site.btaUPDATED MP Radoslav Ribarski: Moratorium Served Its Purpose, Household Consumers Pay Regular Heating and Electricity Bills

The moratorium has served its purpose - household consumers did not receive higher heating and electricity, Energy Committee Chairman Radoslav Ribarski told reporters. He noted that he does not expect disturbances related to the new heating prices. "The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) indicates no shocking price increase", Ribarski said. 

At the moment we see stock exchanges reaching completely different levels, electricity is traded at prices of 200-250 leva, which is quite different from the prices observed three weeks ago, Ribarski commented. He pointed out that MPs are to get acquainted with the estimates of the EWRC and how the energy mix will be formulated. Ribarski added that from now on the EWRC will start to fulfill its function and set the natural gas prices for household consumers.

The MP said that the implementation of a new moratorium is not discussed. 

The moratorium on the prices of electricity, heating and water and sewerage utility services, introduced by Parliament in December 2021, was necessary for the collection of information, analyses and estimates, and at the end of this moratorium a clear decision for action should be made, President Rumen Radev told journalists in the region of Pancharevo, where he attended a crisis response training of students from schools in the capital. Radev said that he expects the government to take all the necessary measures as soon as possible, so that under the unpredictable circumstances of the developing crises and the war in Ukraine, all changes in the electricity prices be bearable for Bulgarians.  

Regarding the entry of household consumers on the free market, the President said that Bulgaria remains the only country where household consumers are on the regulated market. Radev demanded to hear shortly the position of the ruling coalition on how they will solve the issue, as required by the EU. He expressed hope that the solution will not be rushed and poorly prepared, “the way small and medium-sized businesses entered the free market around two years ago”.