Energy costs for tenants in Bulgaria: charges, meters

The short answer

As a tenant you either have your own energy contract or you pay energy through the rent or service charges. The rules on shared meters and yearly statements protect you.

📜 The rules in Bulgaria

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)

Министерство на енергетикатаKeeps the public register of companies allowed to carry out heat-cost allocation.🔗 me.government.bg

Official source: me.government.bg · Checked 2026-09-30

🪜 Step by step

Find out how you payYour own contract with a supplier, or energy through the landlord? Your tenancy agreement says so.
Ask for the statementIf the landlord charges energy or heating, ask for the yearly statement and how your share is worked out.
Check the rules for BulgariaSee below what landlords must do on meters, cost splitting and statements.
Dispute in writingWrite to the landlord with your questions. If there is no solution, go to the body named below.

📇 Who to contact

Министерство на енергетикатаKeeps the public register of companies allowed to carry out heat-cost allocation.🔗 www.me.government.bg

Комисия за защита на потребителите (КЗП)Independent advice for consumersFor advice, template letters and a second opinion🔗 kzp.bg

❓ Questions

Can I choose my own supplier as a tenant?

If you have your own meter and contract, usually yes. If energy is in the rent, the landlord chooses.

How is heating split between flats?

Often by individual meters or heat cost allocators plus a fixed share. The rules for Bulgaria are on this page.

Can the landlord cut my energy?

A landlord may not simply cut your supply. Contact the body named on this page.

📎 Sources

Checked: 2026-09-30

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Also useful

More help in Bulgaria

All other problems: who handles whatWho do I contact?100+ things that go wrong — money, housing, work, safety, health, papers, government — and the one desk in Bulgaria that actually handles each: phone, site, and what to say when they pick up.Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.

🔑 I rent my home in Bulgaria: who pays for energy and how do I check the service charges?