ELECTRICITY PRICES TO INCREASE BY 3%, GAS - BY 4.7%

The average increase in the prices of electricity for both households and industry will be about 3%,” announced Angel Semerdjiev, Chairman of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. He specified that some of the tariffs for small- and medium-sized enterprises, which also buy electricity on the regulated market, would go up by around 5%.

The German power utility E. ON, which supplies electricity to Northeastern Bulgaria will raise the daily tariff of electricity by 1.92%, the night-time tariff – by 1.91%, and the average increase will be 1.92%. The Austrian EVN, supplying electricity to Southeastern Bulgaria, will increase the daily electricity prices by 1.90%, the night-time prices – by 1.95%, and the average hike will be 1.90%.

The daily tariff for customers of the Czech energy utility CEZ in Western Bulgaria will increase by 1.89% - from BGN 0.14437/kWh to BGN 0.14711/kWh, VAT excluded, and the night-time tariff will rise by 1.86%. The average increase will be 1.89%.

The price of natural gas will increase by 4.71% to BGN 557.22/1,000 cu m as of July 1, but added to the price rise as of April 1, the increase will become 9.39%. Central heating prices will be recalculated on the basis of this percentage.

Fees for central heating in Sofia will go up by 4.55%. The price of heating energy in Varna will increase by 8.84%, in Plovdiv – by 6.76%, in Burgas – by 5.54%, in Sliven – by 0.75%, in Gabrovo - by 0.94%, in Vratsa – by 0.53%, in Pernik – by 1.44%, in Russe - by 5.06%, and in Pleven – by 6.58%.

Only in Veliko Tarnovo the price of central heating will decrease - by 2.52%.