site.btaPM Borissov Hopes that Parliament Will Reach Consensus and Replace State Energy Regulator's Complement

PM Borissov Hopes that Parliament Will Reach Consensus and Replace State Energy Regulator's Complement


Sofia, February 4 (BTA) - Answering a topical verbal question in
 Parliament on Wednesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko
Borissov expressed the hope that the National Assembly will
reach a consensus and will replace the complement of the State
Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC). The PM pointed
out that people whom the people trusts should be appointed to
the Commission.

"This is the body competent to withdraw licences," Borissov
recalled. "Find consensual people, people enjoying a reputation
and trust, and reach a consensus, because it's none of the
Government's business to interfere there, but at the same time
the SEWRC is vital because it regulates all those issues that
are raised," he commented.

"Checks are under way at coal mines, TPPs and the Kozloduy NPP,
and tangible results will be available within a month," the
Prime Minister said, replying to another MP's question. In his
words, major irregularities have been detected so far, mainly in
 public procurement.

"Talks are being held with the management of  [AES] Maritza
[East] 1 and [ContourGlobal] Maritsa [East] 3," Borissov pointed
 out. He specified that the two US-owned coal-fired power plants
 proposed to cut the price of their electricity now but have the
 reduction restored in five years' time. The Cabinet did not
accept this proposal and the negotiations continue. An official
position on this subject will be submitted to Parliament within
30-40 days.

In another answer, the Prime Minister was adamant that extending
 the service life of Kozloduy Units 5 and 6 is vital for the
Bulgarian energy sector and no mistakes can be made in this
department.

"The SEWRC comes under increasing pressure, so far I assumed
that this was prompted only by the case of the electricity
distribution companies," energy expert Slavcho Neikov commented
to BTA on Tuesday. He arrived at this conclusion after Tuesday's
 meeting of the National Assembly Committee supervising the
SEWRC operation at which the State regulator reported on the
progress of the licence withdrawal procedures against all three
end suppliers of electricity and the two electricity bills due
on the same date, received by customers for December and
January.

According to Neikov, the launch of the delicensing procedures is
 prompted by political rather than legal reasons and lacks
sufficient arguments. In his words, it is within the regulator's
 discretion to determine whether any violations have been
committed. The expert also argued for the need of Parliament to
establish by legislation its control over the SEWRC. At present,
 the parliamentary committee supervising the operation of the
SEWRC paradoxically determines its mandate and objectives on its
 own. In some cases, the State Commission has even been given
instructions on the steps it should take, which is in conflict
with its independence under the law and at variance with EU
legislation. That is why the parliamentary committee should be
empowered above all to protect the energy regulator's
independence.