The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) has initiated an

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) has initiated an inspection of the three electricity distribution companies following reports—mainly circulating on social media—about high electricity bills. This was announced by EWRC Chairman Plamen Mladenovski during an extraordinary briefing.

According to him, experts from the commission began inspections yesterday at ERM West, and in the coming days similar checks will take place at the other two companies—Electrodistribution North and Electrodistribution South.

The first step will be to review and compare information from current invoices with data from the same period last year, particularly during the Christmas and New Year holidays and the month of January. According to the regulator, temperatures during this period were comparable.

“We will first request information about the invoices and compare them with a comparable period from the previous year, ” Mladenovski said.

Secondly, EWRC will check whether the electricity prices have been correctly applied and whether the billing period has been properly calculated. In this regard, the chairman gave an example from previous years when longer billing periods were identified, which—due to larger consumption volumes—resulted in higher electricity bills.

“This is easy to verify, ” Mladenovski said, explaining that modern smart metering devices provide sufficient information across multiple parameters.

EWRC will also examine the method used for currency conversion of the bills. This will be clarified during the inspections.

“We will definitely request the certification documentation for the currency conversion systems of the three electricity distribution companies, as well as of the end suppliers, ” Mladenovski said.

Another focus of the inspection will be the electricity purchased by the companies from the Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange (IBEX) and whether it corresponds to the relevant billing period.

“If discrepancies are identified—for example if they have sold more electricity than they have purchased—it will be clear that there is a problem in the reporting, ” Mladenovski explained, adding that it is too early to draw conclusions.

In addition, if suspicions arise—such as recorded electricity consumption two or three times higher than normal—experts from the regulator may remove electricity meters and request a metrological inspection.

If irregularities are found, the sanctions imposed on the electricity distribution companies will be uncompromising, the EWRC chairman said.

At the same time, he stressed that as of Wednesday no formal complaints had been submitted by customers of the electricity distribution companies.

Mladenovski added that if excessively high bills are confirmed, the regulator will insist that the companies show “reasonable flexibility, ” meaning the possibility of installment payment plans.

Responding to a question about the regulator’s decision to launch the inspection based on complaints circulating on social media, the EWRC chairman said the regulator is determined to establish whether there is indeed a problem with the companies’ reporting or whether the issue has a different explanation.

Mladenovski also clarified that EWRC distances itself from the inspections carried out by the Ministry of Energy, emphasizing that regulation and pricing fall under the authority of the energy regulator and that interference in its activities should not be allowed.