7 December 2023
“We will ask the Ministry of Energy and the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) to carry out an inspection and to exercise control on the technical condition of the equipment of the power supply grid in the communities in Toundzha Municipality to make sure that they comply with the Energy Act provisions and to see that the power distribution companies meet their investment commitments. We will also request an investigation to verify whether the use of renewable energy sources impacts the power grid and if it does, then the power distribution company be forced to expand and modernize its grid so as to avoid current rushes; we want to establish the reason for such current rushes. It is not acceptable for the residents of the said municipality to see their electrical appliances burn out every day and that in the 21st century.” This is what Deputy Ombudsman Elena Cherneva-Markova said when she met mayors, headmasters of schools and kindergartens, heads of social centers and community centers in Toundzha Municipality, Yambol Region.
The initiative for the meeting came from the new Mayor of Toundzha Stancho Stavrev in response to the numerous reports of frequent accidents, current rushes and power cuts in the area that damaged electrical appliances and, in addition, people grumble over cuts in the water supply as the pumps are driven by electricity. The meeting was attended by Bilyana Kavaldjieva, Regional Governor of Yambol, who said that she was confronted with this problem when she took office but people said it is a recurrent and longstanding problem. Georgi Dinev, Mayor of the village of Kabile, informed that there were two current rushes this day and that it is a problem dating back to 2011.
The Mayor of Toundzha thanked the Deputy Ombudsman for the quick response to his invitation to share their problems and together to seek a solution from the institutions in charge. He said that the public announcement of the meeting provoked a reaction from the Yug power distribution company and added that he expects that there would be real repair and renovation of the grid.
It became clear that within two days only the mayors of the 44 villages got the signatures of hundreds of people of Toundzha Municipality for their seven lists that were handed over to the Deputy Ombudsman today, making a note that the collection of signatures continues and will be later sent to the National Ombudsman.
Teodora Tacheva, Mayor of the village of Kozarevo, said that they were ready to blockade the national road to the Lessovo border crossing checkpoint or Trakia Motorway. Marina Nikolova, Headmistress of the SS. Cyril and Methodius municipal school in the village of Drazhevo, added that schools, kindergartens and social institutions in the Municipality likewise have problems caused by power cuts: there are risks of steam boiler explosions and PCs and equipment in schools and community centers were damaged which impeded classes.
Elena Cherneva-Markova made a commitment that the institution of the Ombudsman would ask the power distribution company to upload its investment schedule on its website to let people know whether the investment intentions materialize.
Encho Yorgov, Mayor of the village of Roza, requested that the company appoint an officer on duty for the weekend, open a phone number for mayors by which they can warn the population about problems and do it in good time. Andon Matev, Mayor of the village of Turnava, asked for an increase of the number of workers working to eliminate the accidents.
The Ombudsman’s team distributed to the audience Prof. Kovacheva’s instruction about how injured customers are to seek a compensation that is due to them from the power distribution company in the event of a long power cut; in the event of a current rush or damaged electrical appliances, the customers can lodge a notice in writing to inform the company of the damage caused within five workdays reckoned from the date of the event. As a result, people requested that the said deadline be extended.
Later in the day, a second team of the Ombudsman advised dozens of citizens from Yambol and the Region at the Regional Administration Headquarters. Complaints were lodged to report about the lack of employment opportunities for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities, and about the low pensions which made Teodora Dicheva, Head of the Ombudsman’s Social Department, recall that Prof. Diana Kovacheva insists on the recalculation of all pensions on the basis of the average income on which social security contributions were paid in the preceding year.
As regards water, Mrs. Dicheva informed that from 1 January 2024 the water price is to go up by 12.22% to become close to BGN 5 that is on verge of social acceptability and, therefore, called on citizens to submit their objections to the EWRC by 14 December.
“We will assist citizens on all complaints and notifications that we have received and will do that as soon as possible,” Teodora Dicheva concluded.