National Electric Company

Velingrad, often referred to as the spa capital of Bulgaria, has now entered its fifth day of water shortages. The situation is due to a planned repair by the National Electric Company (NEC), as reported by bTV. Residents in the "Kamenitsa" neighborhood have been without water in their homes since Monday, and there are complaints that the water supply schedule is not being followed.

The topic is discussed by the energy expert Vasko Nachev and the chairman of the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum Ivan Hinovski.

Electricity, heating and hot water prices will continue to rise. Such a forecast was made by the energy expert Vasko Nachev and the chairman of the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum Ivan Hinovski, reported NOVA TV. 

,,The increase in electricity in July will be within the annual inflation rate, which is within 3 or slightly over 3 percent'', the Chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR) Ivan Ivanov told journalists after a discussion about the electricity theft, reported BTA. 
"The increase in electricity will be far from what electricity companies want," Ivanov said.

"Rosatom has declared its readiness to take part in the implementation of this project. Today we see the constructive attitude of the current Bulgarian government, which intends to give a 'restart' to the construction of the Belene NPP.

The Ministry of Energy (ME) and the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (KEVR) are starting two urgent measures to stabilize the prices of the industrial electricity traded on the energy exchange.

The European Commission has confirmed that the resumption of Belene NPP after shutdown in 2012 needs to be reassessed as to whether it complies with European rules and whether it complies with the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom Treaty) and possibly with the project to get approval again.

The Bulgarian parliament on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favour of dropping the moratorium on the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant, NPP.

A total of 172 out of 240 MPs supported the proposal by the ruling GERB party of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov which gives Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova the mandate to restart the process of seeking potential investors.

Four companies have deposited written notes expressing their interest in participating in a bid to construct the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as parliament is expected to vote by the end of this week to lift the moratorium on its construction, Vice-Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said on Sunday.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov signed orders for the appointment of three deputy ministers which are going to fill the staff in the Ministries of Health, Regional Development, and Energy, reported BGNES.

Austrian energy company EVN has reached an out-of-court settlement with the National Electric Company (NEK) on an old dispute dating back to 2012 - 2013.

The amount is unknown but the Austrian group estimates that the funds agreed will raise its net profit for the current quarter by EUR 38 M.