Natural Gas Prices in Bulgaria will Rise by 25% in April

Natural gas prices will rise by more than 25% in April, the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) decided in the late afternoon yesterday. The main reason is the increase in supply prices on international markets. Due to another increase in the price of gas, the price of heating and hot water will increase, but from May. The moratorium on the prices of electricity, water and heating has dropped since midnight.

EWRC waited until the last minute before announcing the changes to monitor gas prices on the international market. The announced price increase is half-lower than the initially announced by Bulgargaz 58% and 12% more than what the EWRC announced on Wednesday. The reason for the change is the sharp jump in international markets.

The increase in the price of natural gas is expected to affect the prices of heating and electricity. While for electricity the change is expected in July, for heating it will most likely happen in May.

The increase of natural gas by over 25% was commented by the chairman of the energy committee in the parliament Radoslav Ribarski on the Bulgarian National Television (BNT):

"This increase is large, but it could have been much more serious, I expect the markets and prices to calm down next month."

Fisherman expects that there will be relief in electricity prices for businesses. However, after the moratorium on household prices was lifted, electricity prices are expected to rise from July.

Another increase in the price of natural gas will affect the prices of heating and hot water, according to the Association of Heat Companies in Bulgaria.

"Most likely from May, but it may not happen at all because the moratorium expired yesterday and then there was no right to...