Iran's electricity generation from thermal power plants has risen by 3.37% since the beginning of the current Iranian year (started March 21) compared with the corresponding period of last year, whereas electricity generation from hydropower plants suffered a 7.87% decline.
According to Fars News Agency, the country's total power production has reached 185,890 gigawatt hours since March 21 up to the end of October, showing a 2.73% increase compared to the same period of last year.
Of the total domestic generated electricity, 176,284 gigawatt hours have been produced by the thermal power plants and the rest, 9,607 gigawatt hours, was generated by the hydropower plants.
During this period, the total amount of energy supplied has been reported to reach 188,369 gigawatt hours, indicating a 2.84% rise year-on-year.
The report says the imported energy from neighboring countries, in the said period, has reached 2,479 gigawatt hours, which show a rise of 11.82% compared to the same period of last year.
The electricity system in Iran (production, transmission and distribution) is centralized and owned by the government. However, the present government has been actively encouraging private companies and offering incentives.
The private sector is of the opinion that producing and supplying electricity in Iran are not a very attractive venture due largely to the "low prices" and the government subsidies to consumers. Generating each kilowatt hour of electricity costs 680 rials (about 0.027 cents) while it is being sold for 430 rials (about 0.017 cents).
Iran’s electricity industry ranks 14th in the world and first in the Middle East in terms of electricity generation with an installed power generation capacity of 74,000 MW.
The country is the largest exporter and importer of electricity in the Middle East and exports electricity to Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan. Azerbaijan and Armenia supply electricity to Iran under a swap agreement.
