Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva wants VAT on natural gas for households cut temporarily, from December 2026 to April 2027, her office said in a press release.

She sent the proposal to prime minister Rumen Radev and finance minister Galab Donev. "As the public's defender, and to keep heating affordable and cut the risk of people falling into debt, I propose that the government consider changing the Value Added Tax Act," Delcheva said.

The new prices took effect on 1 November 2026. The approved gas prices for households are between 46.33% and 56.50% higher than in the same period of 2025.

The ombudsman says this is also above the 68 euros per MWh assumed in the Finance Ministry's "Autumn 2026" macroeconomic forecast. Users of heat and electricity are protected from price rises, but households that heat with gas have no such protection. The energy regulator KEVR has already said that heat and electricity prices could stay in place after 1 January 2027.

The cut is proposed only for households, not for businesses. The ombudsman's press office says households bear the tax as a final cost, while firms with the right to a full tax credit deduct it. It says the step complies with EU law.

KEVR chair Plamen Mladenovski spoke about the price rise a few days ago. He said that at current international prices, gas could not avoid getting more expensive. He said that after the first request on the November price, the public supplier looked for other options so the jump would not be sharp.

In a European Investment Bank survey, 74% of Bulgarians said that rising prices of energy, such as gas, electricity and fuel, over the past 12 months had greatly cut their buying power.