After learning of the negative performance in the regional GDP during the first quarter of 2024, other news will seriously affect the domestic economy of Aysén households. Although the price increase in electricity bills is a national reality due to the freezing of prices that occurred in 2019, the economic regularization process means that at this time the bills experience a first increase of 17%, reaching 51%. % in January 2025.
This information was announced at the June 25 session of the Regionalization, Territorial Integration and Environment Commission (RIMA) of the Aysén Regional Council. In the instance, the zonal manager of Edelaysen (Saesa Group), Leonardo Moran, presented in detail the increase that electricity rates will have in the territory.
Moran was clear in indicating that spending on diesel for electricity generation has increased significantly in the region: «In 2022, we spend 23,000 million on diesel, compared to 5,600 million in previous years. This year we already have almost 10,000 million. The increase is not linear; “We practically quadrupled spending while consumption only doubled.”
The electrical executive also warned about the risks of shortages around the use of diesel in the matrix: “In 2022, we were days away from a blackout in Coyhaique and hours in Cochrane.” This critical situation has been confirmed by a CIEP study, financed by the Regional Government.
Isolated and independent system, the argument
Moran emphasized the difference in calculations made by the regulatory authority (National Energy Commission) with a large part of the national territory. This is because “our rates are calculated based on the real operation because it is an isolated and independent system.” Which does not contemplate the balance mechanism of the National Electric System.
However, the most devastating data for the Aysen economy was that the thawing of electricity prices has translated – in the voice of the Saesa Group representative – into a variation of between 13% and 35% in homes and retail businesses. Meanwhile, the forecast for January 2025 would be that the accumulated increase reaches 51% for residential rates and minor commerce, and up to 67% for major commerce and industry.
Therefore, Moran mentioned that eventually “this situation is generating disincentives for decontamination, decarbonization and energy transition. “If electric heating becomes more expensive, people could go back to using alternative systems such as firewood.”
Deputies and Governor seek solutions
Representative Marcia Raphael, present at the Commission day, highlighted the concern about the impact of the electricity surge on the aquaculture industry: “How are we going to request the processing of the fishing here (from the industry) that is done all in the Los Lagos region if you look at the price increase that we are going to have in energy. Today we are experiencing an economic decline but imagine what awaits us if we do nothing, if we do not make decisions, what awaits us in January, February, March.”
Meanwhile, the regional governor, Andrea Macías Palma, pointed to a modification to the Medium Systems Law to allow the Aysén region to enter the Rate Equity System.
“A work session with the Regional Council (CORE) has been scheduled for Thursday the 27th, followed by a meeting with parliamentarians on the 28th. The objective of these sessions is to address what we consider the most effective solution to reduce electricity rates in the region. Beyond subsidies or other temporary measures, we believe that the real solution lies in legal reform, something we have been pointing out for years. Now we have the opportunity to make this change a reality,” explained the first regional authority.
Worried unions
Finally, the representative of IdeAysén and in charge of the private sector spokesperson, Ximena Solís Pradenas, explained that “the incorporation of the Aysén region to the central medium system and the paralysis of the Alto Baguales project are latent and transversal concerns. We have no time to continue discussions, when we must move forward in seeking meeting points, since energy management is a challenge in the region that directly impacts the competitiveness of our area,” the spokesperson pointed out.
