8 Regulations Amended in the Electricity Market: EPDK’s 2026 Rules and New Obligations

Why were eight electricity market regulations amended?

The Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) amended eight separate regulations concerning the electricity market in Official Gazette (Resmî Gazete) No. 33405 of October 19, 2026. The Electricity Market Balancing and Settlement Regulation (Elektrik Piyasası Dengeleme ve Uzlaştırma Yönetmeliği) was additionally amended in Official Gazette No. 33407 of October 21, 2026. As a result, nine amending instruments affecting eight separate regulations have been published.

The amendments affect market security and the operation of the electricity grid, as well as businesses’ financing, investment, connection, collateral, storage and settlement obligations. Below, each regulation is explained separately, together with a direct link to the relevant Official Gazette text.

Nature of this publication: This is an annotated news report on the amending regulations; it is not the consolidated text of the legislation in force. Before any specific transaction, the amending text should be reviewed together with the current principal regulation.

Who is affected?

Electricity generation and supply companies, owners of unlicensed solar power plants (GES), electricity storage investors, aggregator license holders, incumbent supply companies, distribution companies, organized industrial zones and industrial businesses with high electricity consumption may be affected by the new rules.

Balancing and Settlement Regulation: October 2026 Amendments

Offers on a settlement period basis

In the balancing power market, load increase (yük alma) and load decrease (yük atma) offers will be submitted on a settlement period basis. This change has a direct impact on the preparation of generation and consumption schedules and on the management of energy imbalances.

Thermal plants, load change curves and the 2027 transition

Rules have been laid down for the notification of the loading and unloading curves of thermal generation facilities and for updating them no more than four times in a calendar year. Instructions to online thermal balancing units based on these curves will start on January 1, 2027.

Unlicensed facilities of 900 kW and above

For the relevant unlicensed generation facilities with an installed electrical capacity in operation of 900 kW or more, priority, coordination and remote control mechanisms for the implementation of emergency instructions come to the fore. Which facilities fall within the scope of application should be determined on the basis of the relevant article and the connection characteristics.

Registration in an aggregator portfolio

For a generation facility to be registered in an aggregator’s portfolio, at least one unit must have undergone acceptance by the Ministry, and the registrations of the settlement-based injection-withdrawal units associated with the facility must be completed on the transfer date.

Additional collateral provision of October 21, 2026

Under the amendment to Article 132/E of the Regulation, a participant that fails to provide sufficient collateral despite a collateral call, or that tops up its collateral without paying its default debt, may not continue its activities in bilateral agreements, the electricity futures market, the day-ahead market and the intraday market.

Open the additional amendment of October 21, 2026

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

Connection and System Use Regulation (Bağlantı ve Sistem Kullanım Yönetmeliği): October 2026 Amendments

Power control for storage facilities

Where a consumer installs a storage facility with an installed capacity higher than its contracted power, an automatic power control unit, an energy cut-off system and other necessary measures are mandatory to prevent energy from being fed into the grid and to prevent the contracted power from being exceeded when energy is drawn from the grid.

Leaving the distribution system while a license is in force

Users holding a generation license may not request to leave the distribution system unless their licenses are revoked or expire. For a transfer to the transmission system, the connection point in the license must first be amended.

The 30-day period after the connection agreement

The simultaneous-transaction requirement in the second paragraph of Article 21 of the Regulation has been changed to a transaction to be carried out no later than thirty days after the signing of the connection agreement. Which obligation this period relates to should be assessed in the context of the article as a whole.

Electronic letters of guarantee, top-ups and refunds

In addition to cash or an unconditional and open-ended bank letter of guarantee, an electronic letter of guarantee (e-teminat mektubu) may be chosen. Additional collateral is to be provided within 10 business days of written notification, and excess collateral is to be refunded within 10 business days upon request.

Collateral shortfall and past payment discipline

A shortfall of 20% or more in the required collateral that is not made up may result in a notification to EPDK. For users who have paid their system use invoices in full over the last 24 months and have not defaulted on collateral, the maximum ratio on which the calculation is based is applied at no more than one times.

