Bulgaria's Energy Ministry Proposes New Measures to Prevent Winter Power Outages

Bulgaria 9 January 2025 23:55

The Bulgarian Energy Ministry has introduced legislative revisions aimed at reducing power outages during winter caused by severe weather conditions. Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov announced the initiative during a meeting with the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, following widespread outages in late 2024, CE Report quotes BTA

Key proposals include mandating electricity distribution companies to allocate a minimum investment rate for maintaining and upgrading the power grid. These investment plans will require public access and consultation with local governments before approval by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.

To ensure accountability, tighter control over investment execution at the municipal level will be enforced, and sanctions for non-compliance will increase. The revisions also propose requiring electricity providers to offer alternative power sources during prolonged outages and raising compensation for affected customers.

Minister Malinov emphasized that the government’s recent BGN 2 million aid for customers without power complements, rather than replaces, the damages owed by electricity companies. He suggested that compensation payments should be handled by agencies like the National Revenue Agency or the National Social Security Institute for efficiency.

Additionally, the ministry plans to identify high-risk areas prone to outages and shift overhead power lines underground to enhance resilience. These steps aim to mitigate the recurrence of widespread outages and improve the reliability of Bulgaria's power infrastructure.

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