A Third of Bulgarians Facing Energy Poverty

Vulnerable energy consumers amount to 30 percent - or nearly a third - of the Bulgarian population, the country's Energy Minister has said.

Attending a workgroup in Brussels dedicated to energy poverty, Temenuzhka Petkova has explained changes will be brought to the model determining which consumers are vulnerable.

Under current legislation, it is left up to citizens to declare "energy poverty", while Petkova maintains this should be done by the state based on income.

The electricity market liberalization due this year will be carried out in a way that fully protects the interests of consumers, Dnevnik.bg quotes her as saying.

In Petkova's words, "all data" will be taken into consideration to stand up for vulnerable consumers throughout the year, and not just during the winter heating season. She has made clear that "a new methodology" will be used to determine who will be facing energy poverty under market conditions, once the liberalization is carried out.

Aid for vulnerable consumers currently amounts to BGN 85 M, according to the Labor and Social Policy Ministry.