site.btaOmbudsman Delcheva Objects Proposed 2026 Water Price Increase

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva objected to the latest proposed increase in water and sewerage service prices from January 1, 2026, averaging more than 2.62% nationwide, the Ombudsman’s press service said on Friday. The proposal was submitted by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC).

Delcheva said that there is no convincing evidence that higher prices will lead to a more reliable, higher-quality and efficient service for consumers.

In a position submitted to EWRC Chair Plamen Mladenovski and to be presented at the EWRC’s meeting on December 2, Delcheva notes that the proposed increase comes after a difficult year for thousands of consumers who have experienced water rationing. As of November 25, 2025, a total of 32,259 people were affected by restricted water supply, according to data from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

In 2025, more than half of complaints to the Ombudsman in the sector concerned poor service quality, particularly from the regions of Pleven, Varna, Pernik, Sofia Region and Shumen, including severe rationing, poor drinking water quality, delayed repair work, low pressure and other issues.

EWRC’s annual report for 2024 shows that overall water losses remain above 60% for the fifth consecutive year, despite more than BGN 532 million in investments. At the same time, the average price increase for the 2020-2026 period reached 72.35%.