site.btaGabrovo Heating Utility Asks Energy Regulator to Terminate Its Licenses for Heat Production, Transmission

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) said on Wednesday that it has received on Tuesday an application from the Gabrovo heating utility for termination of the licenses issued to it by the regulator for the production of electricity and heat and for the transmission of heat. 

The Gabrovo heating utility's motives for asking EWRC to terminate its licenses is the company's inability to pefrorm the licensed activities. The decision to have its licenses terminated was made during Gabrovo heating utility's board meeting on August 2, the EWRC said. 

The application for license termination is not a reason for suspending the EWRC's probes into the heating utility.  

On Tuesday, it transpired at a news conference that due to the many problems with the heating service provided by Toplofikacia Gabrovo, the ministries of Energy, of Finance, and of Environment and Water as well as the local authorities will offer common short- and long-term solutions that will ensure a normal heating season. Energy Minister Rumen Radev said that the possible technical solutions are transition to natural gas and installation of thermal pumps for public buildings. The problem affects some 4,100 users, who will have to switch to an alternative heating in winter. Estimates show that the price difference between heating and electricity the residents of Gabrovo would pay to stay warm is between BGN 1.3 and 1.5 million, which Finance Minister Assen Vassilev said will be covered by the state budget.