site.btaDeputy Ombudsman Seeks Probe into Heat Cost Allocation Fee Hikes by Sofia Heating Utility

Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova has asked Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency (NRA) to investigate sharp increases in heat cost allocation service fees for the 2026/2027 heating season affecting customers of Toplofikatsiya Sofia - the capital's heating utility, the press centre of the Ombudsman said on Tuesday.

The request was made under Bulgaria’s Euro Adoption Act and concerns a service used by more than 500,000 households. Filipova argued that the lack of transparency behind the price hikes raises concerns.

The move follows a July 16, 2026 announcement by Toplofikatsiya Sofia of new service fees. Compared with the 2025/2026 season, prices for its customers have increased by 40.8% for account management, 37.3% for reading heat allocators and hot water meters, 31% for reading heat meters. Other heat accounting companies have also raised prices.

Filipova noted that these fees are neither regulated under the Energy Act nor set through a competitive market, but are negotiated between district heating companies and heat accounting firms. She also pointed out that no objective economic justification for the increases has been published and that the hikes far exceed Bulgaria’s annual inflation rate of 5.4% in June 2026.

On April 2, the Ombudsman’s office also opposed Toplofikatsiya Sofia's proposal to increase heating prices by nearly 30%.