Bulgaria’s energy regulator approved a 32.52% rise in the regulated wholesale natural gas price for November, citing higher import costs and a sharp increase in European gas prices. The new rate is €58.4/MWh, excluding VAT and excise duty. It is slightly below the roughly 34% increase requested by public supplier Bulgargaz.
Extra withdrawals from Bulgaria’s Chiren underground gas storage facility helped moderate the rise. The regulator estimated that, without the additional storage gas, the November price would have increased by about 39.37%. European wholesale gas prices had reached around €100-105/MWh on the Dutch TTF market, significantly increasing the cost of imported supply.
Supply portfolio and consumer impact
Bulgaria’s November supply portfolio includes contracted Azerbaijani gas and LNG procured through tenders. The regulated price covers procurement and public-supply costs, as well as expenses for maintaining strategic reserves at Chiren. Higher gas costs are expected to put greater pressure on Bulgarian district-heating companies, although the regulator said existing mechanisms should prevent corresponding increases in household electricity and heating prices from January.