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

Unlicensed Electricity Generation Regulation (Lisanssız Elektrik Üretim Yönetmeliği): October 2026 Amendments

Remote control and notification in an emergency

To carry out an emergency instruction, the relevant unlicensed generation facilities may be controlled remotely by the distribution company or by an organized industrial zone (OSB) or industrial zone (EB) holding a distribution license. Within 15 minutes of the moment the emergency ends, the facility owner must be notified by telephone and by means of a durable data medium. Re-energization is the responsibility of the facility owner.

Integrated storage capacity

The phrase “without capacity limitation” has been added to the provision allowing an integrated storage unit to be installed up to the electrical power of the generation facility. Grid connection, metering and safety requirements remain in force.

Internal consumption and netting

Where the generation and consumption facilities are located in the same distribution region but at different metering points, the internal consumption of the structures and equipment on the generation facility site is added to the associated consumption and netted off. Where there is no associated consumption facility in the relevant region, invoicing at the tariff specified in the legislation may apply.

Financial consequences of failing to comply with an emergency instruction

No payment will be made for the generation corresponding to a load decrease instruction that was not carried out. In addition, amounts calculated according to the pricing principles set out in Additional Article 4 are collected from the generator by the incumbent supply company and/or the aggregator.

60-day revision application and contractual penalty transition

Generators within the scope of Article 75/4 of the Balancing and Settlement Regulation must apply to the relevant network operator within 60 days of entry into force to have their existing connection agreements revised. Certain contractual penalties will not be applied until April 30, 2027.

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

YEKDEM: Certification and Support of Renewable Energy Resources – October 2026 Amendments

Energy stored after joining YEKDEM

If virtual records establish that electricity generated and stored within a generation facility with storage was generated and stored after joining the Renewable Energy Resources Support Mechanism (YEKDEM), it may, under the relevant conditions, be treated as falling within YEKDEM. As a rule, no support is paid for energy stored before joining; the exceptions provided for in the regulation are reserved.

Separating electricity drawn from the grid

Energy drawn from the grid and stored is separated by means of virtual records from energy originating from renewable generation. In the support calculation, the energy taken from the grid and the nature of the source are of importance.

Storage capacity and virtual records

The total of the virtual records may not exceed the operating capacity of the storage facility; where additional storage takes place once the capacity limit has been reached, a proportional update of the existing records is provided for.

Support formulas and domestic components

The calculations of the total YEK cost (YEK toplam bedeli) have been updated, and unlicensed generation cost amounts associated with non-compliance with emergency instructions have been taken into account. Certain facilities are also subject to separate conditions regarding domestic component support.

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

Electricity Market License Regulation (Elektrik Piyasası Lisans Yönetmeliği): October 2026 Amendments

Return of collateral for facilities with storage

The collateral submitted with a license application for an electricity generation facility with storage will not be returned until the entire generation facility has entered into operation. For the return of collateral relating to the storage unit, the power of the unit whose acceptance has been completed will be taken into account.

Distinguishing between power and capacity

In several provisions on storage investments, a power criterion has been introduced in place of capacity. The technical concepts used in application documents and in calculating the return of collateral should be carefully distinguished.

Trade name, brand and corporate perception

Holders of supply and aggregator licenses other than incumbent supply companies are subject to restrictions on the use of trade names that may give the impression that they are affiliated with a distribution company.

Force majeure that becomes permanent

If an event previously accepted as force majeure becomes permanent in a way that prevents the completion of the investment, the same event will not be reassessed under the force majeure article.

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

Regulation on Storage Activities in the Electricity Market (Elektrik Piyasasında Depolama Faaliyetleri Yönetmeliği): October 2026 Amendments

Installed capacity exceeding the contracted power

Consumers may install a storage facility with an installed capacity exceeding their contracted power, provided that a favorable connection opinion is obtained and the storage facility is located at the same metering point as the consumption facility.

Energy cut-off and automatic power control

Automatic control and cut-off systems must be installed to prevent electricity from being fed into the grid and to prevent the contracted power from being exceeded when energy is drawn. A higher installed storage capacity does not create a right to feed unlimited power into the grid.

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

Electricity Market Ancillary Services Regulation (Elektrik Piyasası Yan Hizmetler Yönetmeliği): October 2026 Amendments

Aggregators’ capacity and activation fees

In demand-side participation, payments consist of a capacity fee and an activation fee for the activation actually delivered. The proportion of hours in the critical month in which there was no participation in instructions affects the calculation of the capacity fee.

