Region
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Income group
Upper middle income
Most populous city
Sofia

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Disclaimer: Note that the following information is not part of the score that the country receives on the Investing Across Sectors indicators. This information is provided as complementary to the data on the foreign ownership restrictions, and is based on the survey respondents’ comments and assessments. The World Bank Group does not guarantee accuracy of this information.

Sector group:
Electricity
Sector:
Power distribution: A foreign company seeking to own distribution systems that convey electricity from the distribution centers/substations to the final consumer.
Market structure:
 
Survey respondents' answer to the following question, "Define the market structure in your economy for this sector."
Oligopoly, i.e. a few large firms
Regulatory license:
 
Survey respondents' answer to the following question, "If a foreign company wanted to obtain a sector-specific regulatory license (or a concession contract) to open and operate a new business in that sector, how likely would the government be to issue such a license, provided that the foreign company meets all legal and regulatory requirements?"
Very unlikely
Name of regulatory authority
(1) State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, (2) Minister of Environment and Water
Additional comments:
Legislation: (1) The Energy Act (http://www.mi.Government.bg/eng/norm/rdocs.html)

A license for distribution of energy is granted to a person that has ownership rights to the power production plant. The licensee should be a legal entity registered at the Bulgarian Commercial Register (or in a relevant authority in a Member State of the EU or the EEA), have technical, financial, human and material resources and organizational structure to carry out the activities according to the legal requirements and should prove that the power production plant is safe and environmentally protective.
There are foreign firms currently operating in this sector
The state is a minority shareholder in the privately-owned power transmission companies.
Only one license is available for each designated region.