HEATING AND HOT WATER PRICES IN BULGARIA GO UP BETWEEN 18% AND 38%

The price of electricity will increase by 1% for the whole country as of the same date.

While the regulator was holding the meeting, people gathered outside the building to protest over the price increase.

The regulator adopted the initially planned price rise. The largest increase in heating price is for the city of Pleven - by 37,4% i.e. by 17,50 BGN per megawatt hour. In Sofia, the price will go up by nearly 23% i.e. by 15 BGN per megawatt hour. According to trade unions, the price hike will lead to increase in the monthly bills by average 25 BGN per household.

The prices of heating, hot water and electricity are going up because of the increase in the natural gas price by 30% as of 1st of April. The decisions of the EWRC may be appealed in court. The practice so far has shown that the court process takes between one and two years.

Electricity distributors announced a new campaign for self meter read. Heating accountants will not carry out any extraordinary readings and will calculate the new prices of heaing and hot water using a formula.

The energy regulator is expected to change the electricity prices at the end of June. All district heating companies, electricity generators and electricity distributors demanded another increase in the power price from the summer.