In its management program, the government proposes the idea of having an electricity consumption threshold and all households with consumption below it to pay electricity at a lower price, and those above the threshold - at a higher price, informs bTV.
Rositsa lives with her daughter and grandson, who are disabled. Their electricity bills are between 60 and 75 euros per month.
„Since with two disabled people in the morning, noon and evening to change their clothes, the washing machine is run 2-3 times sometimes. Underwear, pillowcases are changed, food needs to be prepared. We try to economize somehow, but prices are going up this month, next month, and all three of us are on disability pensions“, says Rositsa.
The idea is to introduce block prices. To make it easier for households like Rositsa's, the proposal now is to have a certain “base” amount of electricity at a lower price. If a household spends above this threshold, it will pay at a higher price.
The measure will make it easier for the energy poor, points out energy expert Ivan Hinovski.
“This introduces an element of social justice. This is an incentive to consume less energy, and the less you consume, the less you pay. Those who waste will pay the real price“, says Ivan Hinovski.
And for this system to be effective, the threshold must be carefully calculated.
“A large part of household consumers switched to electric heating, even though they are in the poorer group. This means that in order not to be included in the tariff of the rich, this threshold must be calculated, to be so high that truly poor people can stay below this threshold and be made easier“, comments Ivan Hinovski.
“This threshold applies to all households. Up to a certain amount of electricity, everyone will pay a lower price, the question is whether it is enough to cover their needs. There are people who heat swimming pools, for example, use a lot of equipment, they don't all need to be subsidized, as is the case at the moment“, commented former Social Minister Lidiya Shuleva.
Rositsa believes that such a measure would be good.
“It would be good if a threshold were set. After all, not only us, but also people could comply in some way. Pensions are raised by 10 leva, and electricity, water, and bills immediately after pensions are also raised. Then what is the benefit of all this?“, she says.
The Ministry of Energy told bTV that at this stage it has not been decided that block prices will be introduced. Information is yet to be collected and proposals prepared on how and when this could happen.