The first winter after the limit reduction: How much does it cost to heat an apartment in Alanya?

Alanya has a mild winter, but apartments still need heating from December to February. Meanwhile, the rules for calculating utility bills in Turkey have changed, and last year's billing guidelines are no longer applicable. Effective January 1, 2026, the annual subsidized consumption limit for households has been reduced from 5,000 to 4,000 kWh (kilowatt-hour – a unit of electricity consumption). The threshold for the preferential tariff is 8 kWh per day. The difference between the tariff levels, effective April 4, 2026, is significant: 2.92 TRY versus 4.32 TRY per kWh. The 2026/27 winter is the first that homeowners will experience under the new rules. Below, we'll take a closer look at what life in Alanya is like during the winter for homeowners and the cost of heating their apartments.

What has changed since January 2026?

The Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) has lowered the threshold at which households lose eligibility for the national, or subsidized, tariff. Previously, it was 5,000 kWh per year; it has been reduced to 4,000 kWh—an average of approximately 333 kWh per month. Subscribers who exceed this threshold and have not signed a separate contract with a supplier are transferred to the Son Kaynak Tedarik Tarifesi (Son Kaynak Tedarik Tariff)—the tariff of the last source of supply, which is calculated using a market formula and is not supported by government support. The transition is not immediate: the increased tariff applies from the first day of the third month following the month in which it was exceeded and remains in effect until the end of the calendar year, even if consumption subsequently declines.

Important: According to the EPDK, only about 6% of apartment customers exceed the limit—primarily those who heat and cool their homes with electricity. The Chamber of Electrical Engineers of Turkey (EMO) estimates for 2024 that 75.1 billion kWh of total apartment consumption for 26.6 million households yields an average of approximately 2,800 kWh per household per year. Average consumption is within the limit, but apartments with electric heating may consume more in winter.

How much does electricity cost in Turkey?

The payment consists of three components: active energy, distribution fees, and taxes. Under the EPDK tariff, effective April 4, 2026, active energy costs range from TRY 0.49 per kWh within the threshold to TRY 1.90 above it. However, the bulk of the payment is for distribution—TRY 2.42 per kWh, which is included in both tiers. This results in a total of TRY 2.92 in the lower tier and TRY 4.32 in the upper tier.

On top of this, taxes are added: 10% VAT for residential customers and a 5% municipal consumption tax. Add the energy fund—1% of the active energy cost. With taxes, the lowest-tier kilowatt-hour comes to approximately 3.24 TRY.

Why do the electricity bills for two apartments in the same building in Turkey differ despite the same consumption? There are three reasons. Level: the calculation is done separately for each level, so both the volume and the month in which it was consumed are important. Billing period: for most subscribers, this doesn't coincide with the calendar month, and the 8 kWh threshold is the average for the billing period. Tariff plan: with a three-zone tariff, a night kilowatt-hour costs 2.94 TRY, a daytime kilowatt-hour costs 4.38 TRY, and an evening peak kilowatt-hour costs 6.17 TRY, excluding taxes. Those who postpone laundry and water heating until night pay less for the same consumption.

How is your electricity bill calculated in 2026?

Example: Winter month, consumption is 350 kWh. The first 240 kWh costs 2.92 TRY, which is 700.80 TRY, the remaining 110 kWh costs 4.32 TRY, which is another 475.20 TRY. The total is 1,176 TRY before taxes and about 1,360 TRY with taxes. If the same house had used 240 kWh, the bill would have been approximately 810 TRY.

How do they heat apartments in Alanya?

• Air conditioning in heating mode is the primary heating option for apartments on the coast of Turkey. Inverter models with smooth power regulation consume less energy than conventional air conditioners that operate in on-off cycles.
• An electric convector is convenient for spot heating of one room, but with the same heat output it consumes more than an air conditioner – it converts a kilowatt-hour of electricity into exactly a kilowatt-hour of heat, while an air conditioner gives off 2.5–3.5 times more.
• Electric underfloor heating in Turkish apartments: it's more common in bathrooms and less common in living rooms; it's comfortable, but quite expensive as a primary heating source.
• Individual gas boiler (kombi): possible where the house is connected to the gas network, but in Alanya this is not available in all areas.
• Central heating: This is almost never found in Mediterranean resort residential complexes – each apartment is heated independently.

Humidity is a separate issue. The air on the coast is damp, the sea is 16–18°C, and at 15°C outside, it feels cooler than in a dry climate at the same temperature. This changes habits: people run the air conditioner in dehumidifying or heating mode more often than open the windows, which also increases consumption.

Why does the bill depend on the house, not just the equipment?

The thermal envelope is the sum of the building's enclosing structures: walls, windows, ceilings, and roof. It determines energy consumption more than the air conditioner's capacity. Quality double-glazed windows, façade insulation, apartment orientation, floor, and neighbors all affect the cost. Two apartments of the same size in buildings built before 2010 or later will produce different energy consumption with the same heating mode: old windows and lack of façade insulation allow heat to escape. A southern orientation is beneficial in winter: the sun warms the rooms, reducing humidity and heating load. In summer, the same southern exposure becomes a disadvantage: the room overheats, and energy consumption shifts to cooling. The practical conclusion is simple: when choosing an apartment, the thermal envelope should be considered as carefully as the area and view.

New buildings benefit from these features being incorporated into the design during the construction phase. New Level Group builds in Alanya and includes thermal insulation, high-quality glazing, and inverter air conditioning systems in its projects—all factors that directly impact owners' utility costs.

What can be done before the season starts?

To optimize the cost of living in Turkey through utility bills, we recommend:

• Check your current consumption on the meter and understand where you are in relation to the 4,000 kWh threshold and the daily mark of 8 kWh.
• Check your supplier's app to see how much you've spent since the beginning of the year: the annual limit is calculated based on the calendar year, so you'll see if you have enough in reserve in the fall.
• Insulate the area locally: seals on windows and doors, thick curtains, eliminate drafts.
• Set your air conditioner to maintain the temperature rather than to cycle through "warm up and turn off": an inverter model in continuous mode is more economical.

It's important to note that tariffs and limits are subject to change based on regulator decisions: the figures provided apply to the tariff effective April 4, 2026, and the limit introduced on January 1, 2026. All figures should be verified with the EPDK and the supplier serving Alanya. Consumption depends on the size, thermal envelope of the building, apartment orientation, and usage patterns, so the calculations provided are approximate. Annual inflation in August 2026 was 31.51%, and the "housing, water, electricity, gas" category increased by 39.77% over the year, so the lira figures quickly become outdated.