Electricity, gas tariffs for July-September hit record highs, reflecting higher fuel costs from Middle East conflict
The overall electricity tariff (before GST), including tariffs for non-households, will increase by an average of 17 per cent compared with the previous quarter.
A view of public housing blocks in Singapore at night. (Photo: iStock)
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SINGAPORE: Singapore households will face record-high electricity and gas tariffs in the third quarter of 2026 after earlier increases in natural gas prices, driven by the Middle East conflict, pushed up the cost of producing electricity and gas here, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) said on Tuesday (Jun 30).
The household electricity tariff from July to September will be 4.64 cents per kWh higher than the previous quarter's tariff before the Goods and Services Tax (GST), utilities agency SP Group said.
At 31.91 cents per kWh, electricity prices for the July-September period will be the highest to date, an EMA spokesperson told CNA.
The previous peak was in the fourth quarter of 2008, when the tariff hit 30.45 cents per kWh due to higher fuel costs, the spokesperson said.
Figures from SP Group showed that the average monthly household electricity bill for a four-room Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat is now S$100.74. This is expected to rise to S$117.88 from July to September.
The overall electricity tariff (before GST), including tariffs for non-households, will increase by an average of 17 per cent compared with the previous quarter.
The gas tariff for households will also be higher from July to September compared to the preceding quarter, by 1.56 cents per kWh before GST, gas provider City Energy said on Tuesday.
The revised third-quarter gas tariff will go up from 21.92 cents per kWh to 23.48 cents per kWh – about a 7.1 per cent increase.
This is also Singapore's highest gas tariff to date, said EMA, adding that the previous record was 23.42 cents per kWh in the third quarter of 2024.
EMA said in a statement last Friday that Singapore's regulated electricity and town gas tariffs are determined every quarter, based on the gas prices in the first 2.5 months of the previous quarter.
"This means that changes in fuel prices in a quarter will only show up in the electricity tariffs in the next quarter.
"This was the case when the regulated electricity tariffs for April to June 2026 rose slightly, as it only included the rise in fuel prices from Feb 28 (when the Middle East conflict started) till Mar 15, 2026," it added.
SP Group had previously said that electricity tariffs in subsequent quarters were expected to increase further as the full impact of elevated natural gas prices was incorporated into tariff calculations.
In a ministerial statement in parliament on Apr 7, Mr Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, noted that the July tariff adjustment was expected to reflect higher fuel costs fully.
The situation in the Middle East "remains uncertain", but if it improves, lower fuel prices could in turn lead to lower electricity and town gas tariffs in the fourth quarter of 2026, EMA said.
The authority added that it is monitoring the fuel supply situation closely and working with the industry to ensure supply security.
OPTIONS FOR HOUSEHOLDS
Households may choose to buy electricity from SP Group at the regulated electricity tariff, which is reviewed quarterly, or from electricity retailers, which offer price plans that are fixed, discounted off the regulated tariff or "time-of-use" (different rates offered based on the time of day).
Open electricity market retailer Geneco's fixed 24-month package charges 27.50 cents per kWh, while Tuas Power's charges 29.71 cents per kWh. Keppel Electric offers its fixed 24-month plan at 28.30 cents per kWh, and Flo charges 29.72 cents per kWh. All prices are inclusive of GST.
While consumers on electricity retail contracts may see higher prices at the point of contract renewal, they are advised to choose the electricity supply option that best suits their needs and preferences.
Households may also do more to conserve energy by setting air-conditioners to a moderate temperature (for example, 25°C or higher), switching off lights and appliances when they are not in use, and choosing energy-efficient appliances.
"This will not only help to reduce household electricity bills but also contribute to Singapore's energy resilience," EMA said.
Singapore relies heavily on imported energy, with about 95 per cent of its electricity generated from imported natural gas, the authority stated.
Under support measures in response to the US-Iran war announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for Budget 2026, another tranche of U-Save and Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates will be disbursed in July.
