site.bta800 Complaints Filed over Increased Electricity Bills, Ombudsman Says

A total of 800 complaints over increased electricity bills have been submitted to the office of the National Ombudsman of Bulgaria, Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva said at the start of a public meeting on Friday focused on high electricity costs.

More than 900 people from 14 settlements have also contacted the institution through signed petitions, she added, noting that signals continue to be received daily.

Public tension remains high and the issue continues to be sensitive, Delcheva said, stressing that citizens have the right to receive answers.

The meeting aims to discuss specific measures to ensure transparency, fairness and effective protection of electricity consumers’ rights. It was attended by ministers, representatives of state institutions and electricity distribution companies and was held at the Ombudsman’s office.

According to Delcheva, complainants say they have not changed their usual electricity consumption and continue to use the same appliances. There are also complaints about low voltage, she added. Citizens have raised concerns about the lack of options for installment payments of high bills and are calling for checks on electricity meter readings, as well as greater oversight of how bills are calculated.

The Ombudsman’s institution is also monitoring the issue of energy poverty, Delcheva said. She added that just days ago the institution submitted an opinion on a draft ordinance defining the status of households in energy poverty and vulnerable customers.

Delcheva voiced concerns about the proposed criteria, warning that they could limit the number of people eligible for support. She explained that introducing an additional income condition could exclude around 75% of elderly people from the category of “vulnerable customer”.