New higher prices of electricity, heating, hot water and gas came into force

The new higher prices of electricity, heating, hot water and natural gas come into force as of 1^st of July. They were voted in a closed sitting by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission while at the same time people were protesting outside the building of the regulator.

The main reason for the price rise is is the increase in the price of natural gas by 11%.

The highest increase will be for the hot water in Bourgas - by more than 17%, in Pleven by over 15% and in Sofia by 7.45%:

Sofia District Heating- 7.46%

EVN Plovdiv District Heating - 0.94%

"Veolia Energy" - Varna - 4,89%

Bourgas District Heating - 17,12%

Pleven District Heating - 15,19%

Rousse District Heating - 6,73%

Veliko Tarnovo District Heating- 2.89%

The electricity price on average will go up by 2%. The highest increae in the price is for Northeastern Bulgaria - by almost 3%, in the West and South-East Bulgaria the price rise is close to 2%:

CEZ - 1.75%

EVN - 1.82%

Energo Pro - 2.78%

Ivan Ivanov, Chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission: The current team of the regulator has tried in the recent 3 years to provide a minimum increae in the price of electricity. The Commission uses every opportunity provided by law and subordinated legislationto adopt a solution to the benefit of businesses and the public.

The people who protested, however, disagreed with this statement:

Pensions should be raised by 12% in this situation, not that I get a pension, but that's the normal logic. The regulator will not listen to the protetsers, that’s clear.

There are people who live with maximum 400-500 BGN per person per month, whis is highly inefficient. What does the heating company think they are doing. Instead of talking about good governance, all the load is trnasfered to the population, protesters said..

The electricity price will be one year, and the heating and hot water can be recalculated after three months.

The new electricity prices will be valid for one year, and those for heating and hot water can be reviewed after three months.