Last week was certainly not short of diverse news, yet what caused the greatest surprise was that household consumers received higher electricity bills. The Ministry of Energy immediately took up the issue, even though it is not the competent authority in this matter, while the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission—the competent authority—stated that it had received no complaints and had learned about the issue from the news and social media. This is not the first such case; on the contrary, similar situations have been observed almost every year since 2013.

At this stage, full information on household consumption is not yet available, as invoices are issued at different times (I personally have not yet received mine), but there is sufficient additional information that may explain the higher expenses.

The first fact known with certainty is that since January 2026 there has been no change in regulated electricity prices for households, which remain valid for the period July 2025 – June 2026. By comparison, prices for households increased during the price period in January 2025, yet this did not lead to protests. In the current 12-month price period, the price is on average about 2.6% higher compared to the January–June 2025 period.

This year there is an additional complicating factor—the accession to the euro area—accompanied by constant public commentary suggesting that this either leads to price increases or does not. Public sensitivity to potential “price speculation” after the euro introduction is therefore heightened. It cannot be ruled out that some billing issues may be related to software conversion problems during currency conversion, similar to those observed in early January among providers of other services and various Bulgarian and foreign online retailers. Such issues, however, can easily be verified by checking the invoice details or contacting the respective supplier.

The second known fact is that, according to the Electricity System Operator, electricity consumption in Bulgaria in January 2026 was 10% higher than in January 2025. This increase is not attributable to industry, whose production—and therefore electricity consumption—continues to decline, but mainly to higher household consumption. This development is not surprising, as National Statistical Institute data show a steady increase in household consumption during the period 2021–2024. In other words, even with unchanged prices, the bill may increase if consumption rises.

The third fact is that, according to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, the average monthly temperatures in January 2026 ranged between –1°C and 5°C, around or above the normal range for the month, while average temperatures in December 2025 ranged between 2°C and 7°C, also above the monthly norm. In other words, December was once again relatively warm, as has been the case in most years since 2019.

Consumption is, of course, highly individual and depends on many factors, but the decline in temperatures between December and January naturally leads to higher consumption. A common rule of thumb is that a 1°C change in outdoor temperature results in roughly a 10% change in electricity consumption. In addition, the Christmas and New Year holidays fall within the billing period, when households typically spend more time at home and use more electricity. If consumption in January 2026 is compared with January 2025, it is likely that similar consumption levels—and therefore similar expenditure—will be observed.

Although the weather this January is not unusual, the month is unique due to several political developments:

• the government has resigned, again;

• there is no adopted state budget, again;

• the President has resigned for the first time since 1990;

• the Supreme Judicial Council continues to operate with an expired mandate;

• there is no Chief Prosecutor, and the acting one lacks full legitimacy;

• the country is joining the euro area.

All these factors create significant political tension, some of which was absent in the previous January. By comparison, January 2024 also saw political tension and protests over high electricity bills, and similar dynamics can be traced back to 2013, when protests against high electricity bills began at the end of January.

Initial accusations at the time ranged from electricity consumption being charged for unused properties, including public buildings, to billing periods longer than legally permitted, interpreted as “sabotage and incitement to unrest,” and even claims that distribution companies supplied electricity at lower voltage, thereby increasing bills. It later became clear, however, that only about 1% of complaints submitted to the three retail suppliers were justified, while the protests evolved into broader political demonstrations and the issue of “high bills” faded from public attention.

As in the past, inaccuracies cannot be fully excluded. Based on practical experience, several steps can be recommended in such situations:

• Compare the readings shown on the invoice with those of the electricity meter (as well as heating or water meters where relevant);

• If discrepancies are found, contact the responsible company—electricity supplier, heat accounting company, or water operator;

• If there is no discrepancy but concerns remain, compare the invoice with one from the same month of the previous year, focusing on consumption levels and prices;

• If an error is suspected, submit a formal complaint to the respective company;

• The complaint may include a request to the electricity distribution operator to verify the accuracy of the metering device. If the meter is found defective, it is replaced at the company’s expense; if it is functioning correctly, the inspection costs are borne by the customer;

• If the outcome remains unsatisfactory, submit a complaint to the competent authority—the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission—together with the technical information and correspondence with the company, rather than relying on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, X, or Telegram.