The Parliamentary Energy Commitee has approved amendments to the Energy Law at first reading with 12 votes for and 6 against. The changes are required in order to regulate a mechanism for reimbursement of sums under agreements concluded between Bulgargaz as a public natural gas supplier and its customers. This became necessary after the negotiation of a lower price for natural gas deliveries between Russian company Gazprom and Bulgargaz. The changes make it possible for the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission to approve natural gas prices retroactively from August 5, 2019, so that recoverable sums will be restored to consumers. Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has recommended that the changes should not affect the free market for natural gas.