Electricity Bills Doubled: Citizens in Alanya in Distress
On February 1, a new electricity regulation came into effect, causing bills to double. State support was removed for subscribers consuming more than 417 kWh, and in Alanya, especially small businesses and commercial establishments are complaining about the high costs. Energy experts point out that businesses consuming more than 15,000 kWh annually now have the right to choose their supplier.
The new regulation, which came into effect on February 1, predicts that subscribers with higher consumption will pay higher bills. The regulation, aimed at a more equitable distribution of state subsidies, has created a significant financial burden for small businesses and tradespeople in Alanya. After receiving the first bills, many businesses began to complain about the high costs.
HIGHER CONSUMPTION, HIGHER BILLS
According to the new system, households consuming more than 417 kWh per month will no longer benefit from state support. For commercial establishments, exceeding a certain consumption limit will allow them to choose an alternative electricity supplier.
Especially small businesses and tradespeople say that the new system is rapidly increasing electricity costs. Those who previously paid bills of 1,050 TL or more are now facing bills that have doubled.
CHP’s Coşar’s Warning Became Reality
The warning from the Republican People's Party (CHP) Antalya Member of Parliament Aliye Coşar, about the new electricity tariff application by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) shaking the public budget, became evident through the shock of a citizen’s electricity bill in Alanya. Coşar had specifically pointed out that due to the increased use of air conditioning in the summer months in Antalya and the Mediterranean region, citizens would be affected. Following this warning, an electricity bill received by a resident in the Mahmutlar district of Alanya confirmed these concerns.
ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT IN ONE MONTH
The citizen’s electricity bill, which was 3,625 TL one month ago, rose to 6,260 TL this month. The sudden and significant increase in the bill shocked the citizen. In response to the claim in the media that "electricity bills over 1,050 TL will automatically be reduced to 2,000 TL," the citizen reacted, saying, "How is this increase possible?"
Local business owners also stated that upon seeing their new bills, they were under immense financial pressure and began to raise their complaints.
For example, the electricity bill for a 10-square-meter neighborhood barber, which was previously 1,500 TL, increased to 3,000 TL after the new regulation. Similarly, some small businesses have reported an increase in electricity costs by up to 55%.
Due to the sharp rise in electricity prices, consumers initially approached distribution companies, but when they received no results, they decided to pursue legal action.
ENERGY EXPERTS WARN: CHEAPER ELECTRICITY IS POSSIBLE
Energy Efficiency Expert Altuğ Karataş stated that the new system offers different options for businesses that exceed a certain consumption threshold.
"Businesses with an annual consumption over 15,000 kilowatt-hours are facing electricity costs of around 5.5 TL per kilowatt-hour. This represents about a 55% increase in costs compared to a few months ago," he said.
However, Karataş added that such high-consuming businesses have the right to choose their electricity suppliers and researching cheaper providers may offer advantages.
