Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey of 453 households in six Turkish provinces between March and May 2023 to understand electricity consumption patterns and attitudes toward voluntary renewable energy contributions. The study focused on Adana, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Mersin, Osmaniye, and Şanlıurfa, examining how households use electricity and whether they would voluntarily pay for renewable energy integration.
Electricity consumption extended well beyond lighting, with households relying on power for heating, cooling, hot water, and small appliances. A significant portion of respondents expressed interest in seeing renewable energy contributions itemized separately on their electricity bills, signaling demand for transparency in how utilities allocate renewable charges.
However, the majority of surveyed households declined to accept the hypothetical voluntary payment option. Support varied notably across provinces and income categories, revealing regional and socioeconomic disparities in renewable energy acceptance. Using hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis, researchers identified several factors associated with stated acceptance.
Preference for itemized billing emerged as a strong positive factor, along with the belief that existing bills already included renewable components and possession of postsecondary or bachelor-level education. Surprisingly, income level, electricity bill amount, dwelling size, and current household renewable energy use were not independently linked to acceptance when controlling for other variables.
The findings emphasize that consumer willingness to support renewable energy transitions depends heavily on institutional clarity and information. Utilities must implement transparent billing practices that clearly communicate renewable energy charges. Additionally, targeted energy literacy programs appear essential to improving public understanding of renewable energy integration and its costs.
Researchers cautioned against interpreting the results as precise monetary willingness-to-pay estimates or as establishing causal relationships. The study provides valuable insights for Turkish energy policymakers designing consumer engagement strategies and pricing mechanisms that could enhance public acceptance of renewable energy expansion across different regional markets.
