But the growth in demand has far outpaced supply. Iraqis are snapping up the fridges, air conditioners and other energy-consuming devices that have come onto the market since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
U.S. reconstruction efforts have added to the pressure on the national grid as new hospitals, schools, water treatment plants and other facilities come online. Essential services are guaranteed a near-continuous supply of electricity, which leaves little for business and residential consumers.
Although capacity has improved, production levels rarely achieve their potential. Transmission towers are frequently attacked, causing disruptions throughout the network. A severe drought has reduced output from hydroelectric plants by nearly 30%. The sector also is beset by fuel shortages.
Iraq sits atop the world's third-largest proven oil reserves. But the country has limited refining capabilities and imports large quantities of diesel to keep its turbines spinning.
However, there is no shortage of sunshine, said Aziz Shimari, spokesman for the Electricity Ministry. Iraq is a country of vast deserts where summer temperatures can top 120 degrees.
"This offers us more possibility of producing power," Shimari said. Light is "an important condition for security, so people will go out at night."
The ministry plans to install 5,000 solar-powered streetlights in Baghdad at a cost of $1,800 to $2,000 apiece. There also are plans to install 1,000 units in each of Iraq's 18 provinces.
The U.S. military has bought more than 1,000 additional lights for Baghdad and has funded similar projects in Fallouja, Ramadi and other cities. The lights being installed by the military in Baghdad are bulletproof and cost about $6,200 each, officials said.
Grocer Mohammed Abbas was in a good mood as the city's municipal crews installed the new lights in front of his Karada store.
"Light provides half our security," he said on a searing afternoon, reaching into a fridge to pull out an ice cream for a little girl in pigtails. "I stay open until 10 p.m. Now that the lights are in, I can stay open even later."
At the dry cleaner next door, Basil Dawood wasn't so sure about the benefits of the system.
"Even if the streets are lit, if there is no electricity and our store is dark, no one can see us," Dawood said. "What we really need is good national power."
Baghdad is averaging about 13 hours of power a day, but most of that power is consumed by government offices and essential services.
