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74 of the municipalities in our country are heated entirely with gas, and it is not clear what the solution will be for them given the uncertainties this winter.

This was stated by the executive director of the National Association of Municipalities - Silvia Georgieva in the program "Speak Now" on BNT.

These municipalities in the last 10 years have taken steps to switch to greener heating and fully gasified all public buildings.

In these municipalities, 21 of which are regional towns, schools and kindergartens are heated entirely with gas.

"According to the collected data, 1,400 buildings in these municipalities use 233,000 megawatt-hours of energy per year. In addition, there are about 400 buses that also use natural gas - mainly in Stolichna municipality and Gabrovo municipality," she explained.

Will schools and nurseries be able to cope with heating bills?

80% of the municipalities have built modern natural gas installations, which do not allow a return to heating with oil or fuel oil.

Also, they have not invested in alternative power supply, for example air conditioners.

"In schools, the electrical grids are not adapted to withstand greater electricity consumption, nor are there resources with which to purchase air conditioners. It is important for us to share that, according to our estimates, the municipalities will have costs for energy carriers this year about BGN 700 million. The accounts are approximately accurate. Our expenses for energy carriers in 2019 were BGN 250 million. Consumption has been kept at almost the same level, but expenses have jumped by 250%," explained Silvia Georgieva.

At the moment, each municipality is dealing independently and considering short-term crisis measures.

In the event of a gas shortage, the alternative for municipalities is to switch to a two-shift regime or combine two schools in one building.

Also - increasing the number of children in kindergartens where possible and reducing the number of hours during which the buildings are heated.

"Until the end of this year, in terms of schools, the budget is relatively well balanced, as they received additional funds from the budget update. Our bigger concern is the kindergartens, for which there is no such compensation. Even bigger is our concern for hospitals and social services. In social institutions, electricity is paid as for non-residential customers. Municipal hospitals are commercial companies and we cannot help them in any way".

Solutions are being sought at the local level, but Georgieva hopes that the caretaker government will draw up an emergency plan for the public services that the municipalities generate in case they stop gas supplies.

At the moment, there is no saving anywhere by turning off the street lighting, and this will be the most extreme step that the mayors would take, assured Silvia Georgieva.

natural gas

heating in winter