Bulgaria’s energy regulator will discuss on Thursday proposals to keep electricity prices for consumers flat or little changed and cut prices of heating energy by up to 16% from the beginning of next month.

Ivan Ivanov, head of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR), has said that a drop in natural gas price compared with previous regulatory periods was the main reason for the proposed decrease in the price of heating energy.

Under the proposals, power distributor CEZ Bulgaria operating in western and northern Bulgaria will keep unchanged electricity prices for consumers. Power distributor EVN operating in southern Bulgaria will see a price rise of 0.6%, while Energo Pro serving customers in eastern Bulgaria will cut prices by 0.9%.

Electricity prices for small industrial consumers are expected to be cut by between 5% and 15%.

Cuts ranging from 4% to 16% have been proposed for the price of heating energy. A price cut of 10% has been proposed for Sofia.

At the end of the month KEVR will make its final decision about the new prices that will take effect on July 1.