Paying utility bills: electricity, water, heating

At a glance

Total time: Monthly bills
Official fees: Winter heating costs most
Where: Online, in your bank app or at Easypay
Bulgarian needed?: Bills are in Bulgarian

In Bulgaria, each utility sends its own bill, usually every month. Most are easy to pay online once you know your customer number. This guide explains who sends what, how to pay, and what to do when you move in.

Who supplies what

Utility	Who supplies it
Electricity	Depends on the region: Electrohold in Sofia and the west (including Bansko), EVN in Plovdiv, Burgas and the south-east, and Energo-Pro in Varna and the north-east
Water	The local water company, for example Sofiyska Voda in Sofia
Central heating	In cities with a district heating network, such as Toplofikatsia Sofia. Many flats heat with air conditioning or electric heaters instead
Gas	Only in some areas; most homes have no gas supply
Internet and TV	Your choice of provider. See our phone and internet guide
Building fee	The building’s management (етажна собственост, “etazhna sobstvenost”) for cleaning, the lift and shared electricity

How to pay

Online: through each company’s website, or through payment services such as ePay.bg, which let you pay several utilities in one place and set up automatic payments.
In your banking app: most Bulgarian banks let you add utility bills and pay them automatically.
In cash: at Easypay offices, post offices and the companies’ own offices.

For all of these you need the customer number (клиентски номер, “klientski nomer”) for each utility. You will find it on any old bill, so ask the owner or previous tenant for one.

When you move in

Take photos of every meter with the date: electricity, water and heating.
Agree with the owner whether the bills stay in their name, which is common for rentals, or move to yours.
Check there are no unpaid bills. Debts usually stay with the account, and a supplier can cut off a flat with arrears.
Ask how much the bills were last winter. Heating can double or triple your costs from November to March.

Reading your bill

Bills are in Bulgarian. Look for the amount due (сума за плащане, “suma za plashtane”) and the due date (срок за плащане, “srok za plashtane”). Electricity bills often show day and night rates: electricity is cheaper at night if you have a two-rate meter.

Common mistakes

Not checking for old debts before moving in.
Forgetting the building fee, then hearing about it from the neighbours.
Budgeting with summer bills.

Sources

General information. Suppliers and their regions can change: check the name on your latest bill.