Energy and Water Regulatory Commission

''Power engineering should not be used for political purposes. The natural gas price in Bulgaria is fully determined by market factors.

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) will take a final decision on whether to increase the heat energy price at a closed-door meeting on April 7, according to BNR. EWRC Chair Ivan Ivanov told journalists on Tuesday. Before that he took part in an open meeting of the regulator.

The decision of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission for an increase of the natural gas prices is neither reasonable nor expedient, Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov said at the BTA Press Club in Veliko Turnovo.

In his opinion, the regulator should face the people and explain the reason for the increase in a timely manner.

The household electricity price in Bulgaria will rise by nearly 1 per cent, effective April 1, 2017. The increase, varying by electricity distribution company, was discussed by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) meeting behind closed doors on Thursday, according to BNR.

It has been decided that theprice of water will go up by 18%, confirmed the chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR) Ivan Ivanov.

As announced by BNR, as of April 1, 1 cubic metre of water in Sofia will cost BGN 2.16 (VAT included).

This is BGN 0.34 more than the current price.

The price of water in Sofia will go up by 18% and reach BGN 2.16/cubic metre, showed estimates of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR).

The plan of the company was returned by the regulator to be reviewed and to achieve less price increase.

The proposal of the commission has to be discussed by the end of the week.

The chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR) Ivan Ivanov reckons that the demand of Bulgargaz for a 32% hike in the price of natural gas as of April 1 is unjustifiably high.

Bulgaria's state-owned gas supplier has announced the prices of natural gas will have to go up by nearly a third as of April this year.

In a statement, the company has cited higher supply costs as of the next quarter.

Another argument is the current BGN/USD exchange rate.

The increase in the price of water in Sofia cannot be less than 18%, while the price change will probably come into effect as of March 1, said in an interview the member of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR) Dimitar Kochkov.

On February 3, the regulator is expected to discuss the report on the price change at an open meeting.

The price of water in Sofia should go up by 18% and reach BGN 2.16/cubic metre, showed estimates of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR).

The regulator has returned twice the business plan of Sofiyska voda which projected an initial price increase of 30%.

The proposal of the commission has to be discussed first before entering into force.