Power distribution companies in Bulgaria have requested an electricity hike for households and business consumers alike starting from July 1, mediapool.bg reported.

Czech CEZ, Austria's EVN and Germany's E.ON held a joint news conference on February 28, presenting a united front to make their request, which, they argued, would help cover inflation accumulated between October 2006 and July 2008, compensate for investments to revamp electricity facilities, improved security and quality of supply, as well as the increase in the share of electricity generated by renewable energy resources.

CEZ, which services Sofia, Sofia region and Pleven, called for the smallest raise, by nine per cent for households, 6.2 per cent for companies and 1.1 per cent for commercial consumers. The average hike of prices for supply and distribution would be 6.3 per cent. At present, households pay 0.13115 leva per kWh, VAT excluded.

E.ON, which owns Varna and Gorna Oriahovitsa electricity distribution companies, has requested a 10.1 per cent hike to household tariffs.

EVN, the majority owner of Plovdiv and Stara Zagora electricity distribution companies, wants households to pay 12.5 per cent more for electricity. The average hike for company clients, business consumers included, would be 11.3 per cent.