Businesses complain of power cuts in Sofia as utility renovates network
Businesses and residents in Bulgaria’s capital city Sofia are complaining about what they say are lengthy and unpredictable power cuts as electricity distributor CEZ carries out renovation of the supply network and other facilities.
Local media said that some power cuts lasted for six to seven hours, leaving businesses unable to work. Firms were losing money because of temporary suspensions of operations, reports said.
CEZ’s renovation programme for the city, scheduled to last to the end of August, involves installation of new electricity meters, repairs to essential parts of the network and the connection of new clients to the grid.
Clients complained that the company’s website failed to provide up-to-date information about when and where power cuts would happen.
Local news agency Focus quoted CEZ’s Bozhidar Gatev as saying that if repair work was completed ahead of schedule, power would be restored earlier than announced. He was quoted as saying that the company was always ready to change its programme so as not to disrupt a production process that should not be interrupted or for an event planned in advance, but the company should be informed 24 hours in advance.
CEZ also has a helpline, 0700 10 010.
(Photo: Vjeran Lisjak/sxc.hu)