As of October 1, 2025, the electricity market in Europe, including Bulgaria, has transitioned to trading in 15-minute intervals instead of the previous hourly ones. The new model introduces 96 price intervals per day, allowing for a more precise alignment between supply and demand. This is particularly important given the growing share of renewable energy sources, whose production is more variable and difficult to predict, as well as the increasing deployment of energy storage systems.

The change is mandatory under European regulation and aims to harmonize all markets within the “Day-Ahead” market coupling, facilitating cross-border trade and strengthening the integration of energy systems across the EU.

For businesses, the impact is twofold: on one hand, companies and traders gain more opportunities to manage price risk, optimize consumption, and respond more flexibly to market fluctuations; on the other hand, the shift requires more detailed planning, more frequent forecasting, and adaptation of information systems. Power producers—especially those from renewable sources—will be able to sell their actual output more accurately and reduce imbalances, while traders will benefit from clearer short-term price signals. 15-minute trading makes the market more dynamic, competitive, and reflective of the real-time state of the energy system.