Bulgaria's Energy Watchdog Proposes 12.73% Gas Price Hike from April

DKEVR has proposed a 12.73% increase in gas prices for Q2, 2012, file photo

A working group at the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) has come up with a proposal for a 12.73% increase in prices of natural gas and an increase of 7-12.5% in prices of central heating, depending on the heating utility.

According to the website of the energy watchdog, a meeting of DEKVR's consultative council is to be held on March 21 on the issue of the Q2 2012 prices of natural gas, central heating and cogeneration electricity.

One week ago, state-owned gas supplier Bulgargaz demanded a 25.78% gas price hike from April.

DKEVR Chair Angel Semerdzhiev, however, argued that such a steep price spike was not necessary and that prices would go up by up to 10%.

A few days later, however, he revised his initial forecast to an increase of over 12% in prices of natural gas in Q2 2012.

Heating rates are expected to go up as follows: a 9.14% increase for Sofia's heating utility "Toplofikatsiya Sofia", a 7.03% increase for Varna's "Toplofikatsiya Varna", a 10.37% increase for Burgas' "Toplofikatsiya Burgas", a 9.38% increase for Pleven's "Toplofikatsiya Pleven", a 12.47% increase for Razgrad's "Toplofikatsiya Razgrad" and a 8.65% increase for Vratsa's "Toplofikatsiya Vratsa."

Heating tariffs were last increased in October 2011, with the biggest spike of 4.77% taking effect in Pleven.

Earlier on Monday, Delyan Dobrev, the nominee for Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, explained that Bulgaria was seeking a 15% discount in prices of Russian natural gas, which would curb the price increases predicted by DKEVR.

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