Bulgarian Unit of Power Distributor Energo-Pro Accused of Abuse of Dominant Position

Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK) has accused Energo-Pro, the power distributor servicing customers in northeastern Bulgaria, of abuse of dominant position.

Bulgaria's anti-trust watchdog informed Thursday that it had issued a statement of offence to the power distributor for cutting off power supply to the Water Supply and Sewerage company in the northeastern city of Dobrich in September 2012 following non-payment of electricity bills.

KZK said that it would decide whether Energo-Pro had to be fined after reviewing the objections of the power distributor.

The anti-trust watchdog informed that the power distributor had cut off electricity supply to the pumping stations of the Dobrich-based water utility despite the fact that it had been paying its overdue electricity bill under a deferred payment plan.

KZK emphasized that Energo-Pro had been aware of the fact that the debts of the water utility had piled up as a result of the failure of the company to collect its own dues and the power distributor should have taken into account the bona fide efforts of the customer to pay its bills under a deferral scheme.

Citing Art. 67 of Bulgaria's Energy Act, the anti-trust watchdog reminded that power distributors were to conduct their activity in line with public interest, adding that the power distributor should not have cut off supplies to the water utility in Dobrich, thereby leaving hundreds of citizens, regular payers, without water.

KZK informed that the statement of offence accusing Energo-Pro Sales of breach of Law on the Protection of Competition could not be appealed.

The watchdog noted, however, that the parties to the proceedings could state their objections within 30 days, after which the statements would be reviewed, and the measures to be taken against the power distributor would be decided at a public discussion.

The anti-trust watchdog did not specify a concrete date for the completion of the proceedings.