Understanding your Nama electricity and water bill helps you avoid summer bill shock and budget correctly as an expat. This guide breaks down Oman’s 2026 residential tariff bands, the seasonal reductions, the cost-reflective tariff for higher earners, and how to pay online.
How residential electricity is charged
Electricity for homes is supplied through Nama’s distribution companies, and residential bills use a stepped (tiered) tariff — the more you use, the higher the rate on the top slice of consumption. For a primary residential account, the standard 2026 bands are set out below, quoted in baisa per kWh (1,000 baisa = OMR 1).
| Monthly consumption | Rate (primary account) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 4,000 kWh | 14 baisa/kWh |
| 4,001 – 6,000 kWh | 18 baisa/kWh |
| Above 6,000 kWh | 32 baisa/kWh |
Additional residential accounts — a third property and beyond — start at higher bands of 22, 26 and 32 baisa/kWh. A 5% VAT charge is added on top of the tariff.
Summer reductions ease the peak
Air-conditioning drives Oman’s summer bills, so seasonal reductions apply to primary residential accounts during the hottest months. In the June–August window the reductions are 20% on the first band, 15% on the second and 10% above 6,000 kWh, with smaller reductions in May (15%, 10% and 5%). Even with the discount, running AC across a large villa can push you into the top band, so managing thermostat settings pays off. Practical habits — setting the thermostat to around 24°C, servicing AC filters, and cooling only the rooms in use — can shave a meaningful slice off a peak-season bill, especially if it keeps your consumption below the 4,000 kWh first-band ceiling.
The cost-reflective tariff for higher earners
Oman is gradually moving away from blanket subsidies. Alongside the subsidised residential schedule, a Cost-Reflective Tariff (CRT) applies to higher-income households and large premises, who pay materially higher, unsubsidised per-kWh rates rather than the standard bands above. The authority reviews these rates annually. Because the precise income cut-off is set administratively and revised over time, confirm your status directly with your supplier if you think you fall into the higher-income category rather than assuming the subsidised bands apply.
Water bills
Water is billed by Nama Water Services and, like electricity, has been moving towards cost-reflective pricing under a multi-year subsidy reform. Resident (expat) accounts are charged at a higher rate than citizen accounts, and the per-cubic-metre tariff has risen steadily — from 660 baisa per cubic metre when the reform began in 2021 to roughly 1,320 baisa (about OMR 1.32) per cubic metre by the mid-2020s, with further annual movement towards the unsubsidised rate. A new connection generally requires your residency documents and depends on the property’s existing supply point.
Setting up a new connection
When you move into a home, the electricity and water accounts are usually transferred into your name or opened fresh. You will generally need your resident card, a copy of your tenancy contract and the property or meter details. A refundable security deposit may be required to open the account, and it is returned when you close the account and settle the final bill on moving out. If you are taking over from a previous tenant, ask the landlord or agent to confirm the account is clear so you do not inherit an outstanding balance.
A rough worked example
To see how the bands bite, imagine a household using 5,000 kWh in a month on a primary account. The first 4,000 kWh is charged at 14 baisa and the next 1,000 kWh at 18 baisa, before VAT and any seasonal reduction. A large villa running heavy air-conditioning that pushes past 6,000 kWh will pay 32 baisa on every unit above that line — which is why summer bills climb so sharply. Apartments and smaller homes usually stay within the two lower bands year-round.
How to pay
- Pay online through your Nama distribution company’s website or app using your account number.
- Use Oman’s mobile-wallet and bank apps, which list Nama as a biller.
- Pay at exchange houses, kiosks and ATMs that accept utility payments.
- Set up a standing order from your Omani bank account to avoid late payment.
- Keep your account number handy — it links every payment to your meter.
Budgeting tips for expats
Utility costs feed directly into your monthly outgoings, so factor them into any relocation budget. For the fuller picture of monthly expenses, see our Oman cost of living breakdown. Utilities usually sit in your name once you hold residency, so sorting your Oman resident card comes first, and the type of home you choose — villa versus apartment — makes a big difference to summer bills, as our Oman real estate guide explains.
Bottom line
Most expat households pay the subsidised stepped tariff — 14, 18 and 32 baisa/kWh across the bands, with helpful summer reductions — while higher-income homes may fall under the cost-reflective tariff. Water is billed separately and trending upward. Pay online with your account number, and watch the top consumption band in the AC season.
Read next: Kuwait Electricity & Water Bills 2026: MEW Tariffs & How to Pay · Saudi Electricity & Water Bills 2026: SEC Tariffs & How to Pay
Primary source: Nama Group, Oman’s electricity and water utility.
