Power Rates in Bulgaria to Add 3-4% from July 2013

Angel Semerdzhiev, Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), has warned about a 3-4% power price hike from July 2013. Photo by BGNES

Electricity prices will increase by 3-4% from July 1, 2013, due to the renewable energy surcharge, according to Angel Semerdzhiev, Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR).

Semerdzhiev explained Tuesday, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), that the grid access fee for renewable electricity producers introduced on November 14 would become permanent and would be reduced.

He noted, however, that this would not compensate for the increased green energy surcharge and electricity prices for end consumers would increase.

Renewable electricity producers in Bulgaria have opposed the grid access fee as discriminatory, staging several protests against its introduction.

They say that the new fee contradicts Bulgaria's Energy Act and a number of EU Directives

On July 2012, electricity prices went up by 13%.

The DKEVR Chair attributed the power price hike solely to the renewable energy surcharge and warned that power rates would increase further in 2013.

Semerdzhiev also said that power rates in 2013 would not be affected if market prices of harmful emissions stayed the same.

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