BULGARIA’S DAY-AHEAD POWER MARKET STARTS OPERATIONS

The Bulgarian electricity power exchange starts operations on 19th of January. Producers, traders and consumers will be able to buy and sell electricity at market-based prices.

Initially, the state-owned Thermal Power Plant “Maritsa-Iztok 2”, Nuclear Power Plant “Kozlodui” and National Electricity Company’s hydro power plants will provide electricity for sale at the day-ahead market. Subsequently, the US-owned plants and the other producers will participate.

As a start, it will not significantly influence the bills of the consumers. Until the full liberalization of the energy market in Bulgaria, households will have the opportunity to choose whether to purchase electricity from the exchange or to stay on the regulated market, where the prices are set by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.