Household Electricity Support in Türkiye: The 4,000 kWh Limit and SKTT in 2026

عناقيد · 2026-10-24T01:36:06+0300

Household Electricity Support in Türkiye: The 4,000 kWh Limit and SKTT in 2026

Illustrative electromechanical electricity meter; it is not a Turkish meter or evidence of SKTT classification. Photo: Editor abcdef, 22 May 2015, CC0. Image and licence

When an electricity bill is unexpectedly high, start with consumption, tariff and meter-reading dates before assuming that prices have risen across Türkiye. You may have used more electricity, the billing period may be longer, or annual consumption may have moved the account into a different pricing category. This guide explains how to distinguish these situations, check a residential account and obtain a documented explanation from the supplier.

Information reviewed: 24 October 2026. The Energy Market Regulatory Authority's official SKTT questions and answers confirm a household threshold of 4,000 kilowatt-hours a year for 2026, effective from 1 January 2026. We do not present a confirmed figure for 2027: the Energy Ministry's statement dated 18 October 2026 says a new threshold will be determined and might be below 4,000, without setting a specific figure in that statement. Treating circulating predictions of 3,000 or 3,500 as an adopted rule would go beyond the official information established in this review.

Who is this guide for, and what does SKTT mean?

This guide is for someone whose electricity account is classified as Mesken, or residential, who wants to understand the relationship between support and the applicable tariff. Owning a flat or living at a residential address does not replace checking the account's actual classification. Do not apply the household threshold to a shop or office bill. If the bill covers a building's shared facilities, examine its meter and agreement separately from your flat's account.

SKTT stands for Son Kaynak Tedarik Tarifesi, the last-resort supply tariff. In the situation covered here, the area's designated supplier continues supplying electricity to a customer who is eligible to choose a supplier but has not made a bilateral agreement with one. Pricing within this framework depends on the consumption category: low-consumption customers remain on the national tariff, while high-consumption customers fall under the published cost-reflective pricing rules. Seeing the abbreviation SKTT alone is therefore insufficient to explain a charge; ask which category and application apply to the account.

This support is part of electricity pricing, rather than a cash amount you apply to have transferred to your bank account. Social-assistance programmes that help with electricity bills have separate eligibility rules and procedures. This threshold alone does not establish entitlement to, or cancellation of, that assistance.

Three figures that serve different purposes

Figure or unit	What it means	Common misunderstanding
4,000 kWh in 2026	An annual threshold used to classify residential consumption for SKTT	Treating it as a bill amount in lira or a limit for every month
Approximately 333.33 kWh a month	The arithmetic result of 4,000 ÷ 12, useful only for understanding the scale	Treating it as a legal monthly ceiling or a guarantee of staying below the annual threshold
8 kWh for each day in the reading period	The daily band threshold within the applicable low-voltage, single-rate residential tariff	Confusing it with the annual threshold for entering the high-consumption category
TL or TRY	The amount in Turkish lira, affected by energy, distribution, taxes and the bill's other items	Replacing measured kWh with a supposedly permanent lira threshold

A kilowatt-hour, kWh, measures the quantity of energy. A kilowatt, kW, measures power, rather than a whole month's consumption. A 2 kW appliance operating at that power for one full hour uses 2 kWh by calculation. Appliances do not necessarily draw their nameplate power continuously: thermostats, operating cycles and actual use affect consumption.

The 8 kWh rule is documented in the EPDK tariff table effective from 4 April 2026. That table prices components in kuruş per kWh before taxes. We do not turn its figures into a final tax-inclusive bill price or describe the table as a new October increase. The national tariff's two consumption bands serve a different purpose from annual classification as a high-consumption customer.

An arithmetic example illustrates the bands without pricing a bill: a 30-day reading period gives a lower-band allowance of 8 × 30 = 240 kWh. If consumption is 300 kWh, 240 falls in the lower band and the remaining 60 in the higher band, where that tariff applies. For 31 days, the lower-band threshold is 248 kWh. Do not use 240 for every bill regardless of its length, or apply this example to a bilateral agreement or high-consumption SKTT account as though it determined that account's price.

