“We call on the Minister of Energy Traycho Traykov to withdraw the proposed new-old formula for building installation as early as Monday.“ This was stated by the chairwoman of Stand Up.BG Maya Manolova in her position regarding the changes proposed by the Ministry of Energy for public discussion in the Regulation on Heat Supply, related to the formula by which the heat energy for building installations in condominium buildings is calculated.
The former Ombudsman recalled that the Bulgarian court has several times overturned the illegal formula and that the Court of Justice of the European Union has also ruled that it is opaque, incomprehensible and does not objectively reflect the amount of heat energy emitted by the building installation.
“Because it is not normal to not have radiators, to have turned off your hot water, but to pay hundreds of leva in equalization bills“ – Manolova was categorical.
According to her, the new formula proposed by Traykov is practically the same as the old one: “Although described in more detail, it does not correct any of the shortcomings indicated in the decision of the Court of Justice of the EU, nor does it solve the problems of consumers.“
“It is a matter of time before this formula is also repealed by the court. We are already preparing appeals. Because messing with people and failing to comply with court decisions must be punished.“
We recall that in August, the civic platform Stand Up.BG helped hundreds of citizens appeal their equalization bills for heating, which were calculated based on the formula for building installations that was canceled by the court.
“After months of illegally calculating estimated heating bills due to the legal vacuum after the cancellation of the illegal formula, we expected that the Ministry of Energy would propose a fair formula that would objectively reflect the consumed heat energy from building installations and that would cut off the ability of heat accountants to adjust the bills at their own discretion.“ – Manolova said.
In her words, instead, the Ministry of Energy has once again decided to harm citizens and serve heat accountants, copying the old formula, canceled by the court.
Izpra se.BG points out that the only difference in the proposed formula is the minimal reduction in the coefficient for buildings that have energy efficiency passports (very few in number) - from 0.15 to 0.10.
“The most problematic element in the formula, however, remains - the total installed capacity, which also includes the capacity of radiators that did not work during the reporting period. Thus, people will pay for the turned-off radiators as if they had worked at maximum“ – the former ombudsman commented.