site.btaGovernment Adopts Electricity Compensation Programme for Non-Household Customers

The Council of Ministers has adopted a programme to compensate non-household end-customers for electricity costs, and electricity transmission and distribution network operators for purchasing electricity used for technological consumption, covering the period from September 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, the government information service said on Thursday.

The programme provides for an automatic compensation mechanism amid volatile electricity prices in Southeast Europe and is considered important for the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy.

Compensation will be calculated based on the difference between the average price in the day-ahead segment of the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange for the period September 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, and a benchmark value of EUR 122.71/MWh, excluding VAT. The maximum compensation will be 80% of the difference. The exact percentage will be determined by the Council of Ministers after the 10-month period ends, depending on the funds available in the Electricity System Security Fund.

Support will be provided through electricity traders, suppliers of last resort, producers selling electricity directly to non-household end-customers, and the organized electricity market operator, through the supplier with which the respective customer has a supply contract. Compensating these costs will limit the need to increase network service prices for all end-customers, including households.

The programme has an indicative budget of up to EUR 140 million for electricity consumed during the support period. Compensation will be paid as a one-off payment after the 10-month period ends, until either the allocated budget or the available funds in the Electricity System Security Fund are exhausted, depending on whichever occurs first.

Non-household end-customers receiving compensation under other programmes adopted by the Council of Ministers covering the same period will not be eligible for support under this programme.