The Chubut Ombudsman’s Office, headed by Claudia Bard, presented an appeal for protection last Friday to stop increases in gas rates and avoid service cuts to those who cannot pay the increases.
Bard explained to FM EL CHUBUT 90.1 Mhz that this action is the result of numerous administrative presentations made in public hearings in February and March. These focused on concerns about gas rate increases and the elimination of the cold zone subsidy, a measure that was reversed by the government.
“What we did on Friday was the presentation of an amparo requesting that all measures 122 and 41 of Energas and the National Energy Assembly be annulled, which modify the current tariff table,” he commented on Invincibles, hosted by Rodrigo Mansilla.
The filing includes approximately 2,000 copies of documentation and evidence, requiring detailed analysis by the judge. Bard mentioned that although court deadlines for these types of filings are typically quick, the complexity of the documentation could prolong the process.
“Some users have already received the increase and have already paid it. Other people have received it and it is not yet due. And some have not yet received the increase,” he explained.
The protection requests the annulment of the resolutions that implemented the increases, the return of money to those who have already paid the bills with increases and the prohibition of cutting off the gas supply to users who cannot pay the new rates. “We consider it unconscionable,” Bard said.
Bard highlighted that the increases range from 400% to 4000%, which “is unsustainable” for the residents of Chubut, especially given the need to consume gas for heating in a cold region.
REMOVAL OF LIGHT SUBSIDIES
He also anticipated that the Chubut Ombudsman’s Office could make a presentation on the removal of subsidies for electricity. “We probably will, we’ll be doing some presentation,” Bard stated.
On Tuesday there will be a meeting between all the Nation’s ombudsmen with the Secretary of Energy for the removal of electricity subsidies. In addition, they will dialogue with the deputies to expose the realities of each province.
The defender pointed out that the removal of subsidies impacts many people in Patagonia who heat themselves with electric energy, especially in Chubut. “Whether to heat or not is not a choice, either you heat or you run the risk,” Bard added.
Regarding the possibility of presenting an amparo on this issue, the ombudsman commented: “Yes, first we are going to exhaust all prior instances.”
