site.btaPolitical Responsibility for Energy Regulator's Decisions Should Be Borne by Ruling Coalition - Socialists

Political Responsibility for Energy Regulator's Decisions Should Be Borne by Ruling Coalition - Socialists

Sofia, June 12 (BTA) - The whole political responsibility for
the consequences of the decisions of the Energy and Water
Regulatory Commission (EWRC) should be borne by the four parties
of the ruling coalition, reads a declaration of the
parliamentary group of BSP-Left Bulgaria read by MP Tasko
Ermenkov.

There is an attempt for transfer of the energy problems to the
common people and for interference on the part of the executive
and, in particular, by the Prime Minister in the EWRC work.

The declaration levels criticism at the regulator for an
imbalanced approach towards state and private companies. The
fact that, in the conditions of a deficit, the price at which
the National Electric Company sells electricity to the end
consumers is lowered, while increasing electricity for household
users, causes concern, BSP-Left Bulgaria notes.

Ermenkov noted that the electricity generated by the Kozloduy
Nuclear Power Plant is even sold below its prime cost. The price
formation policy keeps on being detrimental to the state
companies, according to the Socialists.

The independence of the regulatory bodies should be guaranteed.
Ermenkov recalled that BSP-Left Bulgaria has no representatives
to the energy panel of EWRC. Therefore, the responsibility for
the consequences of its decisions should be taken by the ruling
coalition.

National Assembly Energy Committee Chair and GERB MP Delyan
Dobrev reacted by saying that the opposition MPs should not
politicize on the energy issues. Dobrev stressed that the
regulator is an independent body, in which GERB has two
representatives and BSP - one and they take part in the
decisions about the prices.

Dobrev recalled that the long-term contracts with the US-owned
thermal power plants were signed back in 2011. "The incumbent
government is the first that has conducted negotiations and
concluded agreements on a discount in the price, which equals
some 100 million leva a year," Dobrev said.

"Thanks to all parities, in February, we adopted changes in the
Energy Act which curtailed the deficit of the National Electric
Company from 800 million leva to 400 million. Half of the reform
in the energy sector was carried out here, at the National
Assembly," Dobrev observed.

BSP-Left Bulgaria MP Dragomir Stoinev countered saying that the
Government has not yet done anything in regards to the contracts
with the US plants because the agreements on the discounts have
not been signed yet.