Ministry of Energy Proposes Legislative Changes to Mitigate Winter Power Outages
The Ministry of Energy has drafted legislative amendments aimed at minimizing power outages during harsh winter weather. This was discussed at a meeting between Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and the leadership of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria. The goal is to prevent prolonged power cuts, as experienced recently in late 2024.
The meeting resulted in agreement on several proposals by Minister Malinov:
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Mandatory Investment Threshold: The ministry proposes setting a minimum investment percentage for electricity distribution companies to maintain, rehabilitate, and repair their networks. These investment programs should be publicly accessible and subject to review by local authorities before approval by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.
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Strengthened Oversight and Sanctions: Enhanced control over the implementation of investment programs at the local level is crucial. Significantly increased penalties for failing to meet investment targets are also proposed.
- Backup Power Supply Requirement: The ministry aims to include a regulatory requirement for electricity distribution companies to provide alternative power supply in case of long-term outages. Compensation mechanisms for companies and their customers are also under consideration.
These changes aim to improve the resilience of Bulgaria’s power grid during severe winter conditions, ensuring reliable electricity supply and minimizing the impact of potential outages.
