Bulgaria regulator approves 8.42% hike in electricity prices for household consumers
Bulgaria’s Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) has approved an increase in electricity prices by an average of 8.42 per cent for household consumers starting January 1.
The price increase comes half-way through the 12-month regulatory period that started on July 1 2024 and runs until June 30. The newly-set prices will remain in effect until the end of the current 12-month regulatory period, EWRC said.
This increase only applies to the regulated segment of the market, which currently only applies to household consumers. Bulgaria has repeatedly postponed the full liberalisation of the electricity market in recent years, with Parliament last year pushing the deadline to July 1 2025.
The reason for the increase is the projected 23 per cent increase in the baseload price of electricity, as a result of higher consumption in the regulated sector, most of which was covered by the state-owned Maritsa Iztok 2 coal power plant, the regulator said.
EWRC’s ruling will result in consumers in western Bulgaria, including capital city Sofia, serviced by Elektrohold, paying 8.36 per cent more. Household consumers serviced by EVN in southern Bulgaria would pay 8.39 per cent more and customers of Energo-Pro in northern Bulgaria would see their bills go up by 8.55 per cent.
(Photo: Petr Kovar/freeimages.com)
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