SEWRC: Heating bills to fall by at least 7% as of the New Year

As of January, Bulgarian households will be charged at least 7% less for heating, according to Angel Semerdjiev, Chairperson of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC). The expected change comes as a result of lower prices of natural gas which the Government was able to negotiate at the renewal of its contract with Russia's Gazprom. Semerdjiev added that reductions will vary between different central heating utilities. Consumers will see the change in their February bills at the earliest but, for this to happen, there has to be a special reading of home devices monitoring heat distribution.

"All central heating utilities powered by natural gas will feel the price cut," Semerdjiev said.

The exact amount of the change will be revealed when Bulgargaz files its projections for the January-March 2013 regulatory period with the SEWRC. The deadline is December 10, 2012.

However, Semerdjiev reminded that the reduction of basic parameters in Bulgaria's contract with the Russian energy company does not mean a reduction of heating prices by the same percentage, since there are other factors affecting consumer prices.

The latest Bulgargaz forecast sees the barest price alteration for end users somewhere in the range of 5% to 7%.

Sources from the Bulgarian District Heating Association said they don't expect a sizeable reduction of heating prices next year based on the new contract for Russian gas supply because the state-owned Bulgargaz has to be compensated for uncollected revenue.

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