). The bill also includes a contracted power charge of DA 4.37 per kW per month, and the housing tax Sonelgaz collects for municipalities, which varies by municipality.
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of a kWh in Algeria in 2026?
Before tax: DA 1.7787 from 0 to 125 kWh a quarter, DA 4.1789 from 125 to 250 kWh, DA 4.8120 from 250 to 1,000 kWh and DA 5.4796 above 1,000 kWh.
What VAT applies to electricity in Algeria?
A reduced 9% rate for consumption up to 250 kWh a quarter and the standard 19% rate above that.
Have Sonelgaz prices gone up?
The per-kWh prices have not changed since 1 January 2016. The only recent change is the fixed levy from the 2025 Finance Law.
Why is the Sonelgaz bill quarterly?
Sonelgaz reads meters and bills every three months, so the tariff blocks are quarterly: 125, 250 and 1,000 kWh.
How can I lower my electricity bill in Algeria?
Staying within the first two blocks matters most: above 250 kWh a quarter the kWh is more expensive and VAT rises from 9% to 19%.
Official sources
- Tarification de l'électricité basse tension (tarifs 51 à 54) — CREG
- Code des taxes sur le chiffre d'affaires (art. 23, taux réduit) — Direction générale des douanes
- Vos factures Sonelgaz augmenteront en 2025 : les montants du nouvel impôt — Algérie360
- Factures Sonelgaz : Arkab annonce un changement majeur pour 2025 — Algérie360
Tariffs change by official decision. We review this page periodically, but always check the latest decision of the regulator or your distributor before making decisions.