Bulgaria Delays Power Market Reform

Bulgaria’s National Assembly has officially postponed the liberalization of the electricity market for household consumers, originally planned for July 1, 2025. With the newly adopted revisions to the Energy Act, Bulgarian households will remain on the regulated electricity market indefinitely, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov confirmed, CE Report quotes BTA

Stankov emphasized that households will be fully protected from market volatility, with electricity prices guaranteed by the State annually. The government plans to redirect EU funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) to support home energy projects and renovate 756 buildings. Over 1,500 households awaiting solar installations will also benefit.

Despite opposition criticism from Vazrazhdane and MECh, who accuse the government of misleading citizens and eliminating regulated quotas, Stankov defended the model. He said it ensures transparency by showing both market and actual consumer prices on bills.

Market liberalization will now depend on future readiness assessments by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), which will track progress toward competition and market-based pricing. Compensation for households will be adjusted quarterly based on supplier revenues and electricity market dynamics.