Stanislav Todorov: Energy and Water Regulatory Commission stops working

The chairman of the Bulgarian Energy and Water Regulatory Commission announced that the Commission would stop working. The news came hours after the Constitutional Court declared his election was unconstitutional.

Today’s decision says that it is unconstitutional. This has importance in relation to the Commission’s future and the validity of its decisions. As you know, the Commission approved prices with a minimal increase of 3% in the electrical industry sector. As for the gas, many measures were implemented, same for commerce. The second pipe from Greece is also certified, which is why I am optimistic about the gas in the future. As for heat energy - the real and fair increase is 120%, but we found a resource. All these decisions were made unanimously, thus my vote was not determinative, they are valid”.

According to his words, with the Court’s decision the implementation of all the upcoming decisions is halted and the Commission’s work is ceased as well.

“My request is that a new procedure for electing a new chairman of the Commission be opened immediately. The moment the decision enters into force, I will leave the position,” said Todorov.

He declared that he was surprised by the Court’s decision and commented that “my election is negligible and I cannot authorise someone else to take my position”.

The Constitutional Court came out with a decision, according to which the decision of the National Assembly from February 9, 2022, for choosing the chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, is unconstitutional. The decision was approved by 9 votes. The judge, Sonya Yankulova, signed it with a dissenting opinion.

The Court was approached by politicians from GERB-UDF. In their request they insisted on repeal of the National Assembly’s decision, because the procedure for electing a chairman of the Commission began under certain conditions and ended under others. Further, according to the same politicians, Stanislav Todorov does not meet either set of requirements.