Bulgaria's energy watchdog has vowed that renewable energy producers will soon get a refund of the sums they paid as grid access fee.

Еlenko Bozhkov from Bulgaria's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) informed Thursday that DKEVR would very soon adopt a decision to pay renewable energy companies the money they contributed to the three power distributors (CEZ, EVN and Energo Pro) and the Electricity System Operator (ESO) in the form of grid access fee.

The grid access fee, which was introduced by DKEVR in September 2013, was cancelled by Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court (VAS) after renewable energy producers lodged a complaint before the court of second instance, according to reports of dnevnik.bg.

Bozhkov said that the total of grid access fee receipts amounted to over BGN 400 M, adding that it could be their Christmas present.

He underscored that it was essential to wrap up the separation of the National Electric Company (NEK) from the Electricity System Operator (ESO) and secure the balancing market launch.

He went on to suggest that after the completion of these steps, which would hopefully happen at the beginning of 2014, Bulgaria could look into opportunities to reduce power rates.