The outgoing government of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, has restricted the production of the cheapest electric power, according to the National Electric Company, NEK.

Managers from NEK, cited by the BGNES news agency, have explained in reality this would mean a new hike in consumers' electric bills.

According to the Company, on Friday, production of electricity from the Marita Iztok 2 Thermal Power Plant, TPP, has been limited to unprecedented low levels on the order of the Electric System Operator, which is under NEK and the Ministry of Economy and Energy.

The TPP produces the cheapest electricity of Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, Mituy Hristozov from NEK, speaking for Darik radio, said production in Water Power Plants, WPP, has been either stopped or limited to the minimum as well.

Hristozov explained the move has been grounded on low consumption and too many renewable sources plants.

He added that all Marita TPPs and TPP Bobovdol are working at a minimum production, while TPPs Varna and Dimitrovgrad have stopped. Only the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, NPP, and the solar plants are functioning at full speed.

Hristozov declined commenting on the effect of this on electric bills, but in stressing the electricity from Marita Iztok is the cheapest, hinted prices for consumers might go up.

The site OFFNews cites own undisclosed sources saying the stopping of the WPP aims at reducing electricity prices, but it would lead to the layoff of 25 000 people.

The State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation, DKEVR, and all three power distributors have proposed to lower these prices between 5% and 7%, effective March 1.

The information comes amidst unprecedented since 1997 huge protest rallies against utility bills, monopolies, poverty and the political model of ruling the country, lasting for weeks already and ongoing on Sunday.

They led to the resignation of the government of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and his ruling party GERB.