ELECTRICITY PRICES TO INCREASE BY ANOTHER 20% NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CARBON EMISSIONS OF TPPS

"Electricity prices will increase by another 15-20% next year, because of the carbon emission quotas which thermoelectric power plants will have to buy as of 2013," Yordan Kostadinov, former director of Kozloduy NPP, said in an interview for Klassa daily. According to him, if the Belene NPP is not built, by 2020-2025, Bulgaria will be one of the EU countries with the most expensive electricity. "Currently, the electricity market in Bulgaria is worth BGN 5 bn. In 2020, the same market will cost €5 bn, which is double that amount," stated the former head Kozloduy NPP.

According to Kostadinov, 10 years ago, Bulgaria had to make a decision on the share of different types of energy – from water, winter and solar energy - in the 16% of the electricity our country should be producing from renewable sources as of the year 2020. "It was normal for electricity from water to account for about 12%, that from wind – for about 2-3% and solar energy – for 1-2%," stated Kostadinov.

"The wrong forecasts of operators and the increased surplus charge for green energy calculated in the price of electricity are the reasons for the higher price increase of electricity," Angel Semerdjiev, Chairman of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) admitted on BNR today.

The change in the price of electricity, or rather the surcharge for green energy was based on the statements of companies as of the end of April. Over the last two months, however, investments in the construction of photovoltaics have increased dramatically, significantly changing the forecasts. "The adjustment made is stipulated by law," said Semerdjiev. According to him, the price of electricity will be adjusted more frequently in the future. Now, electricity prices increase once a year, on July 1.