Melike Aydın 

 

IZMIR - Citizens, who reacted to the raises in basic expenses every month, stated that the data announced did not reflect the truth and that the people became impoverished from day to day.

 

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) recently announced the electricity and natural gas prices statistics for the January-June period of 2021. According to TUIK data, when the electricity prices in the first period of 2021 in the industry are examined, the amount paid by consumers for 1 kwh of electricity increased by 13,4 percent compared to the previous period and increased by 10,9 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, and reached an average of 65,0 kurus. In the first period of 2021, the amount paid by consumers for 1 kwh of electricity in houses increased by 8,2 percent compared to the previous period and increased by 11,7 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching an average of 79,5 kurus.

 

In natural gas prices, the amount paid by consumers for stere of natural gas in the industry in the first period of 2021 increased by 3,8 percent compared to the previous period, while it decreased by 3,7 percent compared to the same period of the previous year and became 182,1 kurus on average. In houses, the amount paid by consumers for stere of natural gas in the first period of 2021 increased by 3,3 percent compared to the previous period and increased by 5,3 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching an average of 192,3 kurus.

 

Citizens express that the shared data on electricity and natural gas is felt more deeply when the water bill, kitchen expenses, rent and school expenses are added, and they express that they cannot make a living at every opportunity.

 

‘Bills are not paid with retirement pension’

 

Retired worker İnci Tepe, who said she had moved from Istanbul to Izmir, reacted to the hikes in bills as follows: ‘’Even if we get double wages, we cannot do it. Retirees already have everything bad. I get a salary of 2300 TR. We do not have any social activities. You canNOT go anywhere, we do not even have the courage to visit. Winter has come, natural gas and electricity bills will increase. We light the stove. We stay in one room in winter.’’

 

‘Even though I was never at home, I got 130 TR electric bill’

 

Domestic worker Kübra Kaymaz stated that she paid 130 TR for electricity and 60 TR for water bills even though they were not at home. She continued: ‘’We use a coal stove, we cannot turn on electricity. We barely fend for ourselves on minimum wage. We are already paying 800 TR rent. We have two children, one of them goes to school and the other is small child. It was less in the past years and it is increasing more and more. Especially after the forest fire, it increased even more.’’

 

‘Discount discourse is not true’

 

Expressing that she has paid 360 and 380 TR electric bills in the last two months, Ayşe Kara expressed her reaction with the following words: ‘’We use a fridge and a washing machine. Just like everyone else uses. There is nothing more. We live on minimum wage and my spouse works temporarily. I have two daughters and we barely make a living. I paid 150 TR for internet, phone. I was told they were making a discount, but more came. Whatever they do, they lie. Let them go into the public and see how they are.’’

 

‘The state gives to those who serve the purpose and does not give to those who do not’

 

The domestic worker, who did not want to be named, stated that her spouse passed away and that she is trying to make a living by on social support with her two children, one of whom is studying at university, and said: ‘’My electric bill came to 580 TR. We pay the common water bill for two houses and it came to 382 TR. I pay the money I get for water, electricity, rent. This is inhumane. I go and submit a petition so that the government can make a discount, but it does not. Inflation is high, we do not go to the market. I have a child going to university, I could not even find a scholarship. The state gives to those who serve the purpose and does not give to those who do not. One morning, you open your eyes, electricity and water increased. There is also interest. If not pay one day, the electricity be cut off. The virus has come, we have to use water.’’

 

‘We pay 600 TR bills when we cannot eat healthily’

 

Şazimet Temel, 68-year-old, stated that she and her husband make a living on the old-age pension they receive. ‘’380 TR for electricity, 300 TR for water. I had surgery on both my feet. I cannot go to work. Where cheapness! It should pay then, I am poor too. My house was destroyed by the earthquake. They gave 3000 TR, three months. They did not even give us a wage. We cannot buy meat, we cannot buy cheese either. Olive is 30 TR. We just eat bread,’’ she said.