Ambulances are out of service: this means no emergency services for the population of the Lower Tirso Valley. But for now, no transport for hospitalization or discharge is planned. The Simaxis Volunteer Rescue Association , founded in 2002 and headquartered on Via Temo in a building owned by the municipality, is paralyzed following a dispute with Abbanoa . A measure has blocked the availability of funds , a decision that has frozen all the financial resources necessary for ordinary operations .
Association president Natalia Tanda describes the situation as unfair and unacceptable: "Abbanoa has demanded full payment of amounts relating to periods prior to the transfer of utilities. Our association has never refused to pay the amount due, but has always asserted the right to pay only the portion due to us, not the amounts prescribed by law. Abbanoa has chosen the most aggressive approach, imposing a block on the availability of funds equal to 150% of the claimed debt, which, in addition to freezing our vital resources, has generated a further increase in expenses, worsening an already dire situation. This affects the most vulnerable citizens we serve every day."
The utility, which had been expecting to receive the sums totaling €5,000, a debt accumulated from 2019 to 2024, has reneged on the accusations: "The responsibility for this situation lies entirely with the account holders. It's not true that they were billed for consumption prior to their use. They themselves certified their transfer in December 2019. This request was submitted by the account holders in November 2024: almost five years late. As required by the Integrated Water Service Regulations, there is no statute of limitations for consumption because the account holders failed to submit the transfer within the required timeframe. The account holders had already been informed of this last January. In March, a formal notice of default was served, and finally, in early July, the tax demand was served."
