# Bulgarian utility consumer protection initiatives > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-utility-consumer-protection-initiatives > Updated: 2026-09-30T06:53:19.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. Bulgarian Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva has initiated efforts to strengthen consumer protections regarding utility services. Initially, Delcheva proposed amendments to water utility regulations to address systemic issues such as inaccurate billing, incorrect inhabitant data, and unfair financial burdens placed on law-abiding citizens in apartment buildings. Her proposals also sought stricter rules for water supply restrictions, requiring formal orders from mayors and protecting vulnerable groups during outages. Following these regulatory proposals, the focus expanded to include heating services in the capital. Delcheva requested an extraordinary inspection of Toplofikacia Sofia by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) due to frequent accidents and prolonged hot water outages in several eastern districts of Sofia. Residents reported that repairs often exceeded the legal 48-hour limit and that reported leaks frequently led to flooding. In response, the Ombudsman advocated for an automatic compensation mechanism to reimburse customers if service interruptions are not resolved within the mandated timeframe. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-30: Sofia Ombudsman seeks investigation into Toplofikacia Sofia Bulgarian Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva has called for an emergency investigation into Toplofikacia Sofia following widespread hot water outages and requested automatic compensation for affected residents. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sofia-ombudsman-seeks-investigation-into-toplofikacia-sofia ### 2026-09-21: Bulgarian Ombudsman proposes new water utility regulations Bulgarian Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva has proposed regulatory changes to protect water utility consumers from unfair billing and unannounced water supply restrictions. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgarian-ombudsman-proposes-new-water-utility-regulations --- Cite as: Bulgarian utility consumer protection initiatives. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-utility-consumer-protection-initiatives