The Bulgarian Parliament has approved two draft amendments to the Energy Act aimed at delaying the liberalization of the electricity market for household consumers. The proposals were introduced by Members of Parliament from the BSP – United Left and There Is Such a People (TISP) parties.
Under the BSP – United Left amendment, the liberalization would be postponed for two years. Meanwhile, TISP has proposed a longer five-year delay. A third proposal, introduced by the nationalist Vazrazhdane party, which called for a ten-year postponement, was rejected.
Dragomir Stoynev, leader of the BSP – United Left parliamentary group, emphasized the need for a critical political decision but criticized the lack of an impact assessment. He warned that lifting regulated electricity prices without proper safeguards could lead to severe social consequences and significant price increases. Stoynev also expressed concern over the absence of a clear strategy to shield households from potential negative effects.
Pavela Mitova, Chair of the National Assembly’s Energy Committee and a TISP representative, echoed these concerns. She stressed that removing price regulations would harm consumers and noted that the EU directive does not set a mandatory deadline for liberalization. According to Mitova, the Bulgarian Energy Ministry has negotiated flexibility with the European Commission, enabling the country to determine its own schedule.
To ensure a coordinated approach, a working group will be formed with representatives from all parliamentary parties. The group’s task will be to develop a balanced mechanism for implementing the liberalization process. The timeline established by this group is expected to differ from the ones proposed in the current amendments and will align with the government’s mandate—either four or eight years.