Charged electric vehicle at home, hit with 840,000 TL fine

Rising energy costs in global markets and fluctuations in fuel prices have pushed interest in electric vehicles in Turkey to its peak. However, this rapid transformation has also brought about unregulated infrastructure installations. The heavy sanction faced by a user living on the European side of Istanbul due to an electric vehicle charging station installed at their home has revealed the extent of inspections in the sector.

During field inspections conducted by the Boğaziçi Electricity Distribution Corporation (BEDAŞ) teams, it was determined that although there was an existing subscription contract at the residence in question, a separate line had been drawn for the charging station. The investigation revealed that energy was being transferred directly to the station without passing through the meter. Due to this irregular usage, an "illegal electricity" fine of over 840,000 TL was imposed on the subscriber.

NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN TURKEY EXCEEDS 411 THOUSAND

According to the "Charging Service Market" report by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) dated March 2026, the total number of electric vehicles on Turkey's roads has reached 411,796. The number of charging points serving these vehicles has been recorded as 41,938. The volatility in oil prices, in particular, has been one of the primary factors driving consumers toward electric transportation. However, this rapid increase in the number of vehicles also brings with it the risk of "unprojected" installations for home-type charging units.

WARNING FROM EXPERTS ON REGULATIONS AND APPROVAL

Energy experts commenting on the subject emphasize that even for individual use, the installation of a charging station is subject to a specific project and approval. It is highlighted that installations made without obtaining permission from the urban electricity distribution company and without completing project approval carry significant penal risks.

Stating that subscribers must check the compliance of their home charging units with regulations, experts said, "The EMRA regulation is quite clear on this matter. Whether within the subscriber's knowledge or not, any energy usage that is not connected to the meter and is not based on an approved project is classified as illegal. To avoid grievances, one must act in coordination with distribution companies."

News Source: 12punto