Who is an Eligible Consumer? Who Can Be?

Electricity is a basic life component that keeps the internet connection stable while working from home, keeps production running at small scale businesses, and lights up homes at night. However, most people do not see electricity supply as an area of preference. However, users that meet certain criteria can decide on the company from which they will buy electricity. At this point, we can talk about the concept of an eligible consumer.

Regulations in the electricity market allow users above a certain level of consumption to sign contracts with different suppliers. This right does not only belong to large industrial corporations. Household subscribers, as well as small scale businesses, can benefit from it provided that they meet the required criteria.

Who is an Eligible Consumer?

An eligible consumer is a natural or legal person whose annual electricity consumption is at or above the limit set forth by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), and who therefore has the right to choose their electricity supplier. (EPDK, 2026) A user who is an eligible consumer can make a bilateral agreement with an electricity supplier different than the supplier authorized for their area. The system aims to boost competition in the electricity market and offer the user various alternatives. As per the Electricity Market Law, eligible consumers can consider contracts that match their consumption profiles. They can choose based on criteria such as pricing and service scope. This framework ensures that electricity is no longer a fixed, unchangeable expense. Instead, it turns into a manageable expense item for the user. However, one has to meet certain criteria in order to become an eligible consumer.

What are the Criteria to Be an Eligible Consumer?

Being able to choose your own electricity supplier might sound like a complex procedure. However, all you need to do is to complete a few steps. Usually, qualifying as an eligible consumer requires that your consumption exceeds a certain level and that your electricity subscription is suitable to sign a contract.

You must meet the following criteria to become an eligible consumer:

• The first criterion is that your annual electricity consumption reaches or exceeds the eligible consumer limit that EPDK set for that year. This limit is updated annually. (EPDK, 2026)
• You must have an active subscription at the address where you use the electricity. The process is basically the same at areas of use such as houses, offices, stores and warehouses. The eligible consumer status is assessed over the place of use and consumption rather than persons.
• When you wish to exercise your right for choosing a supplier, you must complete the process of closing a “bilateral agreement” with the supplier you chose. A bilateral agreement means sharing the data required for the contract, such as the identity/subscription details, and completion of the offer-contract steps by the supplier. (Lexpera, 2025)

What is the Eligible Consumer Limit for 2026?

The eligible consumer limit set by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority for 2026 is 500 kWh or above per year. Brought into force by a Board resolution published in the Official Gazette on December 23, 2025, the decision has been in effect since January 1, 2026. So, the limit which was 750 kWh for 2025 was dropped to 500 kWh for 2026. (AA, 2025) This update ensures that households and businesses with lower electricity usage than the previous year can choose their supplier. This means that users with an annual consumption at or above 500 kWh can become eligible consumers and choose their own electricity supplier. The limit for 2026 was set to boost competition in the electricity market and ensure that more subscribers have the freedom to choose their suppliers.

Benefits of Being an Eligible Consumer

Being an eligible consumer allows you to benefit from the competitive atmosphere in the electricity market. The competition is seen not only in pricing but also in contract flexibility, quality of customer services, and additional services. As per the Electricity Market legislation, eligible consumers can make bilateral agreements with suppliers other than the authorized companies.

The eligible consumer status is a strategic tool in terms of budget management especially for users who closely follow their energy costs. They can consider price offers that match their consumption profiles. They can sign fixed-price contracts to create a predictable cost structure for a certain period, or review different campaign options. Among the offers on the open market, there may be discounted electricity options as well for users who meet certain criteria.

To sum up the advantages of being an eligible consumer:

• The freedom to choose your supplier: You can choose the company from which you will buy electricity.
• The opportunity to compare prices: You can get quotations from different suppliers to consider options that match your budget.
• Contract flexibility: You can choose from fixed rate options or contracts with varying terms.
• Competitive advantages: The market competition allows you to benefit from campaigns and special offers.
• Cost management: Long term planning is easier especially for users with high consumption.
• Increased consumption awareness: Users who closely follow their electricity expenses can manage their consumption habits with more awareness.

Of course, being an eligible consumer does not always mean a lower bill for every user. What matters is to correctly analyze the consumption profile and review the contractual terms carefully. Still, being able to choose offers you a different perspective than being limited to one tariff only.

