By concluding model contracts, non-household customers that have not migrated to the free electricity market by 1 October 2020, will be able to remain with their current supplier for the time period of 01 Oct 2020-30 June 2021
The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission has held a meeting at which it approved а template for a model contract under § 15, para 3 of the Transitional and Final Provisions of the Law on Amending and Supplementing the Energy Law (promulgated in SG, 57/2020).
In accordance with the Energy Law amendments of 26 June 2020, all non-household consumers that currently have their electricity supplied from the regulated market will have to move to the free market from 1 October 2020, and to choose an electricity supplier. In case by 30 September 2020 a non-household consumer has failed to conclude a contract with an electricity trader, starting from this date on, such a customer will be able to have electricity supplied by the current supplier at freely negotiated prices. However, both parties will need to conclude a model contract for the time from 01 October 2020 to 30 June 2021.
The model contract template approved lays down the right and obligations of parties, the terms of electricity supply and contact termination. This template consists of ten sections, containing: contract subject, period and terms of contract coming into force, rights and obligations of parties, prices, invoicing and payments, terms and procedure for a temporary suspension and restoration of electricity sales, terms and procedure for amending and terminating the contract, liabilities and sanctions, as well as dispute resolution and force majeure.
While working on the model contract, EWRC requested variants to be submitted to it by CEZ Elektro Bulgaria AD, EVN Bulgaria Elektrosnabdiavane EAD, Energo-Pro Prodazhbi AD and ESP Zlatni pyasatsi OOD. Before approving the final contract template, the Regulator held a public discussion on 13 August 2020 with the participation of stakeholder representatives – CEZ Elektro Bulgaria AD, EVN Bulgaria Elektrosnabdiavane EAD, Izpravise.bg Civil Platform and the Free Energy Market Association. In a conciliation table attached to the final contract template, the Regulator expressed its reasoned opinion on all proposal made by participants. It was agreed to adopt some of the proposals, namely: after concluding contracts under the procedure of Article 2, para 2, the electricity supplier, upon customer’s request, will have the obligation to send the contract to the customer via e-mail or to ensure a possibility for contract receipt at a Customer Service Centre; the customer will also be entitled to choose the type of invoice – on paper or electronic, and request an inspection in case of aroused suspicion about incorrect bill for electricity delivered; not later than 3 (three) working days before the end of the month preceding the month in which the respective prices come into effect, on its website, the supplier will be obliged to announce prices of all tariffs by tariff plans; in case of arrears, the supplier will send the customer a notification, in writing or in a different manner selected by the customer (SMS, e-mail, etc.) for a temporary suspension of supply while giving the customer a period of 5 (five) working days to pay its money obligation.
The Decision on approving a model contract template under § 15, para 3 of the Transitional and Final Provisions of the Law on Amending and Supplementing the Energy Law (SG, 57/2020) will be posted on EWRC website.
Template of a model contract under § 15 para 3 of the Energy Law
