Up to a 5% increase in the price of electricity, energy expert Prof. Georgi Kaschiev predicted in an interview with BNR.
"One of the efforts was for the government to transfer BGN 32 million to the Energy System Security Fund. Where will they be taken from and who will be harmed? The result is a tense situation among consumer expectations - dissatisfaction. And when there is a smaller increase, they will sigh with relief and say - here, we are governed by smart people", the energy expert jokingly commented.
Why are stock market prices falling, and we pay more for electricity? He explained: "However, there are processes that need to be accounted for – inflationary. Because many components and materials important for energy production have become more expensive. So an increase of 3 to 5% is justified".
And he explained: "There are serious signals from the "Kozloduy" for an increase in energy by 30%, from BGN 63.5 to BGN 82.5 per megawatt/hour. The reasons were not stated, only hypotheses were made. I see the following things, that American fuel, which was originally in the specified prices, were more expensive than Russian. That would make 2 – 2.5% increase in the costs of the "Kozloduy" NPP. Since Unit Six has been in operation, for some reason it has not been able to reach its full capacity, running 50 megawatts less. Therefore, the costs of this unit will increase by 5% for the entire plant. The reason there is serious and will lead to serious repairs, which will also make the production more expensive.
According to Prof. Georgi Kaschiev, it is possible that the Fifth Unit will not work 100% - "for the first time it is being loaded with American fuel and the operations to reach capacity will be carried out slowly.
"I tend to think that they will use opportunities for this, projects and activities that need to be implemented for the construction of the Seventh and Eighth Blocks will present themselves as necessary for the current Fifth and Sixth Blocks. This will also increase the cost of the plant. A 30% increase is BGN 250 - 300 million, it is not easy to justify such projects", warned the energy expert.
He explained that the problem with the contributions to the Energy System Security Fund, as predicted, did not arrive, "because the conditions changed sharply, carbon prices fell below the forecasts.
"The other thing is that it reduces the production of electricity from plants that pay such contributions. And they get to the point that it is necessary to either take the missing funds from the consumers, or combine it with an increase in contributions from the producers. And the easiest option from the state budget was chosen," Prof. Kaschiev explained.
And he advised people to ask about the money from the budget, and politicians to think a little about the legislation.
He recommended changing the law, stopping subsidies for solar parks that have already been paid.
"Politicians are distorting the market, and a law should be passed and the photovoltaic manufacturers should be obliged to install batteries. "When I look at the frequency of the electricity system and how the price rises, it shows that the electricity system in our country is difficult to balance", said Prof. Kaschiev.