site.btaUPDATED Household Electricity Prices Go Up by 2.58% on Average Starting July 1

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) has approved an average electricity price increase of 2.58% for household consumers in Bulgaria.

The new prices for electricity and heating, which take effect on Tuesday and will apply for the one-year period ending June 30, 2026, were announced by EWRC chairperson Plamen Mladenovski at a news briefing following the Commission’s closed session.

As of July 1, electricity prices will rise by an average of 1.82% for customers of Electrohold, 3.60% for EVN customers, and 2.52% for Energo-Pro customers.

Customers of ESP Golden Sands will see a 1.94% decrease in prices. The approved rates also include charges for both high- and low-voltage network services.

Mladenovski said that the initially projected 4.62% increase had been nearly halved. He attributed this to three factors: a reduction in the mark-up for end suppliers to last year’s level; the inclusion of updated data from electricity distribution companies for March, April, and May, which were not part of the original report; and the reported prices from auctions on the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange for the annual product purchased by the end suppliers.

The increase is in line with inflation and is offset by rising household incomes, the regulator's chairperson said He noted that the EWRC's decision is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition towards a liberalized electricity market.

Responding to a reporter’s question, Mladenovski said there were no indications of a further increase in electricity prices for household consumers as of January 1. “Any extraordinary decisions of the EWRC to adjust prices are based on unforeseen facts and circumstances. If such indicators existed, we would have factored them into this decision,” he noted.