My Bulgaria: Forums

Robby1 · Senior Member Joined: Jun 25, 2012 Posts: 60

Hi all!

How much is your average electricity bill for a 1 bed apartment in Burgas? I imagine it gets quite cold in the winter. Is it best to heat with gas or electric?

Thanks,
Rob.

bigbulg · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:56 am Post subject:

Mmm, that depends on the apartment/block, when/where/how it was built etc etc, is there act 16 etc etc, I'm afraid its not a simple answer. There is a gas supply in Burgas but very few blocks are connected (the block has to be connected rather than an individual apartment and only those with act 16). Then there is local heating, were a company supplies the block with hot water for heating. There's wood ie as a woodburner, tho your unlikely to have enough storage, and they are pretty inefficient. Then there's good old TOK, electric to me and you, with air-con probably the most cost effective with the added bonus they will keep you cool in those hot sticky nights. Wall panel heaters and convector heating is probably all on the list. If your renting it will be "fitted" to the apartment. Yours is a good question, and worth bearing in mind when searching for your place.
The average electric heating (with air-con) is 70-100 leva month in the coldest months.

oldtimer · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 10:55 am Post subject:

Taken today from the newspaper

Bulgaria's Shocking Electricity Price Hike Comes into Force
Energy | July 1, 2012, Sunday

Angel Semerdzhiev has attributed the forthcoming 13% power price spike to the surcharge for renewable energy.

Bulgaria woke up to a steep 13% electricity price hike on Sunday.

On Friday, the country's State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation announced that the price hike will be as high as 13%, not the expected 10%, which were already seen as too steep.

The Commission's chairman, Angel Semerdzhiev, argued that that power rates would go up by 13% solely due to the surcharge for renewable energy.

Semerdzhiev specified that the higher increase in power tariffs had been triggered by the fast-track launch of photovoltaic plants necessitating unexpected extra payments by the national power utility.

On Saturday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov promised that the poorest citizens will be compensated for the shocking raise in the price of electricity.

Bulgaria is the poorest EU member state and its citizens are expected to struggle to cope with the new price hike.

suds · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:49 pm Post subject:

Hello Again Robby 1;

Last winter was Bg's coldest in 50 years.. My winter bills in Burgas, using electric, were 80-90 lev per month..
My apt receives the east-west summer beach breeze, so no a/c required, and rates from May-October are around 30-40 lev per month..
You have loads of options as to how much you are prepared to pay..

Cheers,
Suds

Robby1 · Senior Member Joined: Jun 25, 2012 Posts: 60

Thank you for your replies.

Electricity certainly sounds very cost effective in Burgas/Bulgaria. When mentioning gas I was also thinking of the bottles of gas for heating/cooking etc. Either way, I am impressed by the low costs.

I think it is time for me to come over for a bit to check it all out in person. I may try to get over next month if possible. If not it will probably be in October.

Thanks again,
Rob.