Administrative audit of electricity distribution companies

This study comprehensively examines the legal oversight processes of electricity distribution services in Turkey and the administrative sanctions associated with these processes. Electricity distribution, characterized as a public service, aims to ensure the safe, uninterrupted, and efficient delivery of energy to end users. Initially, these oversight activities were carried out by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA); however, with the enactment of the Electricity Market Law No. 6446 and Law No. 7257, these powers were transferred to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The primary aim of this study is to assess the legal implications of this transfer of authority and to evaluate how the oversight processes contribute to the orderly functioning of the market. The legal outcomes of oversight processes in the electricity distribution sector have been analyzed in light of comparative legal practices and judicial decisions. The study concludes that the current legal framework is insufficient in ensuring the effectiveness of regulatory mechanisms and emphasizes the need for EMRA's decision-making powers to be strengthened within a broader legal context. Additionally, it highlights the importance of supporting administrative sanctions and judicial review mechanisms with clear, precise, and enforceable provisions to enhance legal certainty and accountability. Strengthening the legal infrastructure of oversight activities is essential for increasing market reliability, ensuring predictability for investors, and enhancing the transparency of public services. In this context, the need for a comprehensive revision of the existing legal regulations is underlined, and these findings are further elaborated in the conclusion section.