News

9 February 2023

Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva requested from the chairman of the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision (DAMTN) Evgeni Simeonov that a supervisory metrological inspection be carried out to check the compliance of Toplofikatsia Sofia EAD under the Measurements Act (MA) in connection with the heat and water meters used in the subscriber stations.

The reason is the numerous complaints from residential customers of the metropolitan district heating system in buildings-condominiums, who complain about the high bills for the consumption of heat energy.

The people state that the measurement and reporting of heat energy consumption for commercial purposes is carried out by common water meters and heat meters in the subscriber stations that are owned by the heat transmission company.

It should be recalled that in 2021 the Ombudsman turned to DAMTN because of consumers' doubts about the correct measurement of the heat energy that enters the subscriber stations and is distributed among customers in the buildings.

Тhen Prof. Kovacheva also requested an inspection of the devices for commercial measurement in the buildings-condominiums in Sofia, and in response she was informed that in the first quarter of 2021 the Agency carried out a supervisory inspection of the company for compliance with its obligations under the MA in the capacity of a person using measuring devices (heat and water meters), in order to make commercial payments within the meaning of Article 5 of the Act, in the supply of heat energy.

Then the supervisory inspection of DAMTN in 130 subscriber stations found violations in 90 of them or 69%, i.e. the validity of 80 heat meters and 17 water meters had expired.

“I am categorically of the opinion that the proportion of devices with expired metrological verification period found during the supervisory inspection is unacceptably high and gives rise to citizens' mistrust of the correctness of the monthly and annual heat bills”, the Ombudsman wrote to Simeonov.

Prof. Kovacheva also adds that in September 2021 she turned to the executive director of Toplofikatsia Sofia EAD with a recommendation that the company ensure a timely metrological inspection of all heat and water meters in the subscriber stations, which according to the company's data account for 17 500 devices.

“Noting the long period during which the heat transmission company has been able to fulfil its obligations under the MA after the findings made by the DAMTN, I request you on the basis of the Ombudsman Act, given your powers, to establish whether Topofikatsia Sofia EAD meets its obligations arising from the MA in respect of the common water meters and heat meters in the subscriber stations”, writes Diana Kovacheva in conclusion and urges the Agency to inform it in a timely manner of the actions taken.