Being a Free Consumer: How to Change Your Electricity Supplier in 7 Steps

Anyone with an electricity account whose yearly consumption exceeds the limit announced by the regulator counts as a free consumer and can choose their electricity supplier. Most of us receive the bill from the distribution company and assume that is the only option. In fact the choice of supplier directly affects the energy charge on your bill. The process is simpler than you might think.

First, a distinction: supplier and distribution company

Electricity is sold from the generating plant through a supplier, while the distribution company operates your cables, the transformer and your meter. Changing supplier does not change the grid. In a fault you still call the distribution company in your region, the power is not cut and the meter does not change.

The switch, step by step

1. Check the limit: make sure your last 12 months of consumption exceed the free-consumer limit. The annual consumption summary on your bill or the distribution company's website will tell you.
2. Find your current unit price: note the energy charge (TRY/kWh) on your bill. We will use it for comparison.
3. Calculate the saving: multiply the difference between the two prices by your monthly kWh. For a home using 350 kWh, moving from 3.52 TRY to 3.18 TRY means a saving of about 119 TRY a month, 143 TRY including VAT.
4. Choose a tariff type: a fixed price gives budget security, an indexed tariff benefits you when the market falls. Homes usually choose fixed.
5. Apply online: the installation number and ID are enough. Any debt must be cleared first.
6. Distribution company approval: the supplier forwards the application. There is nothing you need to do in the meantime.
7. Switch: usually within 7 - 15 days, at the start of the next billing period, your new supplier takes over.

Traps to watch for

• Looking only at the "discount percentage": a percentage of what? The regulated supplier tariff or your own old price? Always compare the TRY/kWh figure.
• Commitment and penalty clauses: fixed-price tariffs may have an early-exit fee, which must be searched for in the contract.
• Being misled about the distribution charge: the distribution charge is the same for every supplier, so an offer promising a "discount on the distribution charge" should be read carefully.

Conclusion

Changing supplier takes less than an hour and does not affect your power. But it does not benefit every customer, so start with the calculation.

Notes for tenants and companies

If you are a tenant the account may be in the landlord's name; in that case the application needs written authority from the landlord or an account transfer. In companies the signing authority files the application and the signature circular and tax certificate are requested. Businesses with several branches can save time with a bulk application instead of a separate one per account. On your first bill after the switch, consumption may appear split between two suppliers; this is normal and is calculated according to the switch date.