Recent reform activities to liberate and privatize the Turkish utility energy sector through deregulation have transformed the scope of the historically government-owned corporations. However, during the free market process approach, power theft has become an issue that requires national attention. This paper examines the current use of two governance tools-privatization and regulation, and suggests two others to promote a framework of efficient electricity distribution (grants and public information). The capacity of the tools to provide a solution to power losses is discussed while considering the barrier of political acceptability in regions of the country where pockets of resistance exist. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.