Bulgarian Energy Watchdog Joins Coastal Blackout Probe

The DKEVR Head, Angel Semerdzhiev, says the Regulator might impose sanctions on NEK if the probe shows the Black Sea power outage was caused by NEK's failure to carry out the investment program for repairs and renovations. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) is joining the probe of the causes of the power outage that left thousands along the country's Black Sea coast without electricity.

The news was announced Tuesday by the DKEVR Head, Angel Semerdzhiev, who said the probe will involve examining both the documentation and the locations of the two electric posts, whose breakdowns left, since Thursday evening until mid-day Saturday, several resorts along the coastline without power, air conditioning and hot water, prompting many tourists to cancel and alter vacation plans. 120 workers were blocked in a coal mine near Burgas.

Semerdzhiev pointed out DKEVR is still waiting for information from the National Electric Company (NEK) which owns the posts, adding if the probe reveals the breakdowns were caused by failure to carry out the NEK investment program for repairs and renovations of the network, DKEVR will impose sanctions.

On Monday, Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, informed police and the State Agency for National Security (DANS) are to probe the power outage. He explained the reason for the major failure of one of the electric posts is the breakage of a conductor while the second, smaller damage, has been caused by a theft attempt

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