Electricity prices for the industry in Bulgaria are 20-30% higher than in Greece, which imports electricity from Bulgaria, according to Konstantin Stamenov from the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (BFIEC).

Speaking at a public discussion on a proposal to increase electricity prices as of October 1, he condemned the practice of shifting the burden stemming from attempts to offset tariffs for household consumers onto the business sector.

Stamenov, as cited by investor.bg, opposed the increase in the so-called “obligation to society” component, stressing that the measure would not solve the problems in the renewable energy sector but would have a negative impact on the business sector.

He condemned attempts for piecemeal solutions and called for the publication of comprehensive measures addressing the problems in the sector.

Yanko Petrov from the “Movement for Civic Control” insisted that the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) was illegitimate and objected to the proposal for a power price hike.

Petrov underscored that the poor financial condition of Bulgaria’s state-owned National Electric Company (NEK) was not a problem of the citizens.

The public discussion was briefly interrupted after a representative of the “Movement for Civic Control” threw eggs at the DKEVR members.

The disturbance caused police officers to take the representatives of the movement out of the room.

During the discussion, a number of civic organizations voiced their objections to the proposed power price hike, calling for alternative solutions to the problem.