Load reduction tolerances

Performance classification in cases of insufficient load reduction or of exceeding the instructed quantity has been tied to detailed ratios. Where load is reduced by 50% more than the instructed quantity, the approval of the transmission system operator at least one hour before the start of the instruction may be required for the service to be deemed provided.

Meter and contracted power documents

A provision has been added concerning a document, approved by the relevant distribution license holder, that contains the meter information and the contracted power of consumption facilities connected to the distribution system.

December 31, 2026 for performance tests

For ancillary service performance tests and the certificate/report processes, the transition date for implementation concerning the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEİAŞ) has been changed to December 31, 2026.

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

Regulation on the Electricity Market Activities of OSBs and Industrial Zones (OSB ve Endüstri Bölgelerinin Elektrik Piyasası Faaliyetleri Yönetmeliği): October 2026 Amendments

Emergency and load decrease instructions

OSB/EB legal entities holding a distribution license are obliged, within the framework of the legislation, to carry out load decrease instructions and TEİAŞ emergency instructions directed at the relevant unlicensed generation facilities.

Data sharing and record-keeping

Facility information and data on the implementation of instructions must be shared with incumbent supply companies; information requested by TEİAŞ in connection with an emergency must be provided on time and in full.

Sanctions under Law No. 6446

Breaches of obligations may give rise to a risk of sanctions under Article 16 of Electricity Market Law No. 6446. The elements of the specific breach, the sanction to be applied and the available legal remedy should each be assessed separately.

Open the amending text in the Official Gazette

Entry into force and compliance timetable: 2026–2027

The dates are given on the basis of the amending texts used for this news report. Statutory time-limit calculations and subsequent legislative amendments should be checked separately in specific transactions.

Legal implications of the new rules for investors and businesses

Unlicensed GES, storage and connection agreements

The remote control conditions for GES owners, emergency instructions, the connection requirements for storage units, the netting of internal consumption and revisions of connection agreements should be examined together. Since the possibility of technical control is granted subject to certain conditions, it cannot be assumed that every facility falls within the same scope.

Collateral, settlement and commercial risks

Failing to top up collateral on time, failing to pay a default debt, failing to comply with load decrease instructions or failing to complete acceptance procedures may lead to different legal and economic consequences. In particular, restrictions on market activity and non-payment for generation may affect a business’s cash flow.

OSB, ancillary service and aggregator contracts

The processes of receiving instructions, forwarding them to the relevant generator, implementing them, recording them and sharing the necessary data should be reviewed from the perspective of technical operations and contract management.

Administrative acts and private law disputes

For EPDK acts, the return of collateral, system use charges, support payments and contractual disputes, the competent judicial route is determined according to the nature of the specific act. The mere fact that a regulation has been amended does not in itself give rise to a right to compensation for every loss of generation.

Documents to be examined in a specific dispute

Existing license, connection and system use agreements, instruction and notification records, meter and settlement data, collateral notifications, acceptance reports and the relevant administrative decisions should be assessed together.

Frequently asked questions about the amendments to eight electricity market regulations

Which eight electricity market regulations were amended?

The regulations on balancing and settlement; connection and system use; unlicensed electricity generation; YEKDEM; licensing; storage activities; ancillary services; and the electricity market activities of OSBs/industrial zones were amended.

Can an unlicensed GES be controlled remotely?

Facilities falling within the scope of the relevant provisions may be controlled remotely by the authorized distribution operators for the purpose of implementing emergency instructions.

Can a battery be installed at an unlicensed generation facility?

There is a provision allowing an integrated storage unit to be installed, limited to the electrical power and the other technical conditions set out in the regulation.

Does YEKDEM pay for all stored energy?

No. The source of the energy, the generation and storage period, the time of joining YEKDEM and the virtual records are decisive.

How long is the period for revising a connection agreement?

Unlicensed generators within the scope have been granted a 60-day application period from the date of entry into force.

Does a collateral shortfall affect market activities?

Yes. Under the conditions listed in the October 21, 2026 amendment, the continuation of activities in bilateral agreements and in certain organized electricity markets may be prevented.

Sources

The amending text of each regulation is provided by a separate link at the end of the relevant section above. The collective links below also lead directly to the official publication.

• October 19, 2026 – Official Gazette No. 33405
• October 21, 2026 – Official Gazette No. 33407
• October 21, 2026 – Additional amendment to the Balancing and Settlement Regulation

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