The business needs decisive measures for express resolution of the high electricity prices problem

The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tsvetan Simeonov said that the business needs decisive measures for express resolution of the high electricity prices problem. He pointed out that the topic of rising natural gas prices should also be discussed. Simeonov participated in the round table discussion initiated by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev about measures that need to be taken to solve the problem of high energy prices and the preparation of Bulgaria’s position on the issue before the EU.

Simeonov expressed satisfaction that the proposal of the business to reconsider the licensing of energy traders is already on the agenda. He asked if the Energy Ministry plans to start negotiations with Russia on natural gas prices and how the opportunity for the quantities of Azeri gas that can be provided to us will be used to reduce the prices of natural gas.

Employers’ organizations and trade unions demand immediate compensation in the amount of 75% of the difference between the estimated price of EWRC and the real price for electricity for non-domestic consumers on the free market, which the state has. The estimated price by the regulator is BGN 119 per megawatt-hour, and in the last week the price for non-domestic consumers on the free market is about BGN 400.

Support should be provided for each non-household consumer for the period from August 2021 to the month when the price normalizes, thus bringing the price of electricity for industry closer to that of the regulated market.