Checking whether you have reached the annual threshold

The official EPDK electricity-bill calculator explains that assessment relates to consumption in the current or previous calendar year. For the 2026 threshold, examine 2025 and 2026 consumption. Do not simply total a rolling set of the latest 12 bills and call it calendar-year consumption. A bill spanning New Year may require the company's allocation of consumption between the periods, particularly when readings do not coincide with 1 January and 31 December.

Some explanations say “exceeding” the threshold, while question 6 of the official FAQ explicitly refers to 4,000 kWh and above. Treat reaching 4,000 as a point requiring a classification check; do not assume that the meter must first show 4,001. If you are exactly at the threshold, ask for the unrounded consumption total used, the month recorded for reaching it and the basis of your inclusion. A rounded figure in an app or your recollection of earlier bills is insufficient to settle the question.

Work through the records in this order:

Match the account or consumption-point number, meter and address. Avoid accidentally combining bills from two homes.
Separate each calendar year's record, noting kWh and the start and end dates of every reading period.
Check any reconciliation bill or corrected reading. A reconciliation amount in lira is not an extra quantity of energy to add to the record.
If your records do not make the position clear, ask the company for the consumption used, the threshold-reaching month and the tariff's start date.
Keep the bill and notification on which the decision was based and compare them with the written statement, rather than relying on the payment amount in a text message.

For planning only, recorded consumption of 3,200 kWh leaves an arithmetic difference of 800 kWh to 4,000. That is not a guaranteed “support balance” you can use without a tariff change, and does not establish when you will reach the threshold. The previous year's data, corrections and the timing of recorded consumption also matter. Another appliance-monitoring example is a 2 kW heater operating continuously at full power for three hours a day over 30 days: the calculated consumption is 180 kWh, rather than TRY 180. This assumes steady operation; it is neither a measurement of your appliance nor advice to reduce heating needed for health.

When does the different tariff begin?

Do not assume that the threshold-reaching month automatically becomes the first month under the new tariff. In question 7, EPDK explains that, for a customer without a bilateral agreement, application begins on the first day of the third month following the month in which the threshold is reached, within the 2026 threshold rules. The following examples are EPDK's own:

Reading date recording the first threshold exceedance	Conditions in the example	High-consumption SKTT begins
25 October 2025	First exceedance of 4,000 in calendar year 2025	1 January 2026
30 December 2025	First exceedance of 4,000 in calendar year 2025	1 March 2026
2 June 2026	2025 consumption below 4,000, followed by the first exceedance in 2026	1 September 2026
31 July 2026 at 23:59	2025 consumption below the threshold, with hourly reading available and the first exceedance in 2026	1 October 2026

The table explains the start of application; it does not mean that every bill issued on that date covers a full month at one price. Where a reading period spans the changeover, ask for the days, quantities and prices used. Do not divide the amount in half yourself or assume that the date the bill was sent is the date the electricity was consumed. “The third following month” also should not be replaced with a universal 90-day interval.

The rule does not impose a retrospective fine on all electricity consumed in the previous year. It establishes when the pricing method begins for the subsequent period. If a reconciliation for an earlier period appears, ask separately for its reason and calculation rather than automatically calling it an SKTT penalty.

What changes within the bill?

According to EPDK's explanation of bill components and calculation, the change concerns the active-energy price. SKTT alone does not change the distribution tariff for the same customer group, and the applicable tax rates continue to apply. An unchanged distribution pricing rule does not mean that the distribution amount will be identical on two bills with different kWh consumption.

