Bulgaria’s ombudsman has asked parliament to urgently question the institutions responsible for Sofia’s district heating after prolonged interruptions left thousands of households without a reliable service. The request on 3 November moves the dispute beyond another repair deadline and towards public scrutiny of how the network is being managed.
Hundreds of complaints describe repeated breakdowns, slow repairs and uncertainty over when normal supplies will return. In some buildings, planned shutdowns and subsequent failures have together lasted more than two months. The problems affect parts of eastern Sofia, rather than every household in the capital.
Velislava Delcheva wants the parliamentary energy committee to hear from the energy minister, the utility’s management, municipal representatives and the energy regulator. She also highlights figures presented by the minister on 28 October: by September, around 19% of the investment programme and 31% of the repair programme had been completed.
The utility’s published schedule provides a narrower picture at individual addresses. In the Iztok area, it says certain buildings will remain disconnected beyond 3 November; two listed addresses have a 15 November restoration date, while deadlines for others are to be announced. It says domestic hot-water energy will not be charged during the interruption.
For residents, the distinction between a planned repair and a new breakdown does not resolve the loss of service. The immediate questions are which deadlines can be met, how households will be informed and what oversight will follow. The ombudsman has requested a hearing; the request is not evidence that parliament has already held one.
