Bulgaria’s Energy Ministry, Watchdog Mull Measures to Prevent Power Price Hike in April

Svetla Todorova, Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), photo by BGNES

Svetla Todorova, Chair of Bulgaria’s State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), has assured that the Energy Ministry is doing its best to adopt short-term measures aimed at preventing an increase in power rates in April.

Todorova, as cited by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, informed Thursday that the measures were to be adopted by end-March.

She explained that a program envisaging both short-term and long-term goals had been drafted, adding that the authorities would work together to fulfill the planned initiatives.

The Chair of the energy watchdog specified that the short-term measures included talks with US-owned thermal power plants AES-3C Maritsa East 1 EOOD and ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3, renewable energy producers, and co-generation plants.

Todorova underscored that power plants that were not efficient enough could be denied preferential tariffs.

She made clear that the Energy Ministry believed that talks with US-owned TPPs had to be wrapped up by end-February.

The Chair of DKEVR expressed willingness to publish the program of the Energy Ministry, adding that it included the problem, its possible solutions, and the institutions that would be involved – the Energy Ministry, the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH), DKEVR, and, as far as talks were involved, the National Electric Company (NEK).

She said that the forthcoming liberalization of the energy market had been included in the program as a medium-term measure to be implemented by end-2015.

Todorova argued that energy market liberalization required serious legislative changes, stressing that it could not be achieved by retaining the existing model in the sector.

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