Iran’s electricity industry spokesperson said no sudden tariff increase occurred and the heavy bills were mainly due to consumers moving outside the consumption pattern.

Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi added that the consumption pattern for ordinary areas in the summer months, until the end of Shahrivar, is 300 kilowatt-hours per month, while that figure was set at 200 kilowatt-hours during the Ordibehesht period. Warm regions have different consumption patterns.

This explanation came after criticism from consumers about several-fold increases in the bills.

Last year, some consumers also criticized the three- to seven-fold increase in bills, and the Tavanir Company attributed it to high consumption, overdue debts, or non-household use.