Bulgarian Power Outages Spark Outrage, Calls for Accountability
A three-day power outage affecting parts of Bulgaria has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with prominent former government officials leading teh charge against the responsible energy provider. The outages, impacting the town of Apriltsi and surrounding areas, have left businesses struggling and residents without electricity in the midst of chilly weather.
Simeon Dyankov, a former deputy prime minister and finance minister under Boyko Borisov, took to Facebook to express his frustration. Dyankov, known for his budget-conscious approach during his time in office, shared photos documenting the ongoing power disruption from his own property in Apriltsi. He owns a significant stake in a local hotel, a fact that adds another layer to the impact of the outages.
“I don’t remember half of the Lovech region being without electricity for the third day already,” fumed Nikolay Nankov, a GERB deputy and former minister from Apriltsi, in a Facebook post echoing Dyankov’s concerns. He continued, “It’s even worse that the sloppiness of the ERP is accepted as part of the Christmas atmosphere. Well, it’s not! And it shouldn’t be like that! It is absolutely unacceptable in the 21st century for a private company that does not fail to ask for transmission fees, for network access, etc., to leave its subscribers in the dark and cold. Even if there are claims for high quality of the service provided! What quality – there is no service!”
Nankov vowed to take action, stating, ”Not only because I am from Apriltsi, but also as a deputy from the largest party from the Lovech district, I cannot leave things like this! I spoke with my colleague Delyan Dobrev and we will raise the issue to a special committee in the parliament. Including representatives of the Ministry of Energy and KEVR, with the mayors of the affected municipalities, representatives of the ‘affected business’ and citizens. An outrage like this cannot be allowed to rule without consequences!”
Dyankov further urged businesses impacted by the outages to pursue legal action against the energy provider,the ERP,for lost revenue. The cause of the widespread outages remains a point of contention, with some blaming impassable roads hindering repair crews, while others point to fallen trees on power lines that the ERP allegedly failed to address proactively. The incident highlights concerns about infrastructure resilience and the accountability of private energy companies in Bulgaria.
This situation underscores the potential vulnerabilities of energy grids, a concern relevant to the U.S.as well. Recent extreme weather events across the country have demonstrated the critical need for robust and resilient infrastructure to withstand natural disasters and ensure reliable energy access for all citizens.
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