Suppliers' '15% off' electricity deals could cost you up to 1,923 lira a month

Someone knocks on your door or calls you, promising 15% off your electricity bill. Sounds like a win. According to a new cost analysis, it may be the opposite.

The Chamber of Electrical Engineers (EMO) says these contracts lock households into prices above even the standard market tariff.

Why are people being offered new contracts?

Turkey's energy regulator EPDK is lowering the limit for the state-backed "last resort" tariff (SKTT). From 1 January 2027, the annual limit for homes drops to 3,000 kWh. That is about 250 kWh a month.

A four-person family running just a fridge, washing machine, dishwasher and lights already uses roughly 230 kWh a month. So many ordinary households will end up outside the cheap tariff. Private suppliers are using that fear to sell new contracts.

Where does the 15% go wrong?

The discount is not taken off what you pay now, or off the real market price. It is taken off the legal maximum price, the "price cap", which EPDK sets at 4,500 lira per MWh. Market prices rarely get near that, except in extreme crises.

So a 15% cut from the cap still leaves you paying far above the market.

EMO compared six-month average bills for a home using 250 kWh a month:

• State-backed national tariff: about 839 lira a month
• Standard market tariff (SKTT): about 1,536 lira
• The "discounted" contract: about 1,923 lira

That means about 387 lira (25.2%) more than the standard tariff, and over 1,000 lira more than the state-backed one.

What can you do?

Experts say to read the contract closely. Be wary of wording such as "discount from the cap price" or "discount on the maximum settlement price".

If you have already signed, you have the legal right to withdraw within 14 days. You don't need a reason and you pay no penalty. Don't let that window pass.