site.btaRegulator Adjusts Water Prices for 2026, State-Owned Utilities Will Postpone Increase

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission has approved higher prices of water for most of the country’s regions starting from January 1 2026. The decision was made at a closed meeting on Monday and published on the Commission’s website.

Water will be most expensive in Silistra, at BGN 6.44 per cu m, including VAT, up by 4.8%.

The largest increase is for Kardzhali, by nearly 14%, to BGN 5.19 per cu m.

In Sofia, with the highest number of consumers, the increase is nearly 12%, and a cu m of water will cost BGN 4.12.

Water will be cheaper in Yambol, a decrease of nearly 12%, to BGN 4.52 BGN per cu m. In Pazardzhik, water will decrease by 1% to BGN 3.138 per cu m, and in Pernik, it will drop by 3.3% to BGN 4. In Sliven, water will be cheaper by 3.4%, to BGN 4.50, and in Sofia District, the price goes down by 1.1% to BGN 4.10 per cu m. In Shumen, the price decreases by 0.8% to BGN 5.90 BGN.

The Commission adjusts the price of water and sewerage services annually, in accordance with the Regulation on the Pricing of Water Supply and Sewerage Services.

Price changes are based on compliance with all regulatory requirements, following a regulatory review, analysis, and verification of reported data from water utility operators.

In 2025, the Commission inspected the activities of 42 water utility operators with approved business plans for the 2022–2026 regulatory period.

The price adjustment is based on the reported results of the water companies’ operations: implementation of investment programs, recorded inflation, the cost of consumed electricity, and other factors. The regulator sets a maximum price in line with the threshold of social affordability, but the decision on whether it will be applied is at the discretion of the management of the water companies and their principals.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Regional Development Ministry said in a statement that water utility operators that are under the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will postpone the new prices in order to ensure a smoother transition following the adoption of the euro as the official currency in the country.