06/07/2024
In his speech at the Banking Convention, organized by Asobancaria, in Cartagena, the Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonilla, referred to two debts that were most marked by the pandemic and that the National Government has. One is the Fuel Price Stabilization Fund, known as Fepc. And the other is the tariff option.
The latter was a measure that energy marketing companies applied as an alternative for users affected by the economic crisis and social in pandemic.
The total estimated amount of the debt amounts to around $4.7 billion, of which nearly 50% corresponds to the Caribbean Coast. With the responsibility of this debt by the National Government, a reduction in electricity rates between 7% and 19% is expected for users who are still applying the rate option and/or are in the process of recovering their balances.
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Bonilla said that The marketers are already charging it, “they are charging it to the users and that has serious consequences for the family budget on the Caribbean Coast.””, since Air-e and Afinia are charging consumers for this debt.
“The Government committed to assuming this rate option debt, which allows it to be assumed for strata 1, 2 and 3. We have to bring a project to Congress on July 20 that will allow us to have the mechanism to pay for it,” estimated the Minister of Finance.
This measure implies the payment by the Nation of the amount of the balance owed by the users of the electric energy service to the providers of this, who still have a rate option or recover their balances.
Already at the beginning of May, the country’s energy and gas unions (Andesco, Acolgen, Andeg, Asocodis, Naturgas and SER Colombia) expressed their full support for President Gustavo Petro’s decision to assume the debt associated with the rate optiona measure that represents significant relief for users and the energy industry in general.
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How much is the debt per rate option? Bonilla responded that The total debt is $4.7 billion, but for strata 1, 2 and 3 it amounts to $2.8 billion“which is what the Government is going to commit.”
Regarding this, José Camilo Manzur, executive director of Asocodis, stated: “This measure will alleviate the tariff burden for users and will contribute to the financial recovery of companies. service providers, guaranteeing the continuity and quality of the electricity supply in the country.”
What companies say
For example, this Friday morning, Aire reiterated that today is the deadline given by President Petro to lower rates and assume the rate option. “We are aware that the Caribbean will not have good energy service in a sustained manner as long as people receive bills that they have no way of paying.”
For this reason, this company applauds providing solutions and lowering rates. “While the Government processes the law that is required to be able to assume the tariff option, Air-e is committed to lowering 10% in strata 1, 2.3 and 25% in special areas (the 2 million most vulnerable people we serve)”.
To achieve this purpose, the marketing company invited the energy sector, energy generators, unions such as Acolgen and Andeg, to commit and have only 3% of Colombia’s total energy at fair prices for the most vulnerable populations in the country.
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“Additionally, it is crucial that the excessive warranty burdens required by generators be reduced and thus avoid transferring unnecessary costs to users. To achieve this today, immediate regulatory changes must and can be enabled from the Creg.”the company said.
In his message that he published through social networks, he indicated that, sIf the entire chain is committed to equity in Colombia, the rate reduction, in the most needy populations, will be a long-awaited dream come true that more than 5 million have been waiting for a long time.
In summary, the tariff option It was a measure taken by the national government and the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (Creg) to reduce electricity rates during the pandemic. from covid-19 and protect the country’s households from price increases and economic difficulties.
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