site.btaEnergy Minister: Electricity Price Increase Is Inevitable

Energy Minister: Electricity Price Increase Is Inevitable


Sofia, September 18 (BTA) - "Increasing electricity prices is
inevitable," said Economy and Energy Minister Shtonov on
Thursday on the heels of Wednesday's announcement by the energy
regulator that prices will increase by up to 10 per cent from
October 1. Shtonov added that an increase of several percent
will be enough to plug a small portion of the deficit in the
energy sector.

Shtonov said it will be up to the regulator to decide by how
much prices will increase. He added, however, that households
won't bear the whole burden. Approached whether there will be
energy allowances for the socially disadvantaged, the Minister
said that a fund has to be set up to that purpose, which is
unlikely to happen by October 1. Shtonov suggested that such
fund may begin to operate from January 2015.