DEDAŞ issues electricity 'warning' with days left until agricultural irrigation season

Dicle Elektrik has issued a final warning to agricultural irrigation subscribers—who account for approximately one-third of the 23 billion kWh annual total consumption in its distribution region and whose unpaid debts are approaching 27 billion TL—before the irrigation season begins. In a statement made by Dicle Elektrik, it was stated: "Despite all the opportunities offered in good faith, in order to protect the rights of our subscribers who pay their debts on time, electricity will absolutely not be provided this year to our agricultural irrigation subscribers who have persisted in not paying their debts to date."

The distribution company reiterated its statement from last year, reminding that necessary measures will be taken to ensure energy supply security and to protect the rights of subscribers who pay their debts regularly.

18 THOUSAND FARMERS IN ŞANLIURFA AND MARDİN WILL BE AFFECTED

Dicle Elektrik officials, who made statements regarding electricity debts arising from agricultural irrigation in the region, noted the following in the statement: "The collection problem in the agricultural irrigation sector, which has been ongoing since the privatization in 2013, is growing day by day. The electricity debts of all our farmers who do not make payments, primarily those in Şanlıurfa and Mardin, have reached a total of 27 billion TL. 25 billion TL of this figure stems from the unpaid debts of our agricultural irrigation subscribers in these two provinces. There is 15.5 billion TL in debt from 13,000 subscribers in Şanlıurfa and 9.5 billion TL from 5,000 subscribers in Mardin. The electricity debt of agricultural irrigation subscribers in the regional provinces of Diyarbakır, Batman, Şırnak, and Siirt is approaching 2 billion TL."

SOUTHEAST USES HALF OF ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION

Reminding that approximately 20,000 agricultural irrigation subscribers, who use one-third of the total electricity consumption in the region, are in debt, officials reiterated that excessive electricity consumption endangers energy supply security and quality energy distribution. In the statement, which noted that excessive electricity consumption accounts for half of Turkey's total, it was stated: "About 65 thousand of the 140 thousand farmers registered in our distribution region engage in irrigated farming. While there are 9.8 million decares of irrigated agricultural land in the region, 79% of the total irrigation is carried out with motor pumps that consume excessive energy. This consumption corresponds to half of the total electricity used in the agricultural sector across Turkey."

"OPPORTUNITIES WERE IGNORED"

Reminding of the support provided to date for the payment of debts, officials said: "The opportunities offered by our state and the support of our company for many of our citizens who have debts among our farmers engaged in agricultural activities did not find a response. Despite the creation of numerous opportunities such as interest-free credit support with a 5-year grace period, payment convenience at the end of the harvest, not charging late fees on debts, personalized debt restructuring, and ease of transition to a three-time tariff, the vast majority of farmers continuing their agricultural activities unfortunately did not pay their debts."

MINISTRY SUPPORT HAS ENDED

The support implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for indebted agricultural irrigation subscribers in the Dicle Elektrik distribution region, which continued for 6 years, ended at the end of 2023. The deadline of December 31, 2023, given by Dicle Elektrik for subscribers to pay their debts by taking advantage of the opportunities offered, has also passed. Reminding that a difficult year awaits subscribers who do not pay their debts in 2024, officials made a clear statement: "Energy will not be provided to indebted irrigation subscribers this year." The company additionally announced that electricity will not be provided to subscribers with insufficient security deposits, primarily irrigation unions affiliated with the DSI.

GENERATORS FOR THOSE WHO PAY THEIR DEBTS

The company, which maintains a quality energy average above the Turkish standard in city centers, is also undertaking significant investments for rural and agricultural irrigation subscribers. The company, which will implement an investment of over 10 billion TL this year, is also carrying out community-focused work on the other hand. Taking measures against subscribers who pay their debts on time, Dicle Elektrik has procured one thousand generators in the first phase with a power of 25 to 825 kVA. Moreover, transportation and fuel will also be covered by the Dicle Elektrik company.