Reactive Penalty Calculator 2026
Enter the active, inductive and capacitive energy from your bill; see instantly whether you exceed the EPDK limit for your installed capacity and the estimated penalty at the 2026 reactive energy rate.
2026 Reactive Energy Rate
The reactive energy rate is published in the EPDK tariff tables in kurus (0.01 TL) per kVArh and is updated with each tariff period. Values in force in 2026:
| Period | Unit price (kr/kVArh) | Unit price (₺/kVArh) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 3 April 2026 | 264,5474 | 2,645474 |
| From 4 April 2026 | 349,3698 | 3,493698 |
The unit price field in the calculator is preloaded with the current value. If your bill covers a different period, enter that period's rate.
Reactive Penalty Limits and Ratios
The limit is the ratio of reactive energy to active energy in the billing period, and it has two tiers based on installed capacity:
| Installed capacity | Inductive limit | Capacitive limit |
|---|---|---|
| 50 kVA and above | %20 | %15 |
| Below 50 kVA | %33 | %20 |
Inductive ratio = inductive reactive (kVArh) ÷ active energy (kWh). Capacitive ratio = capacitive reactive (kVArh) ÷ active energy (kWh). The two ratios are checked independently; if both are exceeded in the same month, both items are billed.
Who Pays the Reactive Penalty and Who Is Exempt?
The reactive energy charge applies to three-phase industrial, commercial, agricultural irrigation and similar subscribers. The reactive energy tariff does not apply to:
- Residential subscribers
- Public lighting subscribers
- Single-phase subscribers
- Subscribers with a connection capacity of 9 kW or less
Worked Reactive Penalty Example (Step by Step)
Suppose a business with more than 50 kVA installed capacity sees 250,000 kWh active and 62,000 kVArh inductive reactive energy on its May 2026 bill:
- Inductive ratio: 62,000 ÷ 250,000 = 24.8%. The limit is 20%, so it is exceeded.
- Once the limit is exceeded, all inductive reactive energy of the period is charged: 62,000 kVArh.
- Charge: 62,000 × 3.493698 ₺ = about 216,609 ₺ (excluding VAT and levies).
- Comparison: if only the 12,000 kVArh above the limit were charged, the amount would be about 41,924 ₺. The gap shows why keeping the ratio below the limit matters.
Where Are the Reactive Values on the Bill and the Meter?
The bill shows the “Reactive Energy Charge” as a separate line; inductive and capacitive quantities appear in the meter index section. On an electronic meter the inductive value is read under code “Ri” (OBIS 3.8.0 / 5.8.0) and the capacitive value under “Rc” (OBIS 4.8.0 / 8.8.0). Read them mid-month and enter them here to see your position before the bill arrives.
See the Penalty Before the Bill
Argus EMS monitors your inductive and capacitive ratios in real time and alarms when they approach the limit during the month, so you notice a compensation fault before the bill is issued.
Reactive Penalty Tracking System →Frequently Asked Questions
How is the reactive penalty calculated?
Divide the inductive reactive energy of the billing period by the active energy, and do the same for capacitive. If a ratio exceeds its limit for your installed capacity (20% inductive / 15% capacitive for 50 kVA and above), that item's reactive energy is multiplied by the reactive unit price. If both items are exceeded, they are added together.
What is the 2026 reactive energy unit price?
From 1 January to 3 April 2026 it was 264.5474 kr/kVArh (2.645474 ₺); from 4 April 2026 it is 349.3698 kr/kVArh (3.493698 ₺). The value is updated with the EPDK tariff tables.
Is the penalty applied to all reactive energy or only the excess?
Once the limit is exceeded, the distribution bill charges all inductive (or capacitive) reactive energy of the period, not just the excess. That is why crossing the limit by a small margin can still produce a large charge. The calculator also offers an “only the excess” option for comparison.
Why are the limits different below and above 50 kVA?
Small businesses with installed capacity below 50 kVA have wider limits: 33% inductive and 20% capacitive. At 50 kVA and above the limits are 20% inductive and 15% capacitive.
Who does not pay the reactive penalty?
The reactive energy tariff does not apply to residential subscribers, public lighting subscribers, single-phase subscribers and subscribers with a connection capacity of 9 kW or less.
What is the difference between inductive and capacitive reactive?
Inductive reactive comes from motors, transformers and coils and rises under load. Capacitive reactive comes from compensation capacitors staying engaged more than needed, mostly at night and at low load. Each has its own limit.
What happens if both inductive and capacitive limits are exceeded in the same month?
The two ratios are checked independently. If both are exceeded, inductive and capacitive reactive energy are each charged and the total appears on the bill.
Why is there a penalty when a compensation panel is installed?
The most common causes are a blown fuse, a capacitor that has lost capacity, a wrongly set reactive power relay, or too few steps for the load swing. The panel is in plain sight, but the fault goes unnoticed until the bill arrives; continuous monitoring closes that gap.
How do you calculate the inductive and capacitive penalty?
Take the billing period's active energy (kWh) and the inductive and capacitive reactive energy (kVArh). If the inductive-to-active ratio exceeds its limit (20% for 50 kVA and above) or the capacitive-to-active ratio exceeds its limit (15%), that item's reactive energy is multiplied by the 2026 unit price (3.493698 ₺/kVArh); the sum of the exceeded items is the penalty.
For what reactive energy is, how it appears on the bill and how to object, see the What Is the Reactive Energy Penalty? guide. For continuous compensation panel monitoring, see Compensation Monitoring.
Note: This tool provides an approximate estimate; VAT, levies and taxes are not included. The exact amount depends on your distribution company's billing practice, the billing period and your subscriber group.