Bulgarian NGO Reports Huge Number of Complaints against Heating Utilities

A total of 13% of the complaints received by DNES concern power distributors. Photo by BGNES

As many as 437 anti-monopoly trials were initiated in 2011 in Bulgaria, while the total number of complaints and tip-offs about monopoly abuse was 21 000, according to representatives of the non-governmental Movement for National Unity and Salvation (DNES).

In a Monday statement, DNES members said that 1/5 of all cases had been won by the citizens.

The largest number of cases against monopoly abuse was registered in Kysudtendil (82), followed by Sofia and Dobrich with 57 cases each, DNES members reported.

As much as 50% of the complaints filed in 2011 were against heating utilities, DNES announced, adding that 18% of the complaints against heating utilities concerned Toplofikatsiya Sofia.

13% of the complaints filed at DNES in 2011 were against power distributors, the majority of them against E.ON, and the least number of complaints against EVN.

The representatives of the civil movement also warned about an uptick in signals about unfair practices concerning banks' loan policies.

DNES members said that a large number of consumers were complaining about the services provided by mobile operators but no case had so far been won against them.

Galya Nikolova, chief coordinator of DNES, explained that in its first year in existence the organization had managed to rekindle social energy and to open representations all over the country.

Apart from that, a petition against monopoly abuse initiated by DNES had attracted 700 000 supporters, Nikolova boasted.

What is more, amendments proposed by DNES to legislation in the spheres of energy and electronic communications had already been approved, she noted.

On Tuesday, DNES will open a number of offices all over the country where it will offer free legal consultations and low-cost litigation services to citizens whose interests have been injured by monopolies.

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