Higher household electricity, heating, and hot water prices take effect in Bulgaria starting today, following the latest pricing decision by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC). Household electricity bills will increase by an average of around 3% nationwide, while district heating and hot water prices are rising by nearly 5%, with the exact adjustments varying by supplier.
Customers of Electrohold and EVN will see electricity prices rise by approximately 3%, while subscribers of Energo Pro will face a smaller increase of less than 2.5%.
District heating and hot water prices are also increasing across the country. The steepest adjustment, about 5.5%, applies to customers in Sofia and Pleven, while other district heating companies will implement increases of around 5% or less. Vratsa is expected to record the smallest price adjustment among the country's heating providers.
EWRC Chairman Plamen Mladenovski said the increase remains below the current inflation rate and argued that it would have only a limited effect on household budgets.
"The proposed price change is below inflation. Prices must be, first of all, fair and, secondly, economically justified and affordable for citizens, since someone has to pay these prices. After all, 3% of the average electricity bill is under 1 euro," Mladenovski said.