Component	What to check	Limit of the conclusion
Aktif Enerji Bedeli — active energy	The category, energy price and period covered by the calculation	It may reflect variable market costs; do not assume one fixed percentage increase for every home
Dağıtım Bedeli — distribution	Consumption, customer group and tariff applied	An SKTT changeover does not itself alter distribution pricing for the same group
Vergiler — taxes	The taxable base, rate and items shown on the bill	A pre-tax energy price is not the final amount payable
Reconciliation, late-payment or other items	The reason and period for each item, and whether it is actually present	These are not all the current kWh price; do not attribute the whole bill to loss of pricing support

The described energy-price method for high-consumption households combines the average market clearing price, PTF, with the average YEKDEM renewable-energy support cost, then applies a coefficient of 1.05. This 5% is a coefficient within the energy calculation, not a promise that the final bill will rise by 5%. Inputs, billing period, consumption and taxes determine the outcome. Nor does the annual threshold mean “the first 4,000 at one price and only the excess at another” in the same way as daily bands. Once the new category applies, check the pricing of consumption during the period to which it applies.

For these reasons, this guide gives no universal bill amount or permanent final price per kWh. You can still check your own bill: use its actual information and the regulator's tool within its stated scope, then request an explanation of any documented discrepancy.

Checking a bill step by step

Obtain the complete bill, rather than only a screenshot of the amount due. Check the account number, Mesken classification, tariff type and whether you already have a bilateral agreement.
Compare the reading dates and kWh with the previous reading. A higher amount during a longer period or while using electric heating does not, by itself, prove a pricing error.
If the account has entered the high-consumption category, compare the threshold-reaching month and start date with the statement obtained from the supplier.
Open the EPDK electricity-bill calculator, select the appropriate PST or SKTT scope and follow the interface's requests for bill information. Enter consumption and reading dates accurately; do not substitute the payment date.
Keep the comparison information and result with the bill. If the results differ, request the company's calculation, particularly its treatment of a split period, corrected reading or non-consumption item.

The tool is designed for regulated tariffs. If you have signed a bilateral agreement with a privately agreed commercial price, its output does not determine whether that contract's bill is correct. It can show a hypothetical regulated-tariff comparison, while the actual bill must be checked against your agreement. An option appearing in the interface does not establish a guaranteed commercial offer or that every account charge is included.

Must you choose another supplier or sign a new agreement?

No. EPDK explains that a bilateral agreement is optional, and the designated supplier continues supplying electricity under SKTT when applicable. This does not excuse non-payment or resolve another account irregularity. It does mean that merely declining an alternative supplier's offer is not a reason to deprive you of electricity.

When comparing an offer, obtain a written copy and a price-comparison table, and read EPDK's questions about information before a bilateral agreement. Compare the same period and consumption, separating energy from distribution and taxes:

Is the price fixed for a stated period or linked to an index and variable costs? What is the adjustment formula?
Does the discount apply only to energy or to another amount? When does an introductory offer end?
Is there a commitment period, automatic renewal, early-termination charge or additional security deposit?
What happens if you move home, end the agreement or pay late?
Does the comparison show what you would actually pay for the same consumption and period, or compare different units and components?

Do not disclose a verification code or accept an agreement whose pricing you do not understand because someone says signing is mandatory “to keep support”. Returning to the national tariff, changing supplier and ending a contractual commitment are separate matters. Lower consumption does not automatically cancel an agreed early-exit charge.

Leaving the category, exclusions and situations needing closer examination

EPDK explains that a customer on SKTT without a bilateral agreement can return to the national tariff if a calendar year's consumption remains below the threshold determined for the following year. One lower bill or a month without use does not guarantee an immediate return. The dated official statement discussed above does not establish a final 2027 figure, so this guide does not promise that using 3,999 kWh in 2026 will produce a particular result in 2027. Check the officially adopted next-year threshold and the company's statement when available.

The EPDK exclusion list includes specified families of martyrs and combat or disabled veterans; consumers dependent on electricity-powered life-support equipment, such as respiratory devices or dialysis support units; the described places of worship and associations within the residential group; village drinking-water supplies; and AFAD temporary shelters. These are defined categories, rather than a blanket exemption for every patient or a home occupied by a foreign resident.

