ENERGY MARKET REGULATORY AUTHORITY (EMRA) HAS OPENED THE DRAFT INCLUDING THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSUMER SERVICES REGULATION TO PUBLIC OPINION. WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK, OPINIONS WILL BE COLLECTED FROM RELATED INSTITUTIONS AND THE SECTOR FOR 15 DAYS. BASED ON THE COLLECTED OPINIONS AND, IF DEEMED NECESSARY, WITH THE CHANGES TO BE MADE, THE BOARD WILL MAKE ITS FINAL DECISION ON THE DRAFT. ACCORDING TO THE DRAFT TEXT, RESIDENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS WHO REGULARLY PAY THEIR BILLS FOR 24 MONTHS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY A SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR NEW CONTRACTS. CURRENTLY, RESIDENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS PAY A SECURITY DEPOSIT RANGING FROM 680 TO 1135 TL. SUBSCRIBERS WHOSE CONTRACTS ARE CANCELED DUE TO DEBTS PAY 50% MORE SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR A NEW SUBSCRIPTION.
FOREIGN NATIONAL CONSUMERS WILL HAVE TO PAY 50% MORE SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR THEIR FIRST SUBSCRIPTIONS TO REDUCE COLLECTION RISKS. FOREIGN NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS WHO REGULARLY PAY THEIR BILLS FOR 24 MONTHS WILL ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO PAY A SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR THEIR NEXT SUBSCRIPTION.
THE DRAFT TEXT INCLUDES NEW MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY USAGE. BY ELIMINATING SHORTCOMINGS IN COMPANIES’ PRACTICES IN THE DETECTION, ACCRUAL, BILLING, AND COLLECTION STAGES OF ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY USAGE, HARMONIZATION WILL BE ENSURED AMONG DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES IN THE RELATED PROCESSES. THE PENALTY COEFFICIENT FOR ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY USAGE WILL BE INCREASED, AND THOSE CAUGHT USING ILLEGALLY WILL PAY HIGHER PENALTIES. IN AREAS WITH HIGH ILLEGAL RATES, ALL TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS AND DATA USAGE WILL BE INCREASED TO DETECT AND PREVENT ILLEGAL USAGE WITHOUT CAUSING ANY PUBLIC ORDER PROBLEMS. UNDER THE AMENDMENT, LEGAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES WILL NOT BE INITIATED BY THE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE DEBT HOLDER REGARDING DEBTS RELATED TO ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY USAGE. FIRST, A HIGH PENALTY COEFFICIENT ILLEGAL CONSUMPTION BILL WILL BE ISSUED, AND IF THIS BILL REMAINS UNPAID, THE DISTRIBUTION COMPANY WILL NOTIFY AND START THE EXECUTION PROCESS.