Electricity prices could be kept at current levels until the New Year. It said the Executive Chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) Bozhidar Danev regarding expected substantial increase in the price of electricity for industry. Large employers organizations Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (BICA) and the Confederation of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (CEIBG) and the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (BFIEC) firmly opposed to the increase in tariffs for the business, which prepares the Commission for Energy Regulation (KEVR) from July 1st.
Another problem of energy experienced by biznsat in Bulgaria is unprofessional management of the sector, said Danev. Also in the years have accumulated and strategic mistakes as contracts with US power plants in "Maritsa East" RES th and others. According to him sector "Energy" in Bulgaria is very sick economically. According to Danev to keep prices up to the end of the year, it can be cured.
Businesses ask for more to be constructed roadmap to define the steps to reform and stabilize the energy industry insists the business in Bulgaria. Employers' organizations believe that this business will not be responsible for paying for the deficits in the system.
The roadmap must include concrete steps on how to get out of the difficult situation in the sector, it became clear from the words of President BFIEK Konstantin Stamenov said on Thursday. The problems facing the sector "Energy" are large and are due to various factors, it was clear from his words. On one hand, in Bulgaria the difference between the current wholesale and retail is only 70%, while in the EU this ratio is between 2.5 and 4 times said Stamenov. At the same time allowance for public service obligations, namely that will burden the price of electricity for business next month, it is the most expensive in the country.
Business is ready to help the state to deal with energy issues, it became clear from the words of Vasil Velev from BICA. Business organizations are ready to nominate their teams of specialists to show where and how mistakes can be corrected. Furthermore, experts will identify and where sector has reserves to prevent raising the price of electricity. Such as are ineffective and harmful control many thefts, failure of the law, etc., Velev said. This leads to a situation now where businesses can no longer absorb any more increases in the price of electricity.
"Flour sack can not be brushed more," Velev says.
He added that intentionally or unintentionally to the public has been presented that the price of electricity will increase by 1-2%. However, this only applies to household and business appreciation will be between 13 and 18%. If wholesale prices rise so that means that there will be increases in retail, says Velev.
According to BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov of the proposed price changes from July 1 again receives subsidies citizens at the expense of companies. Furthermore, in preparing the draft of the new tariffs in no KEVR not thought for small and medium enterprises.
If the claims of business organizations is not accepted, next Friday, June 26, all plants in Bulgaria will switch to protest in the form of suspension of production for one hour a day.
After an emergency meeting convened on electricity prices in the Council of Ministers, which lasted several hours, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said that the Bulgarian government is against raising the price of electricity.
"I call upon all decision-makers and will take such actions not to nourish doubts that exist in the majority of Bulgarian society that politicians have interests in the energy sector and in particular the production of energy from sources vazbnovyaemi and about look for the easiest solutions, "said Donchev.
In his words, the easiest solution when there is excess production or support it costs to the user freight.
According to him, if anyone has a reason to hold the Commission for Energy Regulation (KEVR), it is the Bulgarian Parliament. He urged lawmakers to organize a discussion in plenary, together with the energy regulator, where all political forces be able to ascertain the reasons for the report by the committee with data and analysis to be discussed the proposal of KEVR appreciation of current next month .
Energy Minister Violet Petkova noted that possibilities will be discussed in a wider range of businesses can benefit from the preferences of the regulation to ease the burden on the industry. Ordinance, which is intended to regulate the reduction of the burden on the industry in terms of buying electricity from RES th, is now a public discussion.
"What we get as advice and warnings at the moment is related to requests to broaden the circle of persons who could benefit from these preferences," Petkova said.
She explained that will be discussed all the options and possibilities so that a greater range of industry can benefit from these preferences.
Petkova said that the government has agreed on the need to adopt measures within the competence of the government in the energy sector.
together with the reduction of administrative costs in the state power by 10% annually within three years, these are the measures that the government can offer.
"NEC as part of the State Energy objected to the report for the determination of electricity prices. This is evidence of objective self-taken by KEVR decisions," the minister stressed.
In her words, the first need that was recognized as a priority during the meeting in the Council of Ministers, is to reduce energy costs in the state.
"It will be reduced by 10% each year within three years," said Petkova.
According to Tomislav Donchev, the situation is complex and should not take hasty action, and to follow all the principles and legislation. Therefore, in terms of ensuring greater fairness will be taken to reduce costs in the state energy - BEH and NEC, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev calls on the EC to conclude soon with its verification, stating that the government assist by providing all needed data.
"We can take cost reductions in the order of 10%, which will help the situation. Secondly in terms of control and function of the state - check the input and cost of RES th, to be compared with the expected - is already being done. Numerous checks were initiated, the result of these checks will be available on KEVR when they are ready, but as a commitment of the country do. Thirdly has started inspection by the Commission, are available to serve the Commission all the information they receive . I urge the Commission services to complete the check soon. This would help us to find a solution. Fourth, Bulgaria has an independent regulator, it is a function of the parliament. All political parties except one presented Donchev said.
Petkov said that the expected results of the checks the Agency for State Financial Inspection (PFIA) in all energy companies will be ready in the next two weeks, said "Focus."
"We expect the controls of the Agency for State Financial Inspection, which has supervisory authority of the executive. Did that change in the Energy Act for the first time made for the Agency for State Financial Inspection to carry out inspections in all energy companies so that they can to be tested in practice the actual costs incurred, real investments made by these companies in order to assess whether the price which is determined in they produced electricity is adequate to the cost of investments they have made, "Petkova said.
She added that after the inspection results become clear, they will be provided KEVR that can take concrete decisions.