Tuesday, August 26. The Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange (BNEB) concluded today's trading session, noting a significant drop in electricity prices for tomorrow's consumption. According to official data after the exchange's closing, the average price of traded electricity in the market segment "Day Ahead" was 158 Bulgarian leva (without VAT) per megawatt-hour. This result represents a palpable relief for Bulgarian businesses, as prices for tomorrow, August 27, will be 11% lower compared to yesterday.
Although the electricity market is known for its dynamism and price fluctuations, today's drop stands out against yesterday's average price of 177.10 BGN per megawatt-hour. This correction is indicative of the changing conditions in the energy market and offers short-term stability for industrial consumers and businesses that rely on predictability in their electricity costs.
Details from the Electricity Market
A detailed analysis of the trading reveals even greater differences between prices for different time periods. Peak energy, which is in highest demand during the hours from 09:00 to 20:00, reached an average price of 106.35 BGN per megawatt-hour. At the same time, off-peak energy, used during the quieter periods from 01:00 to 08:00 and from 21:00 to 24:00, was traded at a much higher average price of 209.64 BGN per megawatt-hour. This significant difference highlights the importance of consumption management and shifting operations to peak hours for maximum efficiency.
BNEB data shows that the total amount of electricity traded for the day reached 88,389.30 megawatt-hours. This volume testifies to active trading and significant interest from market participants.
Meanwhile, in the market segment "Within the Day", which allows for more flexible real-time transactions, prices also underwent changes. As of 2:30 PM, the weighted average price for 60-minute products was 142.23 BGN (without VAT) per megawatt-hour. For the shorter-term 15-minute products, the daily weighted average price at the same time was 162.93 BGN (without VAT) per megawatt-hour. These prices reflect the current market dynamics and the readiness of traders to react instantly to changing conditions.
Market observers are closely monitoring the dynamics of BNEB, as it is a direct indicator of the state of the economy and businesses' price expectations. Today's price drop was met with moderate relief, but experts warn that the market remains volatile and future fluctuations are not ruled out.