The repercussions of the recent economic crisis in Turkey are deepening day by day. With the new year, the increase in almost everything from 7 to 70 infuriated the citizens. The exorbitant increases in taxes, electricity, water, bread, fuel, etc., dragged the citizens step by step into the economic depression. Even the increase in the minimum wage fell to the cookie money.
Since electricity distribution company ‘BEDAŞ’ was privatized in 2013, the discussions have not stopped. Finally, as of New Year's, a 125 percent hike in electricity has brought reactions. BEDAŞ, which switched to a gradual tariff, became one of the most discussed issues with the hikes it made.
BEDAŞ switched to gradual tariff system as of January for electricity bills that started to arrive as of January 10. In the new system, electricity prices were increased between 50 percent and 125 percent. For residential subscribers, for consumption amounts up to 150 kilowatt-hours per month 1 Turkish Liras (TL) 37 kurus per kilowatt-hour, monthly consumption above 150 kilowatt-hours 2 TL and 6 kurus per kilowatt-hour is applied for residential subscribers. With the new application, a big trick has also emerged.
GREAT TRICK ON BILLS!
BEDAŞ cut the bills for the citizens to exceed 150 kilowatt-hours over 34 days, not 30 days. This caused the citizen's bill to double. On the other hand, since most of the bills issued in January were transferred from December, the hikes were not fully reflected in the bills. The real big hit is coming in February!
BILL IS PAID LIKE PAYING RENT
In addition to the dwellings, another blow was hit to the shopkeepers. There is not even a gradual tariff for tradesmen. The shops’ tariff, which were 1 TL 25 kurus per kilowatt-hour, were determined to be 2 TL 73 kurus as of the beginning of the year. It is not possible to see bills under 1,000 TL. Shopkeepers began to pay bills as if they were paying rent. Again, as in residences, the bill game was also valid for businesses. The January hike was not fully reflected in this month's bill. It seems that the bills will rise even more in February and the tradesmen will have a lot of difficulty…
THEY REFRESHED THE AGREEMENT BY SAYING THERE IS A DISCOUNT
Neighborhood shopkeepers pay their shop rent 5,000 TL per month, while 7,000 TL electricity bill has been issued. As if this was not enough, 1,273 TL Value Added Tax (VAT) was taken from the 6,830 TL bill. In 2021, BEDAŞ called the tradesmen to come their directorates, saying, "You have a discounted tariff," and renewed the contract. Old subscriptions were cancelled, re-subscribed. However, no discount was given to the tradesmen.
WHEN IT IS PRIVATIZED
The Turkish Electricity Authority, which was established with the Law No. 1312 dated July 15, 1970, started its work on October 12, 1970. With the regulation published in the Official Gazette dated February 23, 1983 and numbered 17968, it continued as the Boğaziçi Electricity Distribution Institution in the provinces of the Marmara Region, under the Turkish Electricity Authority. In 1989, it took the name of Istanbul Electricity Distribution Institution and its field of activity was limited to the province of Istanbul. Bosphorous Electricity Distribution Incorporated Company took its name in 1993 and BEDAŞ was sold to the Limak-Cengiz-Kolin Consortium in 2013 within the scope of privatization.