If your household depends on a life-support device, check how the condition is recorded and which documents the supplier accepts through its secure channel. Ask for a written answer about the account's classification. Do not turn off medical equipment or heating needed for health to remain below the threshold, and do not post medical reports or identity numbers in public comments.

When renting a new home, keep the tenancy agreement, handover date, meter reading and account number. If earlier consumption or an unexplained classification appears, ask the supplier which customer, period and consumption point it used. This guide does not invent a rule that a name change automatically resets SKTT records, or that the previous occupant's history transfers to you in every case. Do not make a nominal name change to evade the rules; resolve contract and reading information with the responsible company.

Challenging a calculation and escalating with evidence

Start with the company that issued the bill for pricing questions, or the distribution company for a reading, meter or network issue, according to the problem. The EPDK complaints portal says to contact the relevant company's customer-service centre first; its contact information is on the electricity bill. The portal states that the centre should resolve the request within 15 working days and respond through the requested channel. This is the portal's general customer-service guidance, rather than a special SKTT appeal deadline.

Make a specific request: “Please provide the annual consumption used, the month the threshold was reached, the basis for classifying my account as high-consumption, the application start date and the calculation of bill number … for the period …”. Attach the disputed bill, relevant reading records or previous statement and correspondence. Keep the request number and date. Where an exclusion is relevant, use a secure channel for documents the company requests; every complaint does not require your entire personal file.

If there is no response within the stated period, or you consider the reply contrary to electricity-market rules, the portal explains that a written application may be made to EPDK online or by post with the information and documents. Its “Şikayet Sistemi'ne Giriş” link leads to CİMER. Follow the official link and the identity and account-access conditions that apply to you. This guide does not assume that every foreign resident can complete the digital route; written postal applications remain an officially stated option. Retain proof of submission and replies. A complaint being accepted into a system is not a decision in your favour or a guarantee of reimbursement.

Do not assume that making an objection automatically postpones the due date or your payment obligation. EPDK's billing guidance distinguishes objections from payment. Ask the supplier to state in writing what must be paid during review and what adjustment applies to your case, rather than stopping payment on the strength of an online comment. Do not tamper with the meter or its seal to address a calculation dispute.

Frequently asked questions before deciding

Does using more than 333 kWh in one month immediately end support?
That is not an official monthly limit: 333.33 is the annual figure divided by 12. Check the accepted calendar-year total, the previous year, the changeover date and your agreement type.

Does support end when a bill reaches a particular lira amount?
The threshold here is a quantity measured in kWh. Any approximate conversion into money depends on tariff, taxes, period and consumption bands, so it is not a permanent classification rule.

Do the 8 kWh bands disappear because a month's use exceeded the annual monthly average?
Do not decide that from a monthly average. Daily bands and the annual threshold serve different purposes. First establish whether the bill remains on the national tariff or whether high-consumption pricing has actually started.

Does the different price apply only to the amount above 4,000?
Do not interpret annual SKTT classification as if it were the daily two-band model. The threshold determines the pricing category, and that category's method applies to consumption in the relevant period after its start date. Request a breakdown when a period spans that date.

Must I apply to keep receiving electricity when I enter the category?
Making an agreement with another supplier is not mandatory for that reason. The designated supplier continues supply and classification under the rules. Keep the agreement, bills and contact details in order; this continuation is not a payment exemption.

Are foreign residents or tenants automatically excluded?
Nationality or tenant status alone does not establish an exclusion. Check the account classification, recorded circumstances and evidence for any relevant exception. Do not make a nominal name change to alter the outcome.

What should I prepare now if consumption is approaching the threshold?
Prepare kWh records for the two relevant years, reading dates, the complete bill, agreement type and any classification notification. Ask the supplier for the threshold-reaching month and start date, then compare a written offer if you wish to choose a supplier, without assuming a universal price or an unconfirmed 2027 figure.

Household Electricity Support in Türkiye: The 4,000 kWh Limit and SKTT in 2026

عناقيد

Active member