2024-03-23 19:40:31
“From July 1, the price of electricity will increase by about 7%. The government decided to increase the daily rate by 5% and drop the night rate. This means about BGN 5-6 higher bills per household,” said energy expert and former Deputy Energy Minister Yavor Kuyumdzhiev to NOVA NEWS.
According to him, the liberalization of the market cannot be canceled because we are ten years late with it. “There is no one to stand and wait for us. If we cancel it, a criminal procedure awaits us,” he warned.
Kuyumdzhiev pointed out that the electricity market price will be different in different regions of the country. “If on July 1 the price on the free market is higher than that of the regulated one, there will be a hole in the revenues of the ERPs, which someone has to plug. According to the law, the compensations must come from the Power System Security Fund,” said the former Deputy Energy Minister.
The flaw in this Fund is that it is powered by carbon dioxide certificates that are owed to us as a country. The other way money is received is the “responsibility to society” fee. This year, the price of quotas fell, electricity production also decreased, and the Fund has an obligation to make many payments, the energy expert explained.
According to him, if on July 1, when the electricity price is liberalized, compensation must be found somewhere for the electricity distribution companies. “Then the government should decide on an even bigger increase in electricity prices,” Kuyumdzhiev said.
Regarding the development of nuclear energy, he pointed out that there is a planned fund of 400 billion euros to support countries that want to develop nuclear energy. “Go to Brussels, make a project, let’s take this money and build the new units of the Kozloduy NPP”, he addressed the authorities.
He gave the example of several European countries that are now starting to build or reopen their nuclear facilities. “These 400 billion will be enough for 10-15 reactors. If we don’t take action, we may lose money,” said Kuyumdzhiev.
“Any decision to build new gas pipelines, oil pipelines, transmission lines that increases connectivity is good. To start this construction, the money was allocated to “Bulgartransgaz” without a preliminary study”, is his opinion.
Regarding the negotiations for a possible rotation in the ruling coalition, he said that he wants to have a stable government. “I don’t care. I expect that a person who understands will finally stand at the helm of the energy sector,” Yavor Kuyumzdiev added.