The government named Yuliana Ivanova as chair of the energy regulator, succeeding Angel Semerdzhiev who was dismissed a fortnight ago.Ivanova has worked at the mining complex Mini Maritsa East and the Bulgarian unit of German engineering company Fichtner, ACE. Over the past nine years, she has acted as consultant to Germany's RWE.
Her predecessor to the post, Semerdzhiev, was dismissed over the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission's failure to harmonise the national legislation with the EU third energy liberalisation package, as a result of which the country has been referred to the European Court of Justice.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria's prosecution office said it will launch an inspection at the energy regulator and the privatisation agency prompted by citizens' protests against high bills for electricity and heating, the state-run Bulgarian National Radio reported on Wednesday. The prosecutors will request information about how exactly the regulator controlled the billing process at the electricity and heating distribution companies.