Electricity and natural gas are indispensable necessities of modern life. However, low-income groups, who make up the overwhelming majority of the population in Turkey, face great difficulties in accessing these basic services. Laborers, pensioners and minimum wage earners are struggling to survive in the winter cold, wrapped in blankets. This situation shows that the concept of social state and the basic rights of the people are virtually disregarded.
The practices in Turkey clearly show that consumer rights, public interest and social state understanding have been trampled on in electricity and natural gas. Wild and rent-seeking practices of companies have come to the forefront, while universal consumer rights and public interest have been pushed to the background.
Current Invoices and Examples
According to data from the Chamber of Electrical Engineers (EMO), residential subscribers with a total annual consumption of 4,000 kWh, i.e. an average of 333 kWh per month, will be covered by the Last Source Supply Tariff as of 2026. Those who consume an average of 333 kWh of electricity in a 30-day billing period and whose monthly bills exceed 993 TL will be subject to this tariff with the new regulation.
Doğalgaz tarafında ise 4 kişilik bir ailenin kış aylarındaki ortalama gideri aylık 2.500 TL’ye kadar çıkabiliyor. EPDK’nın resmi açıklamasında zammın %24,6 olduğu belirtilse de, TMMOB ve saha verileri, gerçek fatura artışlarının bu oranın çok üzerinde olduğunu ortaya koyuyor.
Bu rakamlar, temel yaşam hakkını dahi karşılamaktan uzak. Sorunun temelinde özel şirketlerin egemenliği ve piyasacı anlayış var. Türkiye’de elektrik üretiminin yarısından fazlası, dağıtımın ise %90’ı özel firmaların elinde.
Doğalgaz dağıtımı da büyük ölçüde özel sektöre bağlı. Ayda 240 kWh’e kadar tüketimlerde faturaların %70’inin dağıtım bedelinden oluşması, sistemin ne kadar adaletsiz olduğunu gösteriyor. Üretim maliyetleri artmadığı hâlde yapılan zamlar, dar gelirli tüketicilerin özel şirketlerin kasasına kaynak aktarmasına yol açıyor.
The most critical feature of the energy markets is the dominance of the so-called “Gang of 5’. These five companies control the market from electricity generation to distribution, from natural gas imports to distribution. The greed for profit has overtaken social justice; access to energy has become a luxury privilege.
Solution Expropriation and Social Justice
This picture is not only a problem of economic but also of social justice. The social state is obliged to protect the basic rights of the people and cannot remain silent on the energy poverty created by the marketist mentality.
The solution is clear:
Electricity generation and distribution, natural gas imports and distribution must be nationalized immediately.
Distribution costs must be brought under control and profit-driven hikes must be stopped.
The salaries of working people and pensioners must be raised to a level sufficient to live humanely. The 2026 budget should be amended accordingly.
These steps are a requirement of social democratic governance. People's rights must be put before private company profits. Access to energy is no longer a privilege, but a fundamental right of every citizen. Standing against the gang of 5 means defending the rights of the people.
The duty of the social state is to ensure that every citizen has equal and fair access to energy and to secure their fundamental rights.