How Much is 1 kWh in Saudi Arabia? SEC Residential Tariff 2026

If you are wondering how much 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) costs in Saudi Arabia, the answer is 0.18 SAR for residential consumption up to 6,000 kWh, per the SEC tariff per month, and 0.30 SAR per kWh above that. The rate is set by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC / الشركة السعودية للكهرباء) and confirmed by the government regulator.

The residential tariff is two-tier, designed to encourage efficiency. The first 6,000 kWh of a billing month is charged at 0.18 SAR/kWh. Anything above 6,000 kWh in the same month jumps to 0.30 SAR/kWh. For an average Saudi household using 4,000 kWh per month, the energy portion is 4,000 × 0.18 = 720 SAR, plus the fixed monthly meter fee (typically a few SAR for small apartments, 20–30 SAR for larger homes).

Residential electricity in Saudi Arabia is not subject to the 15% VAT. The amount on your bill is the final amount you pay. This is a deliberate policy to keep household energy costs low. Commercial and governmental accounts, by contrast, are subject to 15% VAT, so they need a different calculation.

The fixed monthly meter fee depends on the meter type and amp rating. The most common residential meters carry a fee of a few riyals. High-capacity meters for villas with central AC can run 30 SAR or more. The SEC app or website shows the exact fee for your specific account.

Step-by-step bill calculation: take your monthly consumption in kWh, multiply tier 1 amount (up to 6,000 kWh) by 0.18, multiply tier 2 amount (above 6,000) by 0.30, add the two, then add the fixed fee. Example: 7,500 kWh in a month = 6,000 × 0.18 + 1,500 × 0.30 + 12 (fee) = 1,080 + 450 + 12 = 1,542 SAR.

A practical tip: staying under 6,000 kWh per month keeps you in tier 1. For most Saudi households (1,500–4,000 kWh), this is automatic. The threshold is more relevant for large villas with multiple AC units, pool pumps, or home workshops — these can easily exceed 6,000 kWh in July and August.

For a 2-bedroom apartment: typical consumption 1,500–2,500 kWh/month, monthly bill 280–470 SAR. For a 4-bedroom villa: 4,000–7,000 kWh/month, monthly bill 720–1,260 SAR in winter, higher in summer. AC accounts for 60–70% of residential consumption in Saudi Arabia, so the summer bill can be 2–3x the winter bill for the same household.

How to reduce your bill: set AC to 24–26°C instead of 18–22°C (each 1°C increase saves about 6% on AC consumption), clean AC filters monthly (dirty filters can increase consumption 15% or more), use inverter AC units (30–40% more efficient than conventional), and turn off AC in empty rooms.

The Electricity Bill Calculator on this site takes your monthly kWh consumption and the meter fee, then computes the exact bill in SAR. The result is instant and the URL keeps your inputs so you can share or bookmark the calculation. It is built specifically for residential use — commercial and governmental customers need different inputs.

Frequently asked: yes, you can switch your bill to electronic delivery in the SEC app to save paper. Yes, you can pay in installments (تقسيط) through some banks. Yes, the tariff is reviewed periodically by the government; check the SEC website for the latest rates if you are reading this after 2026.