Gas tariffs in Bulgaria will go up by between 6% and 11% from April 1, with the precise increase still to be pinned down. The State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) on Monday announced a 10.88% spike.

But only hours later energy minister Traycho Traykov pledged that he would trim the hike by up to 5%.

State-run gas company Bulgargaz cautioned that if they are left intact or are raised by less than the requested 26%, gas prices will have to be updated upwards by at least 30% by the end of the year to account for global gas prices and the US dollar exchange rate.

If gas prices are raised by 6%, heating and water bills will bulge by 3% on average or remain unchanged, SEWRC chairman Angel Semerdjiev told state-run TV channel BNT. On March 31, the watchdog will discuss a possible hike in power tariffs as well.