On 07.08.2020 the amendments to the Energy Act (EA) about the provision of cold reserve were announced. The EA was amended through the transitional and final provisions of the Law on Local Self-Government and Local Administration.
The amendments provide for the transmission system operator (ESO) to submit by 30 July 2020 to the Minister of Energy a report on the level of adequacy of the electricity system for the period 1 August 2020 – 1 July 2021.
The Minister of Energy, based on the report of the transmission system operator, imposes, if necessary, the provision of a cold reserve to the thermal power plant with the largest installed capacity in the country (TPP Maritsa East 2) with an order for the period from August 1, 2020 to the complete liberalization of the wholesale electricity market, but not later than July 1, 2021. At present, no such order has been issued by the Minister of Energy. With its price decision, the EWRC has determined part of the revenues of ESO for network fees in the amount of 57 million BGN to cover the costs of providing a cold reserve. How this money will be spent and who will be entrusted with the provision of the cold reserve are questions that still remain unanswered.
Source: State Gazette
