District heating companies seek 60% increase in prices of heating and hot water if the state does not compensate them

An increase in the prices of heating and hot water by 60 percent from the New Year if the state does not compensate heating companies that operate on natural gas, Kremen Georgiev, the chairman of the Association of district heating companies, told BNT on September 27.

"The trend is a bit unstable on natural gas, as we know now the price should go down, but this does not mean that it will be throughout the winter period, so these levels that the price of natural gas has reached it is necessary from January 1 to raise the price of heat by at least 60%, but we specify that this must happen if the compensation for the district heating companies is not approved because of the high price. Then this increase will either not be there or it will be much less," Georgiev said.

Acting Energy Minister Rosen Hristov explained to BNT that the measures being prepared by the cabinet would be aimed at those most affected by the blue fuel price hike, but would be tied to specific commitments by the energy efficiency industry.

"The degree of support, at least what I am proposing, is to depend on commitments by the responding party for savings, optimisation, energy efficiency," Rosen Hristov said.