Pensioners barely manage to cover their heating bills: We will, we will not – we will not eat
On the first day of the astronomical winter – a forecast for an increase in the price of natural gas to almost BGN 200 per megawatt hour. The executive director of “Bulgargaz” Denitsa Zlatevav did, in the program “This Morning” on bTV. The reason – dynamic prices on the blue fuel market.
In August, there was a drastic increase of 60%, which makes nearly BGN 300 per megawatt hour. In September, prices continued to rise – up to BGN 353 per megawatt, and in October, the blue fuel became cheap again – up to BGN 233.
For November, the prices reached a value of over 47% and worth BGN 123 per megawatt hour. This month, natural gas costs BGN 146.
What does this mean for household accounts – Emil Katsarov and Rumen Skrinski tell.
The Bogoevi family rely on only one radiator because they barely manage to cover their heating bills.
“I pay BGN 250 per month, hot! We only use one radiator in the living room. He can’t warm up at two. Only three!” says Dora Bogoeva, who is a pensioner.
She and her husband do not receive energy benefits. Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva announced that she has sent recommendations to the acting prime minister to change this.
“The problem is that there is currently no compensation program for domestic consumers and heating systems, which means that people bear the brunt of the reduced natural gas price, which affects heat energy,” commented the public defender.
The executive director of “Bulgargaz” says why gas prices are going up – a quarter of the blue fuel that we will use in January is much more expensive than the gas storage in Chiren.
“Unlike other months, in January the share we receive from Chiren is significant. From May to October, Bulgargaz is obliged to inject gas – this gas is at a very high price this year,” said Denitsa Zlateva.
The experts are adamant that there is gas now, but the storage facilities, both in our country and in other countries, were filled already in the summer, but at an expensive price due to the high demand then.
“The prices reached over BGN 300 per megawatt hour, and accordingly, this gas is currently being used. Now the forecasts for the winter were much more gloomy than what is happening now,” said Kiril Temelkov, Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Gas Association.
The Bogoevi family is ready to save more than ever.
“I’ll eat, I won’t eat – we won’t eat where a joke is called. As for the cold for an elderly person… You can’t even go out for a walk, and it will be cold outside,” commented Georgi Bogoev.
How much more expensive gas will be from January – will be decided by the regulator.