Electricity & gas in Bulgaria: your rights
The rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in Bulgaria, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.
What is going on?
Everything at a glance
The market
Most households still buy electricity from their regional end supplier at KEVR-approved prices; full market opening for households has been postponed. You may still switch to a licensed trader on the free market at any time. Gas customers may also choose their supplier.
Energy regulator
Комисия за енергийно и водно регулиране (КЕВР)
Dispute resolution
Омбудсман на Република България
Complain to your supplier or grid company first. If you get no answer or are not satisfied, complain in writing to KEVR, or file an online complaint with the Ombudsman.
Compare prices official
Платформа за смяна на доставчик на електрическа енергия на КЕВР
Switching supplier
Switching is free and unlimited, but you must first pay any debts to your current supplier. Your local grid company carries out the switch; the new supplier can file the request for you. For gas the switch is done within three weeks.
Price rises
Regulated household electricity prices are set by KEVR once a year, from 1 July. For 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027 the average rise is 2.99%.
Regulated price
Households supplied by their end supplier (Electrohold, EVN, Energo-Pro, ESP Zlatni Pyasatsi) pay a price made of a KEVR base value plus a supplier component. The state Electricity System Security Fund covers the gap to market prices.
Help if money is tight
There is no social electricity tariff, but low-income households can get a heating allowance: €64.39 a month from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. Apply to your local Social Assistance Directorate by 31 October 2026.
Protection against cut-off
If you do not pay invoiced amounts, your supplier has the right to have your electricity supply suspended. Supply is restored only after you pay the overdue amounts plus the cost of disconnection and reconnection, at the approved price list. If you cannot pay, contact your supplier early.
If your supplier goes bust
You will not be left without power. If your free-market supplier stops supplying you, a supplier of last resort takes over temporarily until you choose a new supplier. Its price is considerably higher, so switch quickly.
Power cut
Report power cuts to your regional grid company (24/7 lines below). Under the grid companies' general terms, if you are without power for more than 48 hours you get 30 leva (≈ €15.34) for the next 24 hours, then 20 leva (≈ €10.23) per 12 hours.
Cooling-off period
For contracts made away from the trader's premises or at a distance (online, phone) you can withdraw within 14 days. Tell the trader in writing.
Smart meter
Under the Energy Act, where smart meters are not being rolled out systematically, you may ask your grid company to install one at your own cost. You must be told its functions and costs, and it must be installed within 4 months of your request.
Solar panels
If you install a rooftop or facade solar system up to 30 kWp to sell its power, your regional end supplier buys the electricity under a purchase contract at a preferential price set by KEVR every year. From 1 July 2026 this price is €54.57/MWh excl. VAT.
Fixed and dynamic contracts
Under the Energy Act (amended in 2023), end suppliers and electricity traders must offer households fixed-term, fixed-price contracts, and dynamic-price contracts to customers with a smart meter. You can only be moved to a dynamic-price contract with your explicit consent.
- Before you sign or renew a contract, the company must give you a short, clear summary of the key terms: total price, promotions, extra services, discounts and your rights. (dv.parliament.bg)
- KEVR must publish a yearly report on dynamic-price contracts: what is offered on the market, the effect on consumers' bills and price volatility. (dv.parliament.bg)
Energy sharing and communities
Under the Renewable Energy Act (ЗЕВИ), self-consumers in the same building, including a block of flats, may act jointly and share among themselves electricity from the building's renewable installation. Households may also join a renewable energy community, which can share energy from its own installations among members.
- As a self-consumer you may store your power and sell surplus through suppliers or peer-to-peer trading agreements. The grid company may not charge network fees for power you produce and use on your own premises. (me.government.bg)
Heating without the gas grid
KEVR sets the prices at which district-heating companies (топлофикации) sell heat to customers. It also handles complaints from customers against energy suppliers, including heat suppliers, first trying to settle the dispute and otherwise deciding within two months (can be extended).
- You choose how to pay for heat: 11 equal monthly instalments plus an equalisation payment, monthly payments based on forecast consumption plus equalisation, or actual monthly use. You must be billed on actual use at least once a year. (me.government.bg)
- If owners of at least two-thirds of a building on one substation no longer want district heating, they declare it in writing; the heating company must stop supply within 15 days. (me.government.bg)
Back-billing and estimated bills
If your meter was faulty or the wiring was changed, the grid company may recalculate your consumption only for the shorter of the time since the last check or the 3 months before the problem was found. For an illegal connection the limit is 180 days.
- Every recalculation needs an inspection report (констативен протокол) signed by you, or, if you are absent or refuse, by a witness who does not work for the company. It must then be sent to you within 7 days. (dker.bg)
- If a check shows you were charged for more electricity than you used, the whole overpaid amount is refunded in the month after the check. (dker.bg)
Energy costs for tenants
In a block of flats on district heating, heat is split between flats by heat-cost allocation (дялово разпределение). All owners connected to the substation are heat customers and must fit allocators on their radiators. The allocation company must be listed in the Ministry of Energy's public register.
- With heat-cost allocation in place you may not physically disconnect your radiators from the building installation during the heating season. If you stop heating your flat, you still pay for heat given off by the building installation and the common areas. (me.government.bg)
Vulnerable and medical customers
The Energy Act requires suppliers and grid companies to set special procedures in their general terms for vulnerable customers, so that their electricity supply is not cut off. Who counts as a vulnerable customer or an energy-poor household is set by an ordinance of the Council of Ministers.
Grid connection
For a rooftop or facade renewable system up to 30 kW, the grid company must issue its connection opinion within 20 days. Permits for solar systems up to 20 kW on buildings must be completed within one month.
- A rooftop system only for your own use (up to twice your contracted power) needs only a notification to the grid company, which must send you a supplementary agreement within 14 days. You may feed power into the grid only after connecting as a producer. (me.government.bg)
- For solar up to 20 kW, if the building authority does not decide in time, this counts as consent, as long as the system is not larger than your contracted power. (me.government.bg)