Bulgarian prosecutors said Wednesday they had opened five probes into suspected irregularities in the country's energy sector, following recent tensions over high prices and power monopolies.

Deputy chief prosecutor Borislav Sarafov said the DKEVR energy regulatory commission was being investigated for its feeble control over three foreign-owned power distributors--Czech CEZ A.S. (BAACEZ.PR) and Energo-Pro, and Austrian EVN AG (EVNVY) --which drew ire from consumers over rising electricity bills in January.

Prosecutors have also targeted the state electricity monopoly NEC for poor management and for signing unprofitable contracts with two private thermal power plants.

The remaining two probes focused on Czech company CEZ for hiring subcontractors without holding a public tender, and on the energy ministry.

January electricity bills that doubled from December and the perceived impunity of power monopolies triggered weeks of street protests that eventually forced out the right-wing government in late February.

To appease consumers, the DKEVR fined all three energy distribution companies, launched a procedure for revoking CEZ's license and cut regulated electricity prices for households by an average of 7.0%.

The anti-monopoly watchdog also raided the offices of CEZ, Energo-Pro and EVN last week over suspected infringements of competition rules, sparking protests from the three companies, which have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
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