Turkey to cut some fixed electricity costs to help consumers

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses MPs from his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, Turkey, October 27, 2021. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/PPO/Handout via REUTERS

ANKARA, Nov 8 (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday Turkey would cut two fixed payments from electricity bills to help consumers, adding that his government had already subsidized some energy costs.

Erdogan faces a tough election no later than mid-2023 and his approval ratings have been hit by Turkey’s nearly 20% inflation rate, with the recent surge in commodities such as food and gas.

Officials told Reuters last week that Ankara was preparing a fiscal support package to help low-income households with measures such as raising the minimum wage, alleviating energy costs and raising the salaries of some officials. Read more

Erdogan said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara that the government would scrap a 2% fixed payment on electricity bills for funding state broadcaster TRT and another 1% payment levied for unpaid energy costs.

“By not upsetting the balances of energy companies or victimizing our citizens, we will continue to manage this global energy crisis,” Erdogan said.

Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen and Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Alexander Smith

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