ENERGO-PRO supports the business in its mandatory transition to the liberalized electricity market

In recent months, ENERGO-PRO has conducted a massive information campaign in order to familiarize the company's customers with the process of mandatory exit of small business objects on the free market. Already in the spring, during meetings of the leadership of ENERGO-PRO with the local government in North-East Bulgaria, details of the then forthcoming changes were discussed, voted later (on 26.06.2020) in the Energy Law. Through a series of press releases, detailed information and instructions on its websites, the energy company informed the consumers affected by the mandatory liberalization with all the necessary steps for the transition to the supply of electricity on individually agreed terms.

As a result of the intensified information campaign to support small businesses in the implementation of the legal requirement, of all about 100,000 sites of non-residential customers of ENERGO-PRO as of July 1, 2020 on a regulated market, 14 percent (14,000 sites) or one in seven sites already have a contract with a supplier on the free market. The process of switching to the liberalized market continues actively, with each company having the opportunity to make its choice of supplier by the 10th of each month in order to start the supply of electricity from the next month. To do this, it is necessary to comply with several important requirements for customers: not to have arrears to their previous supplier; the submission of documents must be made by the holder of the lot, including if he is a tenant; to be able to provide a list of all objects (customer and subscriber number, Z-number, name and address of each of the sites).

The change in the Energy Law of 26.06.2020 provided for a 9-month transitional period from 01.10.2020 to 30.06.2021, during which the current final supplier on a regulated market will be able to provide electricity supply through the type contract approved by the EWRC to non-domestic customers subject to mandatory liberalization, but still unselected supplier. This supplier could also be the trading company of ENERGO-PRO on the free market, if the customer wishes to conclude a contract with him. The transition period provides sufficient time for customers to familiarize themselves with the legal requirements before taking steps towards a real change to participate in the free electricity market.

During its information campaign on liberalization, ENERGO-PRO seeks to comply with the legal requirements, to support the transition to standard contracts for business users who have not chosen a supplier since 01.10.2020, as well as to facilitate the transition to a free market and through clarifications to make the transition simple and easy for consumers, commented Angela Toneva, Member of the Management Board of ENERGO-PRO Varna. The company appeals to customers to pay attention to all the details in the conditions offered by the various merchants, studying their experience and competence, as well as their ability to serve thousands of customers in number. Let them carefully read the entire contracts offered to them, the annexes to them, the terms of termination, whether there is a clause for the trader to unilaterally change the terms of the contract, including the price. It is also good to be careful whether, in cases where the contract provides for automatic renewal, the customer is given the opportunity to terminate it at any time with one month's notice without penalties. Ultimately, the idea of liberalization is for customers to find a reliable and loyal partner in the supply of electricity through the possibilities of individual bargaining.

ENERGO-PRO will continue to assist in the process of full liberalization of business customers, periodically informing them about the end of the transition period, which is until 30.06.2021. Detailed information on the requirements for the exit of non-domestic customers to the free market, introduced in the ZE on 26.06.2020, is published on the website of ENERGO-PRO. The company remains available to its customers for further clarification as needed through all the communication channels offered.