The unrelenting construction boom and increased power consumption are among the main reasons for the spotty electricity supply in some areas, said the operators of Bulgaria's seven regional power distribution companies.

E.ON Bulgaria Networks, CEZ Distribution and EVN Bulgaria also blamed transmission glitches to facilities not owned by the distributors themselves but nevertheless included in their grids.

Under Bulgarian law, the power distributors are obliged to gradually buy out all non-company-owned transmission facilities in their permit area but the buyout procedure is often complicated by the absence of title deeds.

E.ON, which operates in the Varna and Gorna Oryahovitsa regions, said the grid is most overtaxed in non-urban areas undergoing rapid development as villa zones where the company is unable to match demand. The lack of masterplans for these areas is making it difficult to plan the construction of new substations where these are needed.

The revenue caps of the power distributors could be lowered further from July 1 if there many complaints about poor service and if the respective operator has failed the requirements to improve the service quality, said the local power regulator.

E.ON plans to invest 16.5 mln levs in 380 facilities to improve the reliability of power supplies.

The company said it has already spent 20 mln levs on new substations. It plans to add new substations in Galata, Topola and Veliko Tarnovo by 2009.

EVN said it spent 150 mln levs on new facilities and maintenance last year.
Source: news.dnevnik.bg