The national government has authorized an increase in electricity rates of at least 65% for medium and low-income users, effective as of June. This adjustment responds to an increase in the seasonal price of energy and changes in the subsidized limits for levels N2 and N3, which will significantly impact the monthly bills of these users.
The Secretary of Energy, Dr. Alfredo Pedrali, explained in an interview with Radio La Torre that four resolutions have been published in the Official Gazette that regulate these changes. “Two resolutions have been issued, 90 and 92, on June 4. In the first, the consumption limits for N2 users are set at 350 kWh; . This limit also considers a bioclimatic issue, where in cold areas this consumption doubles. Our province is a cold zone only on the other side of Famatina, in Guandacol and Villa Castelli,” explained Pedrali.
In addition, resolution 92 establishes the new CAMMESA tariff values that will be charged to distribution companies. “In some national media, there has been talk of increases between 65% and 80%,” added the secretary.
Pedrali also mentioned that N2 and N3 users will see an increase in power concept that will range between 800%, 3,000% and 1,300%. “This has just been announced by the Nation. Now, the distribution company and the regulatory entity must analyze the final impact on the EDELaR rate,” he concluded.
These increases, added to the adjustments in the subsidized consumption limits, represent a considerable blow for lower-income users, who will have to further adjust their budgets to face the new energy rates.
Regarding the implementation of the new electricity and gas rate, he said that what users consume in June is read in July and paid in August.
Finally, when asked about the new rate table for gas service, he reported that in the case of gas, the national Government increased the price at the Entry Point to the Transportation System (the wholesale cost paid by distributors) by US$ 3 .3 per million BTU (the measurement used in the sector) on average. In the original official plan the wholesale price should have reached US$ 4.49 per million BTU (36% more).
As with electricity, the Ministry of Energy established differential prices for levels 2 and 3, and left those in level 1 without a bonus (that is, they will pay the full price of the rate).
For low-income sectors, the bonus will be 64% (that is, they will pay US$ 1.18 per million BTU), while middle-income sectors will have a 55% discount (they will pay US$ 1.48). .
