Bulgaria has long been a regional power exporter to countries such as Greece, Serbia, Macedonia and Romania, thanks to its nuclear power plant on the Danube River, Kozlodui. But EU safety concerns have prompted Bulgaria to gradually shut down Kozlodui, meaning power generation and exportation will decline. The country plans on opening two nuclear units in Belene to compensate for this loss, but that will not happen before 2011.
The State Energy Regulatory Commission (SERC), was created in 1999. Bulgaria has one state-owned electric company, Natisionalna Elektricheska Kompania (NEK), which is now responsible only for transmission. Bulgaria allows energy trading, and 11 traders are licensed there.
Seven power distribution companies have been privatized the buyers were Czech company CEZ, German E.ON, and Austrian EVN. This year, Bulgaria contracted with CEZ to sell its Varna power plant. It says its electricity markets will be completely liberalized by 2007.
| NET ELECTRICITY EXPORTER | 5,878 GWh | | Total Electrical Consumption (2004) | 35,660 GWh | | Total Electrical Production (2004) | 41,538 GWh | | Electrical Consumption per Capita (2002) | 3792.00 kWh/capita | | Average Household Electricity Price (2005) | ¢6.95/kWh (no tax) | | | ¢8.32kWh (with tax) |