ABSTRACT
In many countries of the former Eastern bloc, the energy industry played an important role in the national ideology. Due to the gradual disruption of the relationship with Russia, reform of the power sector became essential. In Bulgaria, the long and painful transition from a planned state economy to a free market has hit Roma the hardest. On February 21, 2002, the long-lasting conflict between the state-owned electricity supplier in Plovdiv and the Roma in Stolipinovo finally erupted into violence. In 2003, one of the predecessor companies of EVN, EDC Stara Zagora, installed electronic meters with distant meter reading and built-in relays to turn on or cut off the electricity to reduce presence of employees and prevent social conflicts and attacks in Roma neighborhoods. The new meters were installed at eye level to make maintenance more convenient. In order to prevent tampering, a security firm was recruited. It turned out that this concept unintentionally led to a higher collection rate.
