Reacting to the exorbitant price hikes that came into effect with the New Year, Consumer Rights Association (THD) Chairman Turhan Çakar said, "Consumers will be robbed with the high electricity, natural gas and fuel price hikes put into effect."
THD reacted to the exorbitant price hikes for many items from electricity to natural gas with the new year. Speaking at the press conference held at the headquarters of the association, THD Chairman Turhan Çakar noted that with these hikes, the livelihood problems of the citizens will grow exponentially in 2022.
“CONSUMERS WILL BE ROBBED”
Stating that the right to access cheap electricity, natural gas and fuel, which is one of the basic universal rights, has been trampled on by these hikes, “With the high electricity, natural gas and fuel price hikes introduced as the first implementation of the new year, consumers will be robbed and companies will win. Especially low-income consumers cannot use natural gas and electricity as much as they need due to high electricity, natural gas hikes and prices. they are condemned to live in the dark,” Çakar added.
HARD TO REACH ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS
Underlining that with the electricity hike, every family will have a financial burden of at least 76 percent, Çakar said, “The monthly average natural gas consumption of a four-person household is 80,33 m3. This amount increases two to five times in cold regions and cold seasons of Turkey. With the increase in natural gas, the monthly average natural gas expenditure of a four-person household will increase from 181,3 Turkish Liras (TL) to 226,6 TL. The monthly average electricity and natural gas expenses of a four-person household will be 598 TL. In the winter months, since natural gas consumption and expenditure will increase by 2 times on average, the average price to be paid by a four-person household for electricity and natural gas in the winter months will be 825 TL.”
“DECREASE THE VAT RATE TO 1 PERCENT”
Emphasizing that energy policies should comply with consumer rights, “With these hikes, consumers' right to cheap energy has been trampled on. Consumers are exposed to cold and dark. High energy hikes are against consumer rights and public interest. The government should provide energy support to low-income households. With high energy hikes, the level limit in electricity should be canceled and consumer robbery should be ended. The 18 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) rate on electricity and natural gas should be reduced to 1 percent. Energy policies based on imports should be ended. Private energy companies should be nationalized. Energy policies must be changed in the way of public interest. Energy policies based on domestic resources should be decisive,” Çakar added.