site.btaGovernment Adopts Ordinance on Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Customers

The caretaker Government adopted an ordinance on energy poverty and vulnerable customers during its regular weekly meeting, the cabinet press service said here Wednesday.

Caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said after the meeting that energy poverty has been on the agenda for at least 15 years and welcomed the adoption of a final document through targeted and well-coordinated work.

He explained that there are two ways to qualify for energy-poor status. One is automatic for certain categories of people and does not require submitting an application, while the other requires filing one. Traikov advised people to review the provisions of the ordinance carefully and determine which option applies to them.

He noted that the automated process applies to two groups of vulnerable individuals: those critically dependent on electricity-powered life-support equipment and socially disadvantaged persons who received targeted heating assistance during the previous heating season.

“The regulatory framework allows the competent institutions to exchange data,” the minister said.

Traikov said the liberalization of the electricity market for household consumers is already in effect, although the public does not feel it because a special regulated pricing mechanism has been introduced. The difference between these prices and market prices for the period is covered by the Electricity System Security Fund and through a dedicated segment of the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange. “So, the market is liberalized, but a mechanism has been put in place to protect household consumers from potential adverse effects during periods of price volatility and various crises,” he added.