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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's Federal Supreme Court is set to convene on Monday to hear a complaint filed by a Kurdish opposition lawmaker regarding the electricity prices set for the Kurdistan Region's Runaki round-the-clock electricity project.
The complaint was filed by Omar Gulpi, a member of the Kurdistan parliament from the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal). He argued that the new electricity prices place a significant financial burden on the Region's citizens.
'I filed the complaint as a citizen, not as a lawmaker,' Gulpi told Rudaw.
The Runaki initiative is a cornerstone of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) infrastructure modernization efforts. Already operational in parts of Erbil, Duhok, and Sulaimani provinces, the project aims to phase out diesel generators, reduce emissions, and deliver consistent electricity.
As of August, nearly three million people in the Kurdistan Region are receiving 24-hour electricity, according to the KRG, making up around 40 percent of the Region's population.
According to the initiative, electricity prices vary based on consumption levels, ranging from 72 to 350 dinars per kilowatt.
In late June, the Iraqi top court dismissed a similar lawsuit filed by Srwa Abdulwahid, head of the Kurdish opposition New Generation Movement's bloc in the Iraqi parliament, citing a 'lack of jurisdiction.'
The lawsuit was filed against Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. It called for the Runaki initiative to be annulled.
Electricity shortages remain a frequent issue in the Kurdistan Region, driven by high demand, financial constraints, and fuel supply problems. Residents have traditionally relied on private diesel generators, which are costly and polluting.
Hastyar Qadir contributed to this report.
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