Regulator Says N-Plant Belene Loan Will Not Push Up Electricity Prices
The loan that the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) will extend to its unit, power grid operator National Electricity Company (NEK), to partially repay a credit drawn for the construction of a nuclear power plant will not lead to an increase in electricity prices for the end consumer, the energy regulator said.
The interest rate on the loan will by no means be reflected in the electricity bills, state-run Bulgarian News Agency quoted chairman of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, Angel Semerdzhiev, as saying on Tuesday.
For the time being, the regulator will not revise its projections for a 10% increase in electricity prices as of July 1. The daytime to night-time electricity price ratio will remain unchanged.
Semerdzhiev declined to make projections about a possible decline in natural gas prices as Bulgargaz has still not supplied the required information with the commission. In late March Russia's Gazprom agreed to bring down the price of natural gas supplies to Bulgaria by 11.1% as of April 1.