Rosen Hristov: The price of household electricity will rise by 0.4% because of the Maritsa East 2 TPP

My order to include TPP "Maritsa East 2" in the mix of the regulated market is based on a decision of the National Assembly from 2020 and on Article 4 of the Energy Law, with which the Minister of Energy is obliged to ensure the activities of the state-owned company. This action would increase the price of electricity by up to 0.4 percent. This is what the former minister of energy, Rosen Hristov, commented to BTA on the occasion of the statement made by СEWR chairman Ivan Ivanov that the price increase will be greater than what was proposed a few days ago.

Rosen Hristov's order is made in order to help the coal plant, which is operating at a loss, the chairman of the regulator also explained. The former acting Minister of Energy, Rosen Hristov, pointed out that it cannot be claimed that the order in question was a surprise or sabotage, because the calculations for this were made by СEWR itself, from which he requested an analysis and received it on May 26.

"Furthermore, I requested an analysis of the impact of electricity prices for the end user at different load levels of the TPP. A report on all this has been sent to the Parliamentary Committee on Energy. It clearly shows that at a higher degree of load, the price for the end user increases significantly. "In this regard, my order protects the minimum for maintaining the activity of the state thermal power plant, which is related to the functioning of Mini Maritsa East, and to national security. Failure to issue it would mean a complete suspension of the company's work, further reduction of the volume of work at the mines and a negative social effect on all employees in the two companies," Rosen Hristov also stated.

The former minister believes that the 0.4 percent increase in the price of electricity is justified. "Of course, the deputies have the right to cancel their decision from 2020 and to propose another mechanism to protect the activities of our companies in the Marishki Basin and the interests of end users," added Rosen Hristov.

Regarding the accusations that this is happening at the last moment of the work of the caretaker government, according to Rosen Hristov, "this is a convenient speculation, but the schedule for such changes is determined by СEWR and is not influenced by political changes."

As I have repeatedly said - energy should be managed by experts, not by politicians, stressed the former acting Minister of Energy.