Bulgarian energy and water regulator said it plans to introduce licensing regime for water utility companies in the country.
To acquire a licence, a water utility should be registered as a trade company and should have the technical and financial capacity to implement investment programmes and to prepare a business plan for at least three years, the chairman of the Bulgarian State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) Angel Semerdzhiev said on Tuesday.
Furthermore, the licensing regime will enable the regulator to impose a ceiling for commercial water losses, reducing the current level of 40%-80%, Semerdzhiev added.
SEWRC also plans to consolidate the water utility companies in the sector and to reduce their number from the current 63 to 28.