Bulgaria’s ombudswoman Velislava Delcheva has voiced strong concerns over the planned increase in household electricity prices, arguing that the proposed rates are not sufficiently justified and would place an additional burden on consumers.
In an official position sent to Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chairman Plamen Mladenovski, Delcheva criticized the regulator’s proposal to raise electricity prices for households by an average of 2.99% starting July 1, 2026. The ombudswoman’s office announced that the statement had been formally submitted as part of the ongoing public discussion over the planned tariff changes.
A central point in Delcheva’s criticism concerns the transparency of the pricing process. According to her, the regulator’s report is difficult for ordinary citizens to understand and does not provide enough information for the public to independently determine whether the proposed prices are based on objective criteria and economically justified expenses.
The ombudswoman also raised a series of specific questions regarding the calculations behind the proposed increase. These include the higher cost of electricity transmission through the national transmission network, the way technological losses and expenses of electricity distribution companies are determined, the growth of operating and administrative costs, and the methodology used to calculate the relationship between daytime and nighttime electricity rates.
