From 1 January 2026, electricity used for street and public space lighting across all cities and islands in the Maldives will be charged at domestic rates, the same as ordinary households.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the decision on Monday evening in a post on X. He stated that the change would ease the financial burden on local councils, enabling them to allocate more funds towards other essential community services.

At present, councils are charged higher rates than residential consumers for public lighting. Under the new arrangement, the State Electric Company (STELCO), which supplies Malé, and Fenaka Corporation, which serves most of the atolls, will implement the revised billing system.

The Government has also reiterated its commitment to making electricity more affordable nationwide. In recent years, the public has raised concerns about inconsistent household electricity bills and frequent power outages, particularly in Malé and Addu City.