Bulgarian electricity prices would continue being among the highest in Europe once the new prices were approved.

The average cost for end consumers starting October 1 would be 0.108 leva, head of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) Konstantin Shoushoulov said.

Union representatives said that though the prices were not that high Bulgarians had limited purchasing ability. Union and commission representatives took part in a public debate on electricity prices on September 13, Darik Radio reported.

SEWRC needed to negotiate with the Labour and Social Policy Ministry an increase in the state aid for energy needs, union representatives said.

Most consumers were not going to notice a significant price change, SEWRC representatives said. The new tariffs were going to affect only 20 per cent of the people, who previously benefited from the lower prices for the first 75 kilowatt hours of electricity consumed each month.

New prices would be approved in a 14 day period, after which electricity companies would get the chance to appeal the changes, Darik reported.

Shoushoulov said that the closure of two blocks of Kozlodui nuclear power plant was not going to produce additional price increase on January 1 2007.