News

11 November 2022

Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva stated in an opinion to the Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) her disagreement with the 32% rise in water price in the Plovdiv region compared to 2021, i.e. from the current price of BGN 2.237 people are paying to BGN 2.956 with VAT.

This became clear at the public discussion of the business plan and price proposal of Plovdiv Water Supply Company, examined at a meeting today by the Regulator.

The Ombudsman’s opinion was presented by the institution’s expert Boryana Juneva, who indicated that a new jump of 62% from 2026 compared to 2021 is envisaged, i.e. the price will be increased from BGN 2.237 to BGN 3.613 including VAT.

She emphasizes that in every public discussion of business plans and price proposals of water supply operators for the regulatory period 2022-2026 held so far, the Ombudsman has expressed her concern that, in the current conditions of crises, it is becoming more and more difficult for consumers to pay the high price of water supply services.

“In connection with the current public discussion, I will point out with even greater concern that the territory served by Plovdiv Water Supply Company includes the settlements affected by the autumn floods. Residents of these villages continue to contact the Ombudsman, pointing out that the water supply services there are not yet normalized.  It is unacceptable that distressed citizens, who have suffered heavy losses, should be forced to pay a higher price of water, which, apart from everything else, is also of poor quality,” Prof. Kovacheva states categorically in her opinion.

She emphasizes the fact that the price of water provided by the local company has increased several times over the years, but its quality remains unsatisfactory, which is supported by dozens of complaints received by the Ombudsman from residents of the village of Brestovitsa, the village of Svezhen, etc.

In the opinion of the public defender, attention is also drawn to the data from the Regulator’s annual report and comparative analysis of the condition of the water and sewage sector in our country for 2020, where the assessment of KEVR of 20 quality indicators is “complete failure”.

“At the end of 2022-2026 regulatory period, the water supply operator cannot achieve 11 of the goals set by KEVR Decision No. ПК-1/28.05.2021 on estimated specific goals for the quality indicators of the water supply services, among which are “total losses of water in the water supply system”, “Rehabilitation of the water supply network”, “Efficiency of construction of the water metering farm”, writes the Ombudsman.

In addition, Prof. Diana Kovacheva emphasizes that the data of the Plovdiv Regional Health Inspectorate presented in the Report on monitoring the quality of drinking water for the period 16 October – 31 October 2022 are also worrying. They clearly show that many settlements in the region have been found to be non-compliant with the requirements of Regulation No. 9 of March 16, 2001 on the quality of drinking water.

“Inconsistencies with the regulatory quality requirements are also revealed in the results of the analyses performed on radiological indicators of drinking water during the period 1 October 2022 – 31 October 2022”, the Ombudsman adds to her opinion and in conclusion insists that KEVR should not approve the price offer of Plovdiv Water Supply Company.