PUBLISHED ON November 19, 2025
How Much Heating Cost During the 2024/2025 Season in Five Bulgarian Cities
What the Thermometers Showed
The 2024/2025 heating season started earlier than in previous years – at the beginning of October – and average temperatures were lower than during the previous five winters. According to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, the average daily temperatures from October 2024 to April 2025 were 5.8°C in Sofia and 7.8°C in Plovdiv.
Sofia and Plovdiv: similar prices, different bills, different outdoor temperatures
In Sofia, where Dalsia serves over 100,000 customers, the price of heat energy is 128.25 BGN per 1 MWh, and the average seasonal bill reaches 750 BGN. In Plovdiv, where outdoor temperatures are usually higher, the price is nearly identical – 127.19 BGN/MWh – but the average bill is lower at 494 BGN per season. Plovdiv also reports the lowest consumption per 1 m³ of residential volume: 22.52 kWh/m³ (2.86 BGN), compared to 28.75 kWh/m³ (3.69 BGN) in Sofia.
Kozloduy: lower energy price, higher volume consumption
With a heat-energy price of 68.69 BGN/MWh, Kozloduy customers consume the most heat energy per 1 m³ of residential space – 48.38 kWh/m³ (3.32 BGN), while the average seasonal bill is 590.50 BGN. This shows that a lower price encourages households to use more heating.
Razgrad: the role of heated volume
Razgrad records the smallest average heated volume – 159 m³ (typical two-room apartment). Average seasonal bills reach 677 BGN at a price of 131.08 BGN/MWh. Thus, the residential volume combined with local price levels produces different end results for consumers.
Pleven: moderate bills at a lower price
In Pleven, with a price of 90.02 BGN/MWh and an average heated volume of 180 m³, the seasonal bill reaches 502 BGN – a balanced profile where a lower tariff works together with a moderate volume.
When the radiators are turned off
Over the years, the share of households that do not use heating remains almost unchanged: in Sofia it is 22.1%, in Plovdiv 37.4%, and in Ruse and Kozloduy 8.2% and 11.8%, respectively. Buildings with more switched-off radiators often experience lower overall heating efficiency, which increases the final cost.
How to better manage heating expenses
Heating costs depend not only on energy prices but also on user behavior, building characteristics (insulation, installation, orientation), and climatic conditions.
To gain more convenience and transparency in managing their household budgets, more families are choosing monthly remote metering. Monthly bills provide timelier information and better expenditure control.
The mandatory replacement of heat-metering devices (radiator allocators, heat meters, and hot-water meters) with remotely readable devices is currently ongoing. According to the law, the process must be completed by December 31, 2026.
Notes:
- The presented statistics do not include hot-water costs.
- Households that did not use heating are excluded from the average values.
- All listed prices and data refer to the past heating season.