Headline:
Crisis in Western Bulgaria: Thousands Without Power for Days Amid Heavy Snowfall
Subheading:
Energy Minister Urges Swift Action; Residents, Officials Frustrated by Persistent Outages
Article:
In a dramatic turn of events, Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov convened an emergency meeting on December 26th due to widespread power outages across the country caused by heavy snowfall. Representatives from the Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR), "Electroenergetichni Sistemni Operator" (ESO), and the three main power distribution companies – "Electro Azerbaijan West" EAD, "Electro Razpredelenie Sever" AD, and "Electro Razpredelenie Yug" EAD – attended the meeting.
Malinov insisted that all power supply interruptions be resolved by the end of the day. "In case this does not happen, clients should receive compensation as provided in the general terms of their contracts for access to the respective power distribution network," he stated.
Participants at the meeting attributed the main cause of the outages to prolonged snowfall, which led to trees falling on power lines, both within and outside designated service corridors. They agreed that changes to the regulatory framework, requiring service corridors to be registered in cadastre and property records, would make maintaining these areas and minimizing weather-related risks more challenging.
Malinov mentioned that repealing this requirement would allow for improved operational efficiency. Additionally, widening corridors in forested areas and targeted investments in reinforcing overhead power lines were highlighted as preventive measures against future outages.
Trojan Region Struggles Without Power
Despite ongoing efforts to restore power, around 3000 residents in the Trojan region remained without electricity on December 26th, prompting an emergency meeting of local mayors. Maria Mihova, mayor of Vrabovo village, stated, "We all stand behind a common decision to demand a meeting with the top management of ‘Electrohold‘, the ministry, and all relevant authorities to draw attention to the problem that Trojan Municipality has been facing for the past three days."
In Dobrodan village, residents have been without power for two days, leaving them in darkness and cold. "The situation is dire," participants at the Trojan Municipality meeting declared. Coincidentally, former Minister of Finance Simeon Dyankov found himself in one of the affected villages and aired his frustration on Facebook: "It’s already the third day without power in Troyan. Where is ‘Eurohold’ and its owners? Probably enjoying their holidays on the Maldives."
Trojan Mayor: No Progress on Power Issues
In an interview on Nova News, Trojan Mayor Donka Mihaylova expressed her frustration with the power supply situation, which she described as worsening each year with no signs of improvement. "The situation of the power transmission network in the country is becoming increasingly dire each year, and there is no progress being made," she stated.
Mihaylova revealed that all 21 villages in Troyan Municipality had been without power at some point during the past three days. She emphasized the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating state of the power infrastructure.
Deyan Dobedev, GERB: Outages Lasting 3-4 Days are Unacceptable
Former Energy Minister Deyan Dobedev (GERB) joined the discussion, stating that power outages lasting 3-4 days are "an unacceptable chaos." He attributed the issue to either poor organization by the distribution companies or employee sabotage. Dobedev proposed that all affected households and businesses receive compensation according to the Energy Act and called for the replacement of overhead power lines in high-risk areas with underground cables.
"Electrohold": Over 150 technicians working around the clock
"Electrohold" reported that over 90% of the power outages caused by heavy snowfall in Western Bulgaria had been resolved by December 27th. The company acknowledged that some isolated cases and challenging terrains might still require attention. A total of over 150 teams had been working tirelessly since December 24th to restore power, with a focus on Lovesh region and the area around Samokov, which were the hardest hit by the snowfall.
Call to Action:
- Follow up with local power distribution companies for personalized assistance and updates on power restoration efforts.
- Stay informed by visiting Electrohold’s website or contacting their customer service at 0700 10 010 for real-time power outage information and troubleshooting guidance.
- Share your experiences and concerns related to power outages on social media to raise awareness and encourage prompt action from authorities and power providers.
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