After that-round the clock

For economic reasons, until 1921 the plant operated only at nighttime, and after that-round the clock.

Table 2 presents a summary of the electrification enterprises for public power supply in Bulgaria by 1918.

Until the end of World War I (1918), although the Bulgarians were convinced of the usefulness of electrification and that without it no significant progress in the country was possible, most of the towns except for the above- mentioned five ones, continued to use oil lamps for indoor and street lighting (street lanterns).

Electricity Demand Level

During the period of local electrification electricity demand level could be considered only in relation to several electrified towns and villages, where, except in Sofia, electricity was mainly used for lighting purposes. Sofia had the highest specific electricity consumption per capita, as shown below:

Before the end of World War I the average specific electricity consumption in Kazanlak for all purposes did not exceed 45 kWh per capita, and in Varna it ranged between 5 and 8 kWh per capita. This low figure was due to the irregular operation of its diesel power plant.

Electricity generation in the country

The overall electricity generation in the country by 1913 (at the time of the Balkan wars) was estimated at about 110 million kWh and 2.2 kWh per capita on the average for the country. At the same time the electricity consumption per capita in the USA was 156 kWh, in Germany-41 kWh, and in Russia-14 kWh.

That low electricity consumption corresponded to the low specific installed capacity in the power plants- 50-^60 W per capita, equal to the wattage of an electric lamp. Correspondingly, the annual utilization ratio of installed capacities in the power plants was low, although increasing with time. For Sofia it was 670 h in 1901 and 1074 h in 1917, and for Kazanlak-830-1000 h, respectively.