site.btaPower Distribution Companies Aim for 20-50% Increase of Electricity Prices, Regulator Vows Not to Allow It

Sofia, April 17 (BTA) - The energy regulator vowed Tuesday not allow a significant increase of electricity prices sought by the power distribution companies for the next regulatory period. "The majority [of the country's three] electricity companies have asked for approval for an increase of electricity prices between 20 and 50 per cent but the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission is not going to allow such an increase," Commission chair Ivan Ivanov told the press in Parliament.

He said that the regulator will only endorse "the most pressing and unavoidable costs of the energy companies" and "there is no way to end up with such increases".

CEZ is known to be seeking a 51 per cent increase of the nighttime rate of electricity and a 5 per cent increase of the daytime rate. It also wants the prices for grid access and electricity transmission upped by 35 and 34 per cent, respectively. The other two electricity distribution operators in Bulgaria, EVN and Energo-Pro, have asked far smaller increases but the specific figures are not clear.

Socialist boycott for regulators

In a separate development Tuesday, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Kornelia Ninova said that her party is not going to make any nominations for members of the energy regulator or any other regulator. "These are not independent bodies. These are bodies which cater to political or corporate interests. We want this changed, we want the management of these bodies and decision-making by them changed," she said.