The General Directorate of the National Police (GDNP) submits to the prosecutor’s office the materials from the inspection for the price of electricity, there are data for a crime within the meaning of Art. 219 of the Criminal Code, reported by the Ministry of Interior.
The inspection started in September 2021 and was initiated after a signal for unreasonably high price of electricity offered on the trading platform of the Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange in the “Day Ahead” segment. The object of the inspection was the period between June and August 2021, when the price varied in a wide range and in some hours reached BGN 400 per MWh.
The GDNP requested information from the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), the Electricity System Operator (ESO), TPP Maritza East 2 and the Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange (IBEX). A working group was established between experts from GDNP and EWRC, which inspected and analyzed the submitted documents.
According to the data so far, it has been clarified that there is a real possibility that BEH EAD, which is a company with a predominant state participation and dominance in the wholesale electricity market, through a certain subsidiary, to reduce or suspend liquidity for the Day Ahead market.
It was also established that for the period from 15.07.2021 to 3.08.2021 only two generating capacities of “TPP Maritsa East 2” worked, and after 4.08.2021 the other generating capacities were gradually included, at which has doubled the electricity produced and included in the electricity system and the price marked a sharp decline at the end of the period – from BGN 300 to BGN 180, with 5 generating units of “TPP Maritsa East 2” included.
The analysis of this information leads to the conclusion that the non-inclusion of generating capacities in the electricity system of Bulgaria has led to unreasonably high prices (so-called capacity retention, according to Regulation (EU) 1227/2011). A reasonable assumption can be made that officials from “TPP Maritsa East 2” have committed a crime within the meaning of Art. 219 of the Penal Code and this resulted in significant damage to the company, which in this case is expressed in unrealized profits.
Work on the case continues.
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