Delaying Power Price Hike Harmful - Bulgaria Energy Min
Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has warned a move to put off electricity price hikes will have a negative impact on the energy system.
HOT: » Assessing the Legacy of Bulgaria's "Denkov" Cabinet: Achievements, Failures, and What Comes Next
Bulgaria’s State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) does not plan to approve a new power price increase from January 1, 2015, according to DKEVR Chair Svetla Todorova.
Todorova told the Bulgarian National Radio Thursday that the major players in the sector had not sought a power price hike but the measure had been requested by combined-cycle power plants and heating utilities.
She was adamant that DKEVR had no reason to approve an upward price revision at the moment.
Todorova also commented on the proposed amendments to the Energy Act, including a new name, structure, and procedure for the election of a DKEVR Chair.
She estimated the legal changes as a positive step, adding that they were not enough to guarantee an independent watchdog.
Todorova reminded that the main points in the proposal involved the election of DKEVR members by Parliament, the creation of two divisions within the DKEVR, including one tasked with water regulation and one with energy regulation, and the cancelation of the powers of the Finance Ministry to revise the DKEVR budget.
As regards the structure of DKEVR, she suggested that the establishment of two units had been agreed upon in response to a World Bank report recommending that the DKEVR be divided into two watchdogs, which had been estimated as too costly a measure.
She argued that the creation of two units at DKEVR would optimize its work as regards sittings, but the responsibilities of the DKEVR Chair would increase substantially.
Todorova also noted that the administrative staff of DKEVR was finding it hard to cope with the workload at present, let alone after the establishment of the two units.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
A remarkable shift in Bulgaria's energy landscape has been unveiled in the latest report from the Commission for Energy and Water Regulation, submitted to the Bulgarian parliament
Natural gas prices in Europe experienced a significant spike, surpassing 2% to reach 29 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) on Monday
Amidst Ukraine's urgent need for additional power sources following the closure of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
Bulgarian lawmakers have taken a significant step toward bolstering the nation's energy infrastructure by advancing cooperation with the United States for the construction of Units 7 and 8 at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant
The Bulgarian Parliament has ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the United States on cooperation regarding the construction of nuclear power at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant
During a forum in Alexandroupolis, US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy, Jeffrey Payatt, highlighted the significance of a gas pipeline project through Bulgaria as the next pivotal step for energy development in the region
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022