|
|
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and information from publics.bg
News
From Bulgaria
11.02.2014 16:51
© freephotouk@flickr.com
The price of electricity should go up with at least 7 – 9 percent in order for electric utilities to maintain and guarantee the security of supply, Stefan Abadzhiev, Head of Energo-Pro which operates in Northeastern Bulgaria, said. Energo-Pro’s statement follows a similar announcement from EVN Bulgaria, feeding electricity to consumers in Southeastern Bulgaria. Last week EVN Bulgaria requested that the energy watchdog reviewed its pricing policy with respect to the actual costs bared by electricity distribution companies. CEZ Bulgaria said it is still assessing the price correction needed for its normal functioning. All three utilities are due to submit their price requests to the regulator by Feb 28.
Two electricity price cuts, the latest chipping off 10 percent of night time household tariffs, paired with decreased acknowledged technical loses have greatly burdened Bulgarian electric utilities since Aug 1, 2013. With the planned start of Bulgaria’s nationwide electricity exchange, utilities will also have to bear the costs of balancing the market, which have not been calculated in the current energy prices. A vow by energy minister Dragomir Stoinev for electricity prices to stay constant through 2014 also seems to add up to the pressure in the energy sector.
“The State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission should understand that these expenses exist, whether it acknowledges them or not”, Joerg Sollfelner, CEO of EVN Bulgaria said last week during a press conference.
Both EVN and Energo-Pro have reported that they have been forced to cut back their investment programmes, resulting in record low financing for maintenance and modernization of electric infrastructure.
All news from Bulgaria
Interview 
Full text
Events 
