Angel Semerdzhiev, Chair of Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), has announced that electricity prices will increase by 13%, rather than the anticipated 10%.
Speaking in Parliament on Friday, he explained that power rates would go up by 13% from July 1, 2012 solely due to the surcharge for renewable energy.
"Our decision has not changed substantially. Only the renewable energy surcharge had to be changed because the National Electric Company (NEK) keeps suffering significant losses because of the increased production of renewable energy. The change only takes into account the current situation and not future periods," the DKEVR Chair stated.
He specified that the higher increase in power tariffs had been triggered by the fast-track launch of photovoltaic plants necessitating unexpected extra payments by the national power utility.
Semerdzhiev went on to say that Bulgaria could achieve a balanced development of renewable energy sources without causing excessive stress on the market.
"Regardless of the fact that electricity prices in Bulgaria are the lowest in the EU, each increase is met with sharp criticism on the part of consumers. This is why we insist on absolute transparency about the reasons behind the price hike," Semerdzhiev concluded.
The final decision on the new prices of electricity, heating and hot water is to be announced on Saturday by the energy watchdog.
Author: mattbg, 29 Jun 2012 16:01:52
Power Rates in Bulgaria to Spike by 13% over Renewable Energy
these numbers simply don't add up.
currently there's at most 12% of the supply from renewables.
wind:solar ratio is about 60:40.
wind, even on the most extreme scenario is about twice the price of nuclear (although nuclear figures never take into account the huge cost of decommissioning a plant at the end of its lifetime - that'll be something for the taxpayers to worry about) and about 30% more than coal or gas, although coal and gas prices are rising fast.
solar is currently perhaps 5 times the price of nuclear, and 4 times that of coal/gas.
so even in a VERY worst cast scenario, the current increase, from 9.4% in 2009 to 12% now means had the entire 2.6% of renewable energy been connected in the last year, there would be about a 1.8% increase due to wind, and 4% increase due to solar. 5.8% absolute maximum in total worst case scenario.
would it be out of order to suggest the increases are also due to rapidly rising coal, oil and gas prices, and the huge sums of cash wasted on the on-off nuclear reactor they were going to build to make bulgaria even more energy dependent on russia?
But for some reason this chap wants to only blame renewable energy..... i wonder if they're getting pressure from somewhere behind the scenes - russian energy firms pulling some strings perhaps?
Author: Ivanko, 29 Jun 2012 22:24:40
Power Rates in Bulgaria to Spike by 13% over Renewable Energy
Dear Matt,
IF they would have been smart enough to build that nuclear plant and not invest in renewable(which is air heated with the money of consumers) there would not be a huge spike in prices.
If you want renewable energy, please feel free to take care of yourself. But please, with your own money and not others.
Author: mattbg, 29 Jun 2012 23:42:36
Power Rates in Bulgaria to Spike by 13% over Renewable Energy
ummmm - is this the nuclear that was supposed to cost 5 billion, but by the time the reactor was built it was 8 billion, and estimates of the final cost at connection were 13 billion?
forget the small risk of meltdown and cancer, simply don't trust the communists to deliver anything at the agreed price.
nuclear is not the golden goose that people suppose it should be, and to be perfectly honest, nobody wants to live next door to it, no-matter how small the supposed risk of cancer.
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