Is 5 Amps Enough? Subscription Planner
Tap what you'd run at the same time and see whether it fits a 5-amp or 10-amp generator subscription — and what each costs a month.
When the state grid (EDL) is off — which in Danniyeh is most of the day — most homes run on a neighbourhood diesel-generator subscription (ishtirak), sold by amperage, most often 5 or 10 amps. The hard part is knowing what that actually lets you run: a 5-amp line carries only about 1,150 watts, so an electric water heater nearly fills it on its own. Tap what you would want running at the same time and see which subscription it fits — and what each costs a month.
With this selection
This fits a 5 amp subscription.
About 795 W to spare before the line is full.
| Subscription | Can carry | Your selection | Fee a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 amp | 1,150 W | Fits — 795 W to spare | LBP 385,000 · $4.29 |
| 10 amp | 2,300 W | Fits — 1,945 W to spare | LBP 685,000 · $7.64 |
Leave room for motors starting
In Danniyeh most homes run a water pump to lift water to the roof tank, and a fridge year-round — both are motors. They draw their heaviest current the instant they switch on, so a line that looks just full enough on paper can still trip when the pump or the fridge kicks in.
Motors — the fridge, the water pump, the washing machine, the air conditioner — pull several times their running watts for a second or two when they switch on. A subscription that is only just big enough can trip at that moment, so leave headroom rather than filling it to the line.
A guide, not a guarantee
- The watts here are typical figures. Your own fridge, pump or air conditioner may use more or less, so treat the result as a guide rather than an exact reading.
- Your generator operator sets the size and the price of each subscription. The amperages and fees here are the local norm, not a quote — confirm with your operator.
- This estimates the electrical load. It is not an electrical-safety check: for wiring, breakers, or anything that smells hot or feels warm, ask a qualified electrician.
Worth knowing
Why subscriptions are sold in amperes
A generator can only push so much current down each home's line before it trips, so operators sell capacity in amperes, not by the appliance. At Lebanon's 230-volt mains, 5 amps is about 1,150 watts and 10 amps about 2,300 watts. This page turns your appliances into watts and back into amps so you can see what actually fits on each line.
Already have a bill? Check it too
This planner is for deciding which subscription you need. To check whether your operator is charging over the official monthly maximum for the electricity you actually used, use the Generator Bill Checker on Danniyeh's page — the two tools answer different halves of the same question.
Check the tariff and your bill
- 961Today — monthly generator tariffPublishes each month's official maximum price when the ministry sets it.
- L'Orient Today — generator coverageReports the monthly tariff and what is behind the changes.
Source: Typical appliance running-watt figures: U.S. Department of Energy, “Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use”. Subscription tiers and fees: Lebanon Ministry of Energy and Water monthly generator tariff (May 2026)., checked 28 June 2026 (today).