The Difference Between an End Source Supply Tariff and an Eligible Consumer

The terms on an electricity bills may sometimes be confusing. In particular, the difference between an end source supply tariff and an eligible consumer is one of the highest concerns of users. Both concepts are related to liberalization in the electricity market. However, their scopes and practices are different. First of all, an eligible consumer is a user who exceeds the annual consumption limit set for that year and get to choose their electricity supplier. This means that if the user wishes, they can make a bilateral agreement with a different supplier, get price offers, and consider contractual terms. The end source supply tariff (SKTT), on the other hand, has a different structure. The end source supply is a special tariff that is used for users whose consumption level is above a certain limit, are eligible consumers but have not made a bilateral agreement with any supplier. As per the regulations in the electricity market, this tariff includes a cost-based pricing model for subscribers with high consumption.

In other words, being an eligible consumer is a right to exercise. End source supply, on the other hand, is a tariff practice that applies under certain circumstances. If a user that has the eligible consumer status does not conclude an agreement with a supplier, the system might automatically switch to end source supply tariff. As this tariff contains pricing that is more sensitive to market costs, there might be cost differences for subscribers with high consumption.

To sum up the basic differences between an end source supply tariff and an eligible consumer status:

• Eligible consumer: It is a user who has the right to choose their supplier.
• End source supply: It is a special tariff that is applied for users who have the eligible consumer status but have not chosen any suppliers.
• Freedom to choose: An eligible consumer can actively choose their supplier. End source supply is a default practice where no choice is made.
• Pricing structure: An eligible consumer can make a bilateral agreement to choose from a fixed rate or different model; end source supply tariff, on the other hand, is cost based and subject to regulation.

How to Apply to Become an Eligible Consumer?

If you wish to apply for the eligible consumer status, all you need to do is to complete a few steps with accurate information. What matters is that you clarify your fitness for the eligible consumer status and manage the offer process with awareness. The first step is to check if your annual consumption is above the eligible consumer limit set for the relevant year. Usually, this can be calculated by checking the bills for the last 12 months. If you meet the consumption criterion, you will get the right to become an eligible consumer.

The application process to become an eligible consumer usually comprises the following steps:

• Check your consumption: Check your electricity consumption for the last 12 months to see if you qualify as en eligible consumer.
• Get offers: Request price offers from different electricity suppliers.
• Review the contract: Carefully consider the offered contractual terms, pricing structure and the term.
• Sign a bilateral agreement: Sign a contract with your preferred supplier to start the transition.
• Transition: Upon notification through the system, the supplier change will be completed. You will not need to physically change your meter.

In the electricity market, changing a supplier does not affect the distribution infrastructure. This means you will not experience any power outages, the meter will stay there, and the technical infrastructure will not change. The only thing that changes is the company from which you buy the electricity and the contractual terms.

Benefits of Being an Eligible Consumer with Aydem Perakende

For users holding an eligible consumer status, choosing the right supplier can help manage the electricity expenses with better control. At this point, working with a reliable energy company ensures that both contractual processes and the service experience proceed better.

 Aydem Perakende, with the energy solutions it offers for eligible consumers, aims to make the electricity supply process more transparent and manageable. Analyzing the consumption habits to offer various contract options, this structure provides alternative solutions for households and businesses that wish to closely follow their energy expenses.

Users with an eligible consumer status can get information on offers that fit their electricity consumption, and consider different contract options based on their needs.  Contact Aydem Perakende to see if your electricity consumption meets the eligible consumer limit and get information about our offers tailored to your needs in order to manage your energy supply process with more awareness.

Eligible Consumer - Frequently Asked Questions

How to become an eligible consumer?

In order to become an eligible consumer, the first criterion is that your annual electricity consumption exceeds the limit set for that year. This limit is updated annually by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK). It comes into effect with board decisions published in the Official Gazette.

What is the eligible consumer limit?

The eligible consumer limit for 2026 is 500 kWh or above (AA, 2025). This decision came into effect on 1 January 2026. As the limit was dropped, more households and small scale businesses have had the right to choose their suppliers.