Open or transfer electricity, water, gas

What's required to open or transfer a utility subscription in Turkey?

In Turkey, opening or transferring an electricity or water subscription is tied to having a valid Compulsory Earthquake Insurance policy (DASK) on the property. Law No. 6305 on Disaster Insurance, in its Article 11, states that electricity and water distribution companies are required to verify a valid DASK policy exists before completing any subscription or subscriber-change transaction on properties covered by the mandatory earthquake insurance.

Beyond the DASK policy, utility companies typically also require the applicant to be able to prove their legal connection to the property, either through a registered lease contract or a title deed (tapu) in their name. This link between the subscription and legal proof of occupancy is a standard practice at distribution companies across Turkey, not something specific to one city or utility.

As for natural gas subscriptions, sources specialized in the insurance sector indicate that the DASK policy requirement is applied in practice to gas transactions as well, even though the explicit legal text in Article 11 specifically mentions electricity and water.

Key points to know

• If a property doesn't have a valid DASK policy, the distribution company won't be able to complete the transfer of the subscription to a new subscriber, which can delay a tenant's or new owner's move into the property until the matter is resolved
• Unpaid bills accumulated by a previous tenant or subscriber are one of the most common practical problems, since debts can be tied to the meter or the address itself rather than only to the person's name — making it essential to confirm past charges are settled before completing a transfer to a new name
• Updating the owner's or tenant's details with the utility company matters whenever either party to a lease changes, to avoid later disputes over who is responsible for the bills

Frequently asked questions

Is a valid DASK policy required to open a new electricity or water subscription? Yes. Under Law No. 6305, electricity and water distribution companies verify that a valid Compulsory Earthquake Insurance policy exists on the property before completing a subscription opening or transfer to a new subscriber, for properties covered by this insurance.

What happens if a tenant or previous subscriber left unpaid bills on the property? Outstanding charges can be an obstacle to completing the transfer smoothly, because debts may in practice be tied to the meter or the address. It's therefore important to check the status of previous bills before starting the process of transferring the subscription to a new name.

Does the same requirement apply to natural gas subscriptions? The explicit legal text in Article 11 of Law No. 6305 specifically mentions electricity and water subscriptions, but actual practice in the insurance sector shows a similar requirement being applied to natural gas subscription transactions in many cases.

Last updated: 2026-09-07