Court orders Zielona Gora to pay 10% of annual budget for unpaid heating bill

The Poznan Court of Appeal ruled Zielona Gora in western Poland, is to pay zl. 22 million, or nearly 10% of its annual budget, to heating plant Elektrocieplownia S.A. The case dates back to 1992, when Elektrocieplownia sold zl. 5 million worth of heating to the city and the Voivodship Heating Company (WPEC) but did not get paid. "Today we have in our hand the right to a specific claim. We can recover the debts. We do not know in what form yet, we await proposals from the city," said Miroslaw Badurek, Elektrocieplownia' s economic director. The city does not have the cash and will try to reach an agreement with Elektrocieplownia. If this fails, it will appeal the verdict. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 1) T.J.