96 percent increase in electricity bills: A new era begins in 2027

While new increases in electricity and natural gas bills are expected to come to the fore in 2027, the scope of state support for residential subscribers is also being narrowed. Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) reduced the annual electricity consumption limit for residential subscribers to benefit from state support from 4 thousand kilowatt hours to 3 thousand kilowatt hours. It was calculated that the new regulation could lead to an increase of between 82 percent and 96 percent in the electricity bills of some subscribers.

With the regulation that will be valid as of January 1, 2027, EMRA has reduced the annual electricity consumption limit for residential subscribers to benefit from state support to 3 thousand kilowatt hours. Thus, subscribers whose annual consumption is over 3 thousand kilowatt-hours will use electricity within the scope of the Last Resource Supply Tariff (SKTT).

Former EMRA Audit Department Head Mehmet İbiş shared his calculations regarding the possible effects of the regulation on the electricity bills of millions of residential subscribers with ANKA News Agency.

İbiş stated that the cost of the Renewable Energy Resources Support Mechanism (YEKDEM) is also effective in calculating the bills of subscribers whose annual electricity consumption is over 3 thousand kilowatt hours.

Giving an example of the bill of a residential subscriber consuming 3 thousand 200 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, İbiş stated that assuming the YEKDEM cost is zero, the annual bill will increase from 10 thousand 876 TL to 19 thousand 888 TL and the increase will reach 82 percent.

He noted that if the YEKDEM cost, which is determined as 393.75 TL per megawatt-hour for December 2026, remains the same in January 2027, the increase in the bill may reach 96 percent.

İbiş pointed out that if there is an increase in energy and distribution costs, the bill amounts that consumers will face will increase even more.

While it is noted that the inflation target set for 2027 is 21 percent, electricity and natural gas tariffs are expected to increase in line with or higher than this rate.

İbiş stated that residential subscribers whose annual electricity consumption is between 3 thousand and 4 thousand kilowatt-hours may face a bill increase of between 82 percent and 96 percent due to being included in the scope of SKTT, even if no change is made in energy and distribution costs.

The regulation is expected to affect not only individual residential subscribers but also apartment and site residents.

Mehmet İbiş stated that the electricity consumption of common areas such as elevators, hydrophores, stair automatics, central heating and doorman's offices in apartments, housing cooperatives and sites may also be affected by the new limit.

Stating that if the annual electricity consumption in common areas exceeds 3 thousand kilowatt-hours, the electricity bills of these areas may increase between 82 percent and 96 percent, İbiş pointed out that these costs may be reflected in the dues.