13 December 2023
Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva sent a letter to the management of Yug power distribution company (Elektrorazpredelenie Yug/EP Yug, part of EVN Group) in which she set out in detail the complaints of the citizens of Toundzha Municipality, Yambol Region, who report local recurrent breakdowns, current rushes and power cuts that damage their electrical appliances.
The letter follows last week’s meeting upon an initiative of the Mayor of Toundzha Municipality Stancho Stavrev at which meeting the mayors of villages, headmasters of schools and kindergartens, heads of social institutions and community centers gave a detailed account to Prof. Kovacheva’s team headed by Deputy Ombudsman Elena Cherneva-Markova, of their long-standing problems with the inferior quality of the power supply. The Deputy Ombudsman made specific commitments to assist the people as she would notify the competent institutions and make specific recommendations to Yug power distribution company.
In her letter to the management of the company, the Ombudsman summarizes the problems as described in the seven signed protests handed over on site to Elena Cherneva-Markova. The villagers of Hanovo, Chelnik, Kalchevo, Stara Reka, Simeonovo, Botevo, Turnava, Kozarevo, Drazhevo, among other villages, report about the frequent power cuts, hence water and electricity heating cuts; about frequent current rushes and the deterioration of the problem in recent weeks; about damaged electrical appliances in consequence of that and refusals to pay compensations; about low voltage which does not allow to switch on more than two electrical appliances at a time; about non-communication or difficult communication between the power distribution company and the local mayors in the event of accidents, including non-observation of the pre-announced on-and-off schedules of electricity supply.
In addition to everyday life, the problems mentioned affect also operation of kindergartens, schools, social institutions and community centers for the frequent current rushes and power cuts impede the classes at school and the activities of clubs and put the health of children at risk.
“My opinion as an Ombudsman is that it is unacceptable for the residents of Toundzha Municipality to face difficulties and inconveniences for years because of problems of the power supply and to suffer damages and confront problems for which no party is blamed. One of the main goals of the Energy Act is to offer quality and security of the supply of electricity for the needs of the population,” Prof. Diana Kovacheva writes.
In relation to that, she asks specific questions and insists that Yug power distribution company clarify the reason of the long-standing problem – the power supply in Toundzha Municipality and the frequent current rushes.
The Ombudsman asks what investment the company plans for the area and how it performed in the past two years and what measures are designed or are forthcoming to improve the operation and what the specific schedule is.
The Ombudsman has questions about renewable energy sources: is the power grid sufficient to supply the communities in the municipality; do the renewables function well and if they don’t, - what are the plans for expansion and modernization. Also, she asks whether the renewables in the area impact negatively the security of electricity supply and whether they increase the risks of accidents, as people fear.
“How many complaints were lodged to report about damaged electrical appliances in the last two years and what percentage of the claims for redress was granted” is another important question for which the Ombudsman wants an answer.
Further, the Ombudsman recommends that an open telephone line be maintained for mayors in Toundzha Municipality, including on weekends, so that Yug power distribution company can be notified of accidents and accordingly, can inform about accidents in good time.
The Ombudsman insists that the company upload its investment program on its website, the section concerning Toundzha Municipality included, with the implementation schedule.
“Local authorities in Toundzha Municipality approached the Ombudsman to seek assistance for the unsolved problems that are overdue for years in the power supply service. Their communication with members of the company so far has not given the answers required. Accordingly, the action is seen as insufficient. The local authorities vow that they stand ready to go out in protest action that will be joined even by senior citizens and people with walking impediments so that they can live normally and comfortably,” the Ombudsman emphasizes.
In conclusion, Prof. Diana Kovacheva explains that as per Art. 2, para 2 the Ombudsman shall intervene by the means provided for in the Ombudsman Act, when citizens’ rights and freedoms have been violated by actions or omissions of the central government and municipal authorities and the administrations thereof, by the persons commissioned to provide public services as well as by private-law entities, such as Yug power distribution company. As per the provision of Art. 28, the authorities and persons under Art. 2, to whom the Ombudsman’s opinions, proposals and recommendations have been addressed, shall be obliged to consider them within fourteen days and to notify the Ombudsman of the action taken.