New era in natural gas and electricity! Bills will now be paid according to income.

The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, stated that one of the priority elements in the Medium-Term Program (MTP) is the fight against current account deficit and inflation. The Minister said, "We have very important goals related to reducing these. We are directly involved in this program to reduce energy imports, reduce current account deficit and energy costs, and reduce the pressures on inflation."

Bayraktar, stating that natural gas and electricity are the most basic needs of the citizens, said, "We have the goal of bringing natural gas to all of Turkey, to households. Currently, we have natural gas in all 81 provinces. This is now a necessity. It is an important fuel that we use at home, at work, and in industry. We import it to a large extent."

"PRICES ARE HIGHLY AFFECTED BY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS"

Bayraktar, reminding that almost all of the natural gas was imported until the discovery of natural gas in the Black Sea, emphasized that prices are highly affected by international developments and are fragile. Bayraktar underlined that households and businesses have been supported by the government in terms of natural gas and electricity since the pandemic period.

"LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT"

Bayraktar concluded his words as follows: "We have very serious support through the Treasury for electricity and natural gas. 60% of the 1000 lira gas and electricity bill is still covered by our government. We will continue these supports at the level of budget possibilities. We will continue to protect our citizens against increasing prices in the world. While doing this, we need to use the support mechanism more effectively. It is included under the title of activating supports in the MTP. There is this support in the electricity and gas that we all use in our homes. We think that it is more accurate to reflect it based on the cost for consumers with high income groups who can bear the real cost, rather than benefiting from these supports, for example, those who are really in need, lower-income citizens, retirees, who have much larger houses and consume much more electricity, who have electric vehicles. These supports will continue as much as the budget allows. We are conducting the process in coordination with the Central Bank and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance without ignoring the impact of possible changes in energy prices on inflation."

"WE WILL REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON INFLATION"

Minister Bayraktar, stating that one of the priority elements in the MTP is the fight against current account deficit and inflation, said, "We have very important goals to reduce these. We are directly involved in this program to reduce energy imports, reduce current account deficit and energy costs, and reduce the pressures on inflation."