The group “Comerciantes Unidos de Salta” called for a blackout at 8 p.m. this Friday. This is a protest measure against the exorbitant increases in electricity rates, which have a strong impact on the commercial sector. They warn that the bills that arrived between February, March and April are “priceless,” which is why several merchants are already thinking about closing their doors. Added to this is the precipitous drop in sales and the lack of support from the state body that must regulate the companies providing electrical service.
In dialogue with El Tribuno, Carol Ramos, CUS representative, said: “We are calling on all citizens and mainly merchants. Since we are very affected, electricity increases are a scourge on our pockets. “We have not been able to pay the February or March bills, because they are unpayable.” And she highlighted that the amounts are around a million, a million and a half, up to four million, in some cases for gastronomic ones. Then she asked herself: “How many dishes should a gastronomic pay to pay that amount?”
They ask that the government listen to the people
“We cannot believe that they are so taken advantage of, we ask the governor to listen to us, we are the people and we take them to the place where they are. We do not want you to continue supporting this monopolistic company. “We do not feel defended by the Regulatory Entity or by any State agency, since everyone is accepting these increases.”
Then, he highlighted that this is a measure in conjunction with Orán, Metán and they will continue to add those who want to defend the rights of citizens, since everyone is dissatisfied. “This impacts all Salteños, they are unconstitutional increases, they do not respect the law of gradualness and mainly our income that is the result of our effort,” said Ramos. Then, he commented: “For my part, I couldn’t pay the electricity bill, the last one was 500 thousand and the previous one was 350 thousand. “It is atrocious and a total exploitation of people.”
Many businesses are planning to close their doors.
And he added: “There are many businesses that want to close, I plan to do so for at least 6 months, since I have very high liabilities. Furthermore, it is not being sold, there is no money circulating. People today choose to buy food, and by selling a little we are not covering the costs. Since November I have been in absolute red.”
Likewise, the representative of Comerciantes Unidos de Salta warned that paying the bills in installments is not a solution either, since they are increasingly in debt. “We don’t know when we are going to finish paying. The real solution is to go back to the month of December and from there start making the increases correctly and gradually.”
The Regulatory Entity does not defend them
He also said that they were able to meet with the Regulatory Entity to discuss the situation of the commercial sector. However, “they washed their hands saying that they approved 78%. That is why we do not understand why if they approved that amount they did not enforce it, even though they have the obligation. In any case, that percentage is very high. For us, what they approved is not constitutional.” And she stated indignantly: “Those who claim to defend us never did, like El Ente, which rather tried to convince us that Edesa is right.”
Finally, Carol Ramos urged neighbors and merchants to participate in the blackout. “Mainly we ask all citizens and merchants who are suffering from these increases to support the blackout today at 8:00 p.m. They have abused our pockets and will continue to do so if we remain passive, we must understand that it is the citizen the one who commands and has the power. But we are united,” she concluded.
