ENERGO-PRO and Plumbing Dobrich signed a new agreement for rescheduling the obligations of the water supply company

At an emergency meeting of the Minister of Regional Development, Desislava Terzieva, with the governors of Water Supply System Dobrich and ENERGO-PRO, the problem of the accumulated debt of the water supply company found a temporary solution

Today, 29.08.2013, the Governor of ENERGO-PRO, Mr. Stefan Abadzhiev, took part in a joint meeting of Mrs. Desislava Terzieva — Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Nedko Marchev — Regional Governor of Dobrich and Mr. Yuliyan Ivanov — Manager of Water Supply System Dobrich. The reason was the accumulated obligations for consumed electricity and the beginning of the phased shutdown of the electricity supply to objects of the water supply company in the city of Dobrich.

During the meeting, Minister Terzieva announced the full support of the Ministry of Regional Development for solving the long-standing problems of the Dobrich water supply system. The management of the water supply company, in the person of its manager Mr. Julian Ivanov, announced that it is developing a comprehensive recovery program, which has been presented in advance to Minister Terzieva and the regional governor of Dobrich. The main task of the prepared project is to locate the most problematic sections of the network and thus look for opportunities to significantly reduce losses of the Dobrich water supply system, as well as to ensure a successful exit to the free electricity market after January 2014. Minister Desislava Terzieva expressed readiness in principle for assistance from the Ministry in connection with the implementation of the proposed measures. The Regional Governor of Dobrich invited Minister Terzieva to the founding meeting of the public council on the problems of the water supply company in the region, which is scheduled to be held in mid-September 2013 and which will be attended by all concerned parties.

“As is known, the water supply company in the city is 100% state-owned and we welcome the quick and adequate response of the state, in the person of Minister Terzieva, to engage with the difficulties facing the company. Our company was not ready to immediately sign an agreement for the rescheduling of the debt of the water utility company in the city of Dobrich, given the dire condition in which it finds itself as a result of years of underfinancing of investment costs. Currently, our company is in a period of analyzing all the circumstances related to the problems of Dobrich Plumbing, which are known to us, in order to be convinced that the proposed rescheduling agreement is realistic and feasible.”, said Mr. Stefan Abadzhiev, Manager of ENERGO-PRO. “After Minister Terzieva made a firm commitment to support the water supply company and closely monitor the process of its management, we adopted the proposed plan for repayment of the debt for consumed electricity of about BGN 1.5 million,” he added.

During the meeting, the management of Plumbing Dobrich also announced that the implementation of an ambitious program to improve the general condition of the company was launched. It is planned to complete the launched construction of a round-the-clock telephone center for contact with all customers of the company in the near future. At the same time, trainings are held for collectors who are engaged in accounting for water consumed by customers, aimed at increasing the collection of receivables of the water supply company. The process of identifying the points on the water supply network in which it is urgently necessary to make investments is also actively ongoing. “ENERGO-PRO fully understands that the investments delayed for years in the rehabilitation of the network contribute to the ongoing process of accumulating losses of the water supply company in the city of Dobrich. In addition to this, in recent years there has also been a serious decrease in the collection of the company's receivables. It is clear to all of us that this situation can only be overcome with the unconditional support of the public, local government and the state, and we are extremely satisfied with the commitment and urgent response of the Ministry of Regional Development to the problem. We appreciate the commitment that Minister Terzieva is making to provide full assistance to the Dobrich Water Supply System, as well as to the local government for the support and desire to jointly search for the best way out of the situation.”, said the manager of ENERGO-PRO. “We are convinced that with the correct policy of financing the water supply company in the city of Dobrich by the state, as well as with a consistent process of implementation of the steps noted during today's meeting by the company's management, Dobrich Water Supply will cope with the difficulties it is currently facing. We believe that the conclusion of an agreement protocol on the rescheduling of the obligations of the water supply company for consumed electricity will lead to a successful exit from the situation with the accumulated debt. We hope that the new agreement will be strictly observed by Dobrich Plumbing and our company will not have to resort again to the extreme measures provided in the law to shut off the electricity supply to the water supply company's facilities.”, added Mr. Abadzhiev.