The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has launched a nationwide campaign to crack down on illegal electricity connections in Baghdad and all other provinces, aiming to reduce power losses and improve electricity supply.
The campaign is being carried out under the supervision of Deputy Minister Khalid Ghazai Attiya, along with senior officials from the ministry, legal and economic departments, and teams of engineers and technicians.
The first phase of the operation focused on residential and commercial areas in the Al-Hurriya and Central Karkh districts of Baghdad. Officials said the campaign is part of a broader plan that will continue in stages to address violations across the country and help protect the stability of the national power grid.
According to the ministry, illegal electricity connections are causing major losses, accounting for around 55% of the electricity supplied to consumers. These losses reduce the amount of power available to legitimate users and negatively affect the number of hours electricity can be provided.
Deputy Minister Attiya said the campaign is being carried out in line with government directives and is intended to ensure a fair distribution of electricity while reducing waste and unauthorized use.
The ministry warned that illegal connections place extra strain on the power network by creating unexpected increases in demand. This puts pressure on generation capacity and makes it more difficult to maintain stable electricity services, especially at a time when the country is facing significant operational and economic challenges.
Officials said the campaign will continue in the coming weeks as part of efforts to improve the efficiency of Iraq’s electricity system and provide better service to citizens.
