Subscribers of “Toplofikatsia Sofia” started receiving the invoices for April and many became stressed by the high amounts charged to them.
“It’s true that last month was unusually cool, but 400 BGN?! We didn’t live in a sauna, for sure,” shared an annoyed reader of “Now”. Others say their April bills are the highest since the heating season began and wonder what the high numbers are. In some cases, the amounts are only BGN 10-20 higher than the March ones, but there are much bigger differences.
“Toplofikatsia” is ready to consider any specific case in which the client has doubts about the calculations.
Dissatisfaction has been building for months as, despite a mild winter, people are getting bills that are much higher than in the previous heating season. Because of the boom in complaints received, the national ombudsman Diana Kovacheva even insisted in February that the State Agency for Metrological Supervision check whether the heat meters in the subscriber stations are working and whether they correctly report the supplied and used energy. It turned out that 69% of the checked devices actually need to be replaced, mostly because they have expired.
Either way, there is an objective reason for higher bills during the just-ended heating season. Due to the record increase in the price of natural gas last summer, the Commission for Energy and Water Regulation approved a 40% jump in the thermal energy of “Toplofikatsia Sofia” from July 1 – from BGN 98.48 per megawatt to BGN 137.86. Thus, even the reduction of VAT from 20 at 9% did not bring much relief to consumers.
“Toplofikatsia Sofia” already publishes every month on its website data on the supplied thermal energy and on the average monthly temperature in graphic form. The aim is to guide users who receive estimated bills:
The illustrations show that in April of this year the average temperature was 8.9 degrees, and in April 2022 – 10.5 degrees. In addition, last year the heating shutdown began on April 26, and now there was heat supply until May 1.
These explanations provide an answer to why, compared to April 2022, bills are now 30-40 percent higher. But it remains a mystery why they are also higher compared to March 2023, which was both cooler and a day longer than April, and as the graph shows, the heat supplied to the subscriber stations was quite a bit more.
“Informing consumers who have chosen to have their monthly heating bills calculated on the basis of forecast data is done with the aim of providing an opportunity to control consumption and plan costs,” says “Toplofikatsia Sofia” on its website.
The preparation of the actual bills for these subscribers is pending. The heat and water meters in the homes are now being detected, after which the share distribution companies will prepare the so-called equalization invoices for the completed heating season, which will reflect the difference between estimated and actual consumption. In cases where it turns out that amounts have been exceeded, they will be returned to customers – by reducing subsequent bills.
Meanwhile, the heating company reminds that whoever pays their bill for April by May 30 will receive a 3% discount.
THE CAMPAIGN
In progress is the reporting campaign for the 2022/2023 season for all customers who pay on the basis of estimated consumption, and in which the reporting of heat distributors, heat meters and water meters for hot water is carried out once a year, “Toplofikatsia Sofia” reminds.
- On the basis of the completed reports, equalization bills are prepared for all users in the building, redistributing the heat energy measured for the reporting period. The equalization bill will reflect the difference between the estimated amounts charged and the energy you actually consume within the reporting period. The heat accountant is obliged to provide the compensation account by July 15.
2023-05-21 22:16:54
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