The Ministry of Energy has published for public discussion changes to the Regulation on Heat Supply, the main purpose of which is to fill the legal vacuum in the accounting of energy for building installations, after the old formula was canceled by the court. The active work on developing a new method of accounting is the result of the stated commitment by the acting Minister Traycho Traykov in the first days after his appointment to find a quick and effective solution to the delayed case.
“After the EU court canceled the formula for building installations last year, we developed a version that takes into account both the interests of people who use heating and those who have turned off the radiators - in a balanced, transparent and fair manner“, said Minister Traykov. According to him, the previously existing option for condominiums to choose a specific percentage for a building installation between the legally defined limits of 20 to 40% remains in force.
The regulation provides for a precise mechanism for determining the amount of thermal energy for a building installation, based on objective factors characteristic of consumption in the specific building and publicly available, verifiable data. It takes into account: total installed capacity of all heating units, time period during which heat supply to the building was provided, type of internal heating installation, belonging of the building to a relevant energy consumption class, air temperature in the building, external temperature for the relevant settlement and data for the relevant climate zone in which it is located.
In order to ensure maximum information, it is envisaged that the heat transfer company will provide consumers with monthly information on each of the values that participate in determining the amount of thermal energy delivered by the building installation. The detailed indication of the individual components aims to bring clarity to the method of reaching the specific consumption values of this type of energy and to increase transparency in the value of the end customer's obligations.
In order not to increase the administrative burden on citizens, information about the building's belonging to the respective energy consumption class will be obtained ex officio through the register maintained by the Agency for Sustainable Energy Development.
“We are looking for a sustainable solution to this important topic for many people. Without the participation of consumers, there is no way to solve the problem, so I expect people to be active in the discussion“, urged Minister Traycho Traykov.