“The experience I have had in the Government is that the debt that is not paid is more expensive,” said President Boric regarding the increase in electricity rates. The price has remained virtually frozen since 2019, but starting next July 1 a gradual increase will begin to reach the real price. In that sense, the Government will seek to increase subsidies, which currently protect a total of 1,500,000 families.
President Gabriel Boric referred to the rise in electricity rates in the middle of his tour of the Magallanes region.
It is worth remembering that The accounts have been virtually frozen since 2019. That year the first of three laws that have stabilized prices for regulated customers was passed.
On April 10, the Senate approved a fourth project, which sought to solve the implementation of the Customer Protection Mechanism (CPM). That initiative made it possible to contain an increase that could have reached 150% in the case of customers with the highest consumption.
However, a gradual unfreezing of rates was established, a process that will begin next July 1.
“As President of the Republic, I have the duty to be responsible and think not about the next election, but about the sustainability of public finances, thinking about Chilean families,” said Boric in conversation with Radio Presidente Ibáñez de Magallanes.
The head of state maintained that the freezing of accounts has accumulated a debt of 6.5 billion dollars. “The experience I have had in the Government is that debt that is not paid is more expensive. Therefore, the adjustment that must be made, which is difficult, is a necessary adjustment or it would be irresponsible on our part.”he added.
Likewise, he recalled that a support for 1,500,000 families with a subsidy. In that sense, he indicated that “we are looking for mechanisms to be able to expand this subsidy to more families.”
“We are not deaf to this demand and I want you to know that we are going to look for the best mechanisms, but I think it is also important in this to be very responsible,” he concluded.
