The scope of state subsidies applied to electricity consumption for residential subscribers is narrowing starting from the new year. With a decision announced by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), the annual consumption limit set for residential subscribers to benefit from the subsidized tariff has been reduced from 4,000 kilowatt-hours to 3,000 kilowatt-hours.
According to a report by Olcay Aydilek from ANKA, former EPDK Audit Department Head Mehmet İbiş stated in his calculation regarding the impact of the regulation on bills that residential subscribers whose annual consumption exceeds 3,000 kilowatt-hours will fall under the scope of the Last Resort Supply Tariff (SKTT). According to İbiş, subscribers in this group will face an increase between 82 percent and 96 percent, even if there is no change in energy and distribution costs.
According to İbiş's calculation, the bill of a residential subscriber who consumes 3,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually rises from 10,876 TL to 19,888 TL, assuming the YEKDEM cost is zero. This scenario represents an 82 percent increase in the bill. It is stated that if the YEKDEM cost, which is 393.75 TL per megawatt-hour for December 2026, remains the same in January 2027, the rate of increase will reach 96 percent.
While it is noted that electricity and natural gas prices are expected to be hiked by the government's year-end inflation target of 21 percent or slightly above for 2027, İbiş pointed out that subscribers who fall outside the subsidy will be additionally affected by these potential increases.
"A residential consumer with an annual consumption of 3,000-4,000 kilowatt-hours will face a price hike of 82 to 96 percent due to entering the Last Resort Supply Tariff group, even if there is no change in energy costs and distribution fees."
It is stated that the regulation may affect not only individual residential bills but also common expenses for apartment buildings and housing complexes. İbiş said that if the consumption of common areas such as heating, elevators, hydrophores, stairwell lighting, and janitor apartments, which are measured with separate meters in apartment buildings, housing complexes, and cooperatives, exceeds 3,000 kilowatt-hours annually, the electricity expenses for these items could also increase by 82 to 96 percent.
News Source: 12punto
