Electric power

Companies with power consumption of over 5 GWh per year should be entitled to a discount on the so-called green energy component of electricity tariffs, according to a proposal of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA).

Bulgaria's four major associations of employers have called for a power price freeze by end-2015.

Nord Pool Spot, the energy exchange running Europe's largest electricity market, signed Wednesday an agreement also to manage activity at IBEX, the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange.

As many as 380 companies from 20 states trade on the Nord Pool Spot. IBEX, on the other hand, was recently granted a 10-year license to organize the market in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria reported on Wednesday a double-digit rise in the number of environment-friendly electric-powered and hybrid personal motor vehicles.

There were 497 electric-powered personal vehicles registered in Bulgaria at the end of last year, an increase of 36% on 2013.

A massive power outage affected more than 76 million people in 80 out of 81 Turkish provinces for as long as nine hours on March 31, and its cause is still a matter of debate. Here is an explanation of the crisis in four questions, including suggested causes: 1) What happened in Turkey on March 31?

There has been no disruption in the production of electricity. On the contrary, there has been excess electricity production. It is so high that selling electricity has become very cheap; producing and selling electricity actually results in a loss for companies. The best way to avoid losses is ?zero sales.?

Tesla Motors owner wins top Tesla Spirit Award

NEW YORK -- The US-based Tesla Science Foundation has handed out the traditional Tesla Spirit Awards in a ceremony in New York.

The top honor was claimed by Tesla Motors owner Elon Musk.

Energy, planning, construction legislation passed

BELGRADE -- Serbian MPs adopted on Monday the Energy Law, which envisages "easier investing in the energy domain and greater protection of buyers."

It also "adjusts this economic field with EU regulations," said Tanjug.

GERB MP Delyan Dobrev - former energy minister and current head of the energy committee in Parliament - warned the EDCs not to extend the periods of electric meters readings.

BELGRADE - The country's energy system is not in danger but Serbia will still have to import around 3 tons of coal for the needs of its thermal power plants and around 1 billion kWh of electricity for the forthcoming winter season, and certain oil quantities might be needed as well, officials stated at the session of the Association of Energy and Energy Mining Board of the Serbian Chamber of Co