DURING THE CRISIS WE NEED TO REDUCE COSTS AND SUPPORT INVESTMENTS

KRIB's position in relation to the decision of the State Environmental Protection Agency for the return of one-month reporting in Western Bulgaria

The Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB) believes that it is not justified in the conditions of a global economic crisis to increase the operating costs of a private company by imposing administrative decisions by external bodies.

CEZ, a member of KRIB, was required by the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation to increase the frequency of the reporting period for electricity consumption - thereby significantly increasing its costs for salaries and invoices. Against the background of global trends for optimization and massive reduction of costs and the increasingly strong influence of the global crisis in Bulgaria as well, this does not correspond to economic logic.

The electricity distribution company of CEZ is one of the largest investors in fixed assets in the country, spending about BGN 70 million annually for the development of the network, repairs and renewal of its equipment. If such additional costs are imposed on them, companies like CEZ will have no choice but to act rationally and will either have to ask for an increase in the price of electricity or limit their investments in fixed assets. Thus, instead of taking advantage of the fact that the energy sector is one of the few in Bulgaria, where the impact of the crisis will be minimal, we will pay an even higher price for getting out of it.

As representatives of the Bulgarian business, we are obliged to state that in the conditions of the crisis, every million in additional investments is a step forward for the entire economy. Therefore, we appeal to the competent state authorities to rethink the decisions and policies they follow and to reflect the new economic realities.