Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva asked the Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova to ensure transparency for all prices, which are applied by the heat accountants in the service of the citizens. The reason for the request are the adopted amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act, regulating the mass introduction of devices for remote heat metering – individual heat meters, radiator distributors and hot water meters for household customers of district heating.
„I take this opportunity to reiterate that this will reduce the forecast elements in the heat bills, in order to guarantee the right of citizens to pay for services actually used.„, the Оmbudsman said.
The new devices will allow monthly reporting of the actual consumption of heat energy and along with their full introduction in the buildings the need for the preparation of annual balancing bills will be eliminated. In addition, the issues of the value of the devices for remote heat metering, as well as the prices of the services related to the monthly metering, which are offered by the heat accountants, are on the agenda.
Assoc. Prof. Diana Kovacheva expects that after the entry into force of the amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act, the Ministry of Energy will promptly analyze the need for changes in the current Ordinance on heat supply. On this occasion, she outlined the problems that need to be resolved in a normative way.
„Currently, the companies for share distribution are not obliged to publish the prices for the service“ share distribution „, which are subject to agreement with the district heating companies. Citizens in no way participate in this process and learn about the amount of these prices only with the invoice for payment, which is unacceptable.„, said Kovacheva.
Checks on complaints and signals from citizens show that it is common practice for heat accountants not to publish these prices, which is in violation of the principles of publicity and transparency. In some cases, district heating companies publish price lists of packages of basic services for share distribution. Regulations in the sector are also important due to the fact that the change of company for share distribution is difficult given the technical features of the funds for share distribution, which are different for heat accountants.
„The danger of unjustified increase in the prices of remote distribution devices should not be overlooked, given the legal obligation to install such devices.“, Kovacheva stressed and recommended that the legislation guarantee the right to information to household customers about prices. of all services offered by traders for share distribution. She also insists that citizens have the opportunity to get acquainted in a timely manner with the reported readings of the devices in their properties in order to be able to control the accuracy of the data.
Given the significantly higher value of remote distribution devices compared to visual reporting devices, Kovacheva recommends looking for opportunities for financial support to an extended range of heat consumers to purchase remote distribution devices. According to her, it is important to carry out preventive control of the prices of remote heat metering devices in order to protect citizens from possible abuses of monopoly position.
