Utilities in Varna: Electricity, Water, Heating and Bills

Published October 5, 2026

The rent is only part of what you pay each month in Varna. Electricity, water, internet and the building fee come on top, and in winter the electricity bill can change your budget more than any other item. Here is how utilities work in practice for a tenant, so you know what to ask before signing.

Electricity

Varna is in the north-east of Bulgaria, where the grid is run by ERP Sever (Elektrorazpredelenie Sever) and household electricity is sold by ENERGO-PRO Sales (ЕНЕРГО-ПРО Продажби). Both are part of the ENERGO-PRO group, so you will see that name on bills and on the meter boxes.

In a rental the account almost always stays in the owner's name. You simply pay the bill using the customer number printed on it. That is normal and nothing to worry about, but ask the landlord for the customer number on day one and check there are no unpaid amounts: arrears belong to the account, and the supplier can disconnect the flat regardless of who caused them.

Many flats have a two-rate meter: electricity is cheaper during set night hours. If you have a washing machine, dishwasher or electric water heater, running them at night makes a visible difference.

A household bill normally shows separate lines for the energy itself, the network charges (transmission and access) and VAT. Since 1 January 2026 all bills are in euros.

Heating: mostly electric

This is the big surprise for many newcomers. Varna does have district heating, operated by Veolia Energy Varna, but it covers only a small share of the city, mainly in some older panel-block areas. Most flats are heated with air conditioners (heat pumps), sometimes with oil radiators or convectors. Detached houses may have wood or pellet stoves.

What this means for you:

Winter electricity bills are noticeably higher than summer ones. Budget for it.
Ask how old the air conditioners are and whether every room has one. An old non-inverter unit uses much more power than a modern inverter.
Check the windows (PVC with double glazing is standard now) and look for damp or mould in corners. Seaside humidity is real, and a cold, damp flat costs more to heat.
If the flat is connected to district heating, ask what the monthly payments were last winter and whether there is a heat meter per radiator or flat.

Water

Water and sewerage are provided by ViK Varna (ВиК Варна). Each flat usually has its own meters for cold and hot water, but the building also has a main meter. The difference between the main meter and the sum of the flat meters (leaks, common taps) is shared among the flats, so you may see a small "common consumption" line on your bill. The bill includes water supply, sewerage and treatment.

Hot water usually comes from an electric water heater (boiler) in the bathroom, which means it is on your electricity bill, not the water bill.

The building fee

Apartment buildings in Bulgaria are run as a condominium (етажна собственост). Residents pay a monthly fee for cleaning the stairwell, lighting in common areas, the lift and, in newer buildings, a professional management company. In older blocks a resident (домоуправител) collects it in cash; in newer ones it is paid by bank transfer or to a management company.

There is also a repair fund for roofs, facades and similar works. As a rule, the everyday maintenance fee is paid by whoever lives in the flat, while repair fund contributions are the owner's business. Write in the contract who pays what, because practice varies.

Garbage tax

Bulgaria's household waste fee (ТБО) is a local tax charged to the property owner by the municipality, together with property tax, once a year. It is not a monthly utility and you should not normally see it. Some landlords try to pass it on to tenants; that is a matter of negotiation, not law.

Internet and TV

The main providers are A1, Vivacom and Yettel, plus local cable and fibre companies that are often cheaper and just as fast in a given building. Most new buildings in Varna have fibre. Before signing anything:

Ask whether the flat already has an active contract you can take over or keep paying.
Check the contract length. Standard terms are 12 or 24 months, and breaking early means a penalty. If your lease is shorter, look for a no-commitment plan.
Foreigners usually need a passport and sometimes a Bulgarian address registration to sign.

How to pay bills

You do not need to visit an office:

EasyPay offices and Bulgarian Posts branches take cash payments for electricity, water and telecom using the customer number.
ePay.bg and online banking let you pay online and add bills to automatic payments.
Direct debit from a Bulgarian bank account is the most convenient if you stay long-term.
ENERGO-PRO has its own online portal (MyENERGO-PRO) for checking and paying electricity bills.

Keep proof of payment. When you move out, a clean payment history is what gets your deposit back.

Before you move in

Photograph every meter (electricity, water, district heating if any) with readings visible, and write them into the handover protocol.
Get the customer numbers for electricity and water.
Ask for one or two recent winter bills to estimate heating costs.
Agree in writing who pays the building fee, the repair fund and the garbage tax.
Check the internet situation before your first remote working day, not after.

None of this is complicated, but sorting it out before signing saves arguments with the landlord later.