Istanbul Experiences Widespread Planned Electricity Outages for Maintenance and Upgrades

Extensive Power Cuts Across Istanbul

Istanbul is experiencing significant planned electricity outages across many of its districts on January 17 and 18, 2026. These scheduled interruptions are part of essential maintenance, investment, and safety-related works aimed at improving the city's electricity distribution network. The outages have been announced by the primary electricity distribution companies serving the metropolis: Boğaziçi Elektrik Dağıtım A.Ş. (BEDAŞ) for the European side and Anadolu Yakası Elektrik Dağıtım A.Ş. (AYEDAŞ) for the Asian side.

European Side Heavily Affected by BEDAŞ Works

On the European side of Istanbul, BEDAŞ has implemented widespread power cuts affecting numerous districts. On Saturday, January 17, areas such as Avcılar, Bağcılar, Bahçelievler, Başakşehir, Beylikdüzü, Çatalca, Esenler, Esenyurt, Eyüpsultan, Fatih, Gaziosmanpaşa, Güngören, Küçükçekmece, Sarıyer, Silivri, Sultangazi, and Zeytinburnu were scheduled to lose power at various times. Some maintenance activities, particularly in districts like Bakırköy, Beyoğlu, Kağıthane, Şişli, and Sarıyer, commenced on January 16 and extended into the weekend. The works encompass a range of critical operations, including:

• Subscriber connections
• Preventive maintenance
• Transformer center servicing
• Network upgrades
• Infrastructure renewal

These efforts are being carried out with a focus on occupational health and safety standards, ensuring the long-term reliability of the electricity supply. Most interruptions typically began around 9:00 a.m. and were expected to conclude by late afternoon or early evening, with specific restoration times varying by neighborhood.

Asian Side Also Sees Scheduled Interruptions

While BEDAŞ primarily manages the European side, AYEDAŞ is responsible for the Asian side of Istanbul and has also announced planned outages. For instance, on January 18, the Kurtköy Mahallesi Kale Sokak in the Pendik district experienced a planned outage between 12:30 and 14:30. These planned works by AYEDAŞ are similarly focused on maintaining and upgrading the electrical infrastructure to ensure a more stable and efficient power supply for residents and businesses.

Information for Residents and Businesses

Residents and businesses in affected areas are advised to consult the official websites of BEDAŞ (bedas.com.tr) and AYEDAŞ for the most current and detailed information regarding specific outage schedules, including street-level details and estimated restoration times. Both companies also offer services like the ALO 186 hotline, mobile applications, and SMS notifications for real-time updates. While works are planned to be completed within the announced timeframes, energy restoration may occur gradually due to technical requirements and safety protocols. Customers utilizing generators are reminded to disconnect from the main grid during outages for safety reasons.