Summer nears, yet Iran’s power troubles run deeper than just hot days. Blackouts loom not simply due to weather but because neglect has weakened the grid over years. Outdated plants struggle now where new investment was ignored before. Fuel runs low at times, worsened when rivers shrink beneath long dry spells. People use energy without limits even as imports stall under trade barriers. In offices far from city lights, researchers calculate gaps – up to 13,640 megawatts missing during high stress, roughly a sixth of what users will ask for.

Electricity Supply barely creeps toward 68,420 megawatts while needs climb past 81,000. Heat presses down; machines fail more often; factories keep drawing juice anyway. Together, these strains overwhelm any buffer once built into the network.

Electricity Supply barely creeps toward 68,420 megawatts while needs climb past 81,000. Heat presses down; machines fail more often; factories keep drawing juice anyway. Together, these strains overwhelm any buffer once built into the network.

Iran’s power usage hit a high of around 347 terawatt-hours in 2024. During the summer, the demand for electricity peaked at nearly 80,000 megawatts. On paper, the country has an installed capacity of over 100,000 megawatts, but the actual amount of electricity that can be produced is much lower. All these issues mean that the available supply of electricity is reduced, which is why Iran often has shortages, even though it seems like they have a lot of capacity. 

Even though sanctions block overseas tech and loans, homegrown rules have made things worse too. Because the government pays so much toward energy costs, people see little reason to save it. Without enough income from small import taxes, power companies can’t fix old stations or improve lines that move electricity. Outdated machinery at plants burns extra fuel just to keep up. 

Even........

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