Gökhan Altıner writes..."How Will Citizens Afford This Increase?"

The cost of living has been reflected in salaries at a rate of 19.19%. The discussions surrounding the minimum wage have come to an end with this figure established. However, immediately after this adjustment, electricity prices increased by 15%. As we transition into a new season, we may not be using our air conditioners yet, but in a few months, air conditioning units, heaters, and gas appliances will be back in use. Consequently, gas prices are likely to rise as winter approaches. This situation highlights the urgent need for the government to develop a program aimed at reducing living costs.

Is the electricity hike unavoidable? Yes, it is. If the government did not impose this increase, KIB-TEK (the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Electricity Authority) would struggle to function. Due to the lack of funds, subsidies cannot be provided. KIB-TEK has significant payments to make to AKSA and the Greek Cypriot side, and it allocates approximately 6-7% of its budget for borrowing to meet these payments. The amounts involved are substantial. On the other hand, when Emrullah Turanlı fails to pay his electricity bill, citizens express their frustration. The average citizen must pay their rising bills, or face immediate disconnection, while some privileged individuals evade their responsibilities.

KIB-TEK is unable to collect debts from certain businesses, often due to political connections. If proper investments were made in KIB-TEK, and if it didn’t have to buy electricity from AKSA or the Greek Cypriot side, the price of electricity would automatically decrease. According to KIB-TEK's laws, it is required to supply energy without profit.

As mentioned, while the government has no choice but to implement this electricity increase, the real question remains: how will citizens afford it? Consider this: there was a time when the minimum wage was set to be raised by only 15%. Supermarkets have already adjusted their prices, reflecting the 19% increase on their shelves. The price of meat has reached 950 TL, and medication prices are increasing by nearly 25% within 40 days. This perfectly illustrates the saying: “they give with a spoon but take with a shovel.”

As long as this mindset persists in Northern Cyprus, living costs will not decrease. A high cost of living is expected in October, so if the September inflation report surprises with a lower figure, don’t be shocked; it’s the following month when we will see the actual impact of rising prices in supermarkets, pharmacies, and electricity.

Friends, this is a vicious cycle. If you increase salaries, living costs rise, and both public sector salaries and pensions must be adjusted upwards. Naturally, the minimum wage also increases in line with the cost of living. This cycle creates significant burdens for the government, social security, and employers. This is a perilous spiral.

Therefore, the government must quickly prepare an economic program and find a way to reduce prices in the markets. Otherwise, no one will be able to find and pay the amounts necessary.

It is painfully clear that essential investments in KIB-TEK have been neglected for years. The situation is as straightforward as that. I can no longer recall how many times electricity prices have been raised, nor can I keep track of the total percentage increase. I am avoiding further investigation into the matter.

If we are using electricity at such high rates, we at least deserve a continuous supply. If the electricity bill you receive is high, it should correspond to the quality of service provided. However, we are not receiving this return. This is essentially the crux of the issue.