Bulgaria’s Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) has postponed by Tuesday a decision on the postponement of the entry into force of new electricity tariffs by 1 month.

KEVR Chair Ivan Ivanov announced Friday after a meeting of the energy watchdog that the decision would be taken on June 30 because the Energy Act amendment adopted by Parliament on Thursday so as to pave the way for the postponement of the new regulatory period from July 1 to August 1 had not yet been promulgated in the State Gazette.

Ivanov, as cited by dnevnik.bg, made clear that the Energy Act amendments would take effect on June 30, meaning that a decision of KEVR on electricity prices dated June 26 would be considered null and void.

Meanwhile, over 1000 large companies in Bulgaria held protests on Friday against a planned power price hike by 13-20% for the industry.

The companies stopped work for an hour, between 11 a.m. and noon, to voice their opposition to the looming steep power price increase.

Electricity prices for household consumers are expected to go up by 2% on average in the new regulatory period.