Residents of Kabul say persistent power outages and inflated electricity bills are disrupting daily life, as frustration grows over the lack of stable power supply in the capital.
Many residents report spending long hours without electricity while receiving bills they say do not reflect their actual usage.
“The bills are double or even triple, and yet we don’t even have electricity,” said Azizullah, a Kabul resident. “At least give us stable electricity, no matter the cost.”
“Power comes for 20 minutes, then disappears for one or two hours,” said another resident, Atiqullah. “We’re forced to rely on gas to get through the day.”
The former head of Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), Amanullah Ghalib, said the capital’s ongoing electricity shortages stem from delays in completing transmission projects. Kabul needs about 1,000 kilowatts of power, but the utility can supply only 400 to 500 kilowatts, he said.
“The main problem is the transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul,” Ghalib said. “Once the 500-kilovolt Arghandi-Kabul line is connected, we expect to transfer 700 to 800 kilowatts and ease the outages.”
Residents continue to voice concerns amid frequent blackouts and rising bills, while inadequate infrastructure and limited capacity in power generation and transmission remain key challenges.
The Taliban claim they are working to address the crisis, citing recent efforts such as launching a solar power project in Logar province and signing an agreement with Azizi Energy to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity. However, many Afghans remain skeptical about the feasibility of these projects.
