On March 19, during the Energy of Tomorrow forum organized by Investor.bg, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” was once again invited to contribute expert knowledge. In a panel discussion on the key topic of electricity market liberalization “Regulations and Opportunities for the Development of the Energy Market” Dr. Maria Trifonova, Deputy Director of the applied research laboratory Net-Zero Lab, emphasized the role of households as active participants in the future energy system.
“The goal of liberalization is precisely to open up the final segment of the market – households. This will bring greater liquidity, enable choice, and create conditions for system modernization,” Dr. Trifonova pointed out.
Source: Net-Zero Lab
What can households gain?
- Choice – The ability to choose an electricity supplier, a pricing plan, or to join an energy community.
- Modernization – Consumer participation drives investment in smart grids, decentralized energy sources, battery storage, and energy efficiency.
- Transparency and competition – A greater number of market participants leads to better services, innovation, and a fairer, more transparent distribution of long-term investment costs.
The discussion featured representatives from the Ministry of Energy, business leaders and members of the academic community. They agreed that Bulgaria is lagging behind in implementing reform due to political uncertainty and populism. According to the panelists, the 2024-2025 period is the most appropriate time to move forward with a reform that has already been postponed for over a decade.
There was consensus that the success of this reform depends not only on a solid legal framework but also on the preparedness of the consumers themselves.
What is needed to prepare?
- Regulations that protect vulnerable consumers and ensure fair access. Initial steps have been taken, including the introduction of an official definition for energy poverty.
- Technical infrastructure that enables flexible consumption, real-time monitoring, and digital connectivity.
- Information support – education, digital content, and public campaigns to enhance energy literacy.
This is exactly where the Net-Zero Lab team at Sofia University is focusing its efforts – by developing educational digital content aimed at young people. The goal is to help them understand the value of a liberalized energy market, the opportunities it presents and the responsibilities they bear as active participants in the energy transition.
Media publications about the event: