The electricity company in Van, infamous for its close ties to the AKP, put up electricity meters on the power line poles themselves to “avoid illegal usage” and is starting to charge the residents for the meters.
The electric power company in Van continues to rob the people under the guise of fighting illegal electricity use. The Van Lake Power Distribution Co. (VEDAS), a company under the Turkerler Holding known for their close ties with the AKP, started to charge the people for the smart meters they put up at the power poles.
There are no other cities in Turkey where the meters are on the power line poles themselves. This is a practice reserved for Kurdistan’s cities. The power company has put the meters up the poles in Van, Hakkari, Bitlis, Agri and several other Kurdish cities.
BILLS GO UP TO 7.000 TURKISH LIRAS
After the meters were put up on the poles, the customers’ bills skyrocketed. Households that used to pay 40 to 60 liras now receive bills up to 7.000 liras. People who receive these bills without using the actual power are unable to find any authority to object to. Hundreds of people have submitted appeals to the astronomical bills, but the power company has disregarded all of them. The people end up having to pay the exorbitant amounts.
PRICE OF THE METER IS ADDED TO THE BILL
The high amounts are only one facet of the power company’s unlawful actions. The company also adds the price of the smart meters, approximately 1.000 liras, to the clients’ bills. A city resident who wished to remain anonymous for security concerns said he was presented with a 7.000 lira bill, with an additional 1.000 lira charge for the meter. The resident appealed to the company but got nowhere, and said the state is robbing the people through these companies.
