site.btaEnergy Regulator Chairman: There Is No Legal Possibility to Further Postpone Decision on Electricity Prices

Energy Regulator Chairman: There Is No Legal Possibility to Further Postpone Decision on Electricity Prices

Sofia, July 28 (BTA) - There is no legal possibility to postpone
 again the decision on the new electricity prices as of August
1, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chairan Ivan Ivanov
told journalists Tuesday. He quoted the amendments to the Energy
 Act published in the State Gazette, which stipulate that the
electricity pricing period that ends on June 30 can be extended
by one month only, and this has already been done.

On Monday, employers demanded the planned electricity hike to be
 postponed by another five months after the initial one-month
delay, and said they will stage nationwide protests on
Wednesday. They insisted that electricity prices should not rise
 until January 1, 2016.

Commenting on the actions of the employers' organizations
against the new electricity prices, Ivanov said that the
Constitution gives everyone in Bulgaria the right to protest.

Taking a journalist's question, Ivanov said that he held a
working meeting with Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova and
part of her team on Tuesday, but he did not give details about
its purpose.

Asked if he has been pressured by the power holders, Ivanov
said: "No pressure is being exercised on me at present. If some
people are trying to exercise such pressure indirectly, through
statements to the media, these attempts are completely
unsuccessful. I am observing the law, just like we have swarn
to."

Ivanov also said that the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission
 will present its decision on the new electricity prices on July
 31. The decision will be adopted at a closed-door sitting.