Electricity distribution to be fully privatized by 2020

Energy and natural resources minister Berat Albayrak announced electricity distribution in Turkey will become fully privatized by 2020 and that distributer companies will be followed closely by the ministry, Daily Sabah reported.

He stressed a special office under the ministry will follow the distributors, and that the ones that duly perform their duties will be supported, while others will be fined. Speaking at Elder’s 9th Sectoral Meeting organized in Trabzon, Albayrak said a sub-unit will conduct planned or unplanned auditing over the distribution companies.

Distributers that duly perform their duties will be supported, while others will be fined, minister Albayrak said.

The energy ministry conducted a survey to evaluate 21 private electricity distributers’ performances in the areas of customer satisfaction, call centre services, price levels and infrastructure facilities. According to the survey, especially the call centre service was the failing point for most of the companies, the article said.

Elder’s chairman Nihat Özdemir said the survey shared by Minister Albayrak was a milestone for the organization and therefore the sector presented it with a roadmap. Stressing that shortcomings are realized, he said distribution companies should give weight to the call centres from now on. Elder is an association active in the development of electricity distribution and retail.