Turkey's electricity illegal usage and losses in 18 out of 21 regions in Turkey fell below the average figures of those from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development member countries, according to the head of the country's main electricity distributor association on Tuesday.
Illegal electricity usage, mainly in the eastern regions of the country, is one of the major problems for electricity distribution in Turkey. The country's electricity distribution system has been completely privatized since 2009 and divided into 21 regions.
'In 18 of the electricity distribution regions, the average electricity loss and illegal usage decreased below OECD's average, which is at 8.5 percent right now,' Nihat Ozdemir, the head of the Association of Electricity Distributors and CEO of Limak Group of Companies.
Ozdemir said that only three regions, which remain over the average, are all located in the eastern parts of the country.
He added that unrest in these regions due to terrorist attacks, along with the illegal connection of electricity from households to the grid are the main reasons that targets have not been met.
Ozdemir also reassured that all distributors have taken the necessary measures to prevent any possible cuts or disruptions to the electricity supply on Nov. 1 when general elections will take place.
Writing By Furkan Naci Top & Reporting By Nuran Erkul
Anadolu Agency
furkan.top@aa.com.tr