Electricity bills are not a surprise. This was stated by the caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov. According to him, last year there were several jumps in the price of electricity with a total of 14% and when you add the increased consumption during the cold months – it logically resulted in more expensive invoices.
"These are decisions that were made before the current government, the same applies to water. The proposal for the increase in water was adopted in December by KEVR and it was deliberately held back so that it would explode into the hands of the caretaker government. We do not have a new government here – new prices, we have a New Beginning – new prices“, explained Gyurov.
The Prime Minister indicated that he had received dozens of signals from worried citizens about the increase in the price of water and high electricity bills. That is why he has called an urgent meeting with the relevant ministers to ease the burden on citizens.
„On Friday, the first working day of our mandate, we met with the Energy Regulatory Commission to receive a report on the status of their inspections. The majority of the higher bills are due to the larger amount of energy consumed. At the same time, we need to check whether the electricity meters, the reading devices, are reading correctly“, explained Energy Minister Traycho Traykov.
He explained that an additional inspection has been ordered by an independent laboratory and by the Ministry of Energy for the condition of the electrical panel. The readings in the invoices will be verified.
"We are holding talks with the Energy System Security Fund, which pays compensation to electricity distribution companies and covers the difference between the regulated prices and the market prices at which electricity is purchased. We want to make a catch-all of what the difference is. That is, to cover all possible options that there may be an error or abuse somewhere“, added Traykov.
According to the EWRC, in a very small percentage of the signals there is abuse. “Even if one customer is harmed, the law must be respected and the losses must be recovered“, he also stated.
Traykov explained that all those who have filed complaints must receive a response from the relevant EDP. If they are not satisfied with the result, they can also contact the EWRC.