The increases will impact August bills.
The Government has decided not to increase electricity and gas prices during the month of July. According to official sources, the intention is to take into account seasonality (i.e. higher consumption in winter).
The decision was initially made only for July rates with the intention of supporting the recovery of the population’s purchasing power. The measure is in place for household consumption next month and, depending on the billing date, most users would pay for it in August.
“If a consumer spent exactly the same amount in June as in July, his bill will have the same amount to pay,” explained sources from the Energy Secretariat.
Nevertheless, The June bill includes the increase announced at the time.
At the beginning of this month, the national government modified the maximum subsidized consumption limits and bonuses on wholesale prices of electricity and natural gas for users N2 (low income) and N3 (middle income) according to the Transition Period established by Decree No. 465/24.
The measure marks the beginning of a process to “go from a generalized subsidy regime to a focused one, in which the user can know the cost of the kW of electrical energy and m3 of natural gas, which is identical for all.” Likewise, it may determine what assistance the State provides to users “according to their ability to pay and that reaches up to a limited consumption limit through the recognition of a lower payment (bonus).”
Based on this regulation and as an example, taking an average consumption of 250Kw, the increase in the different categories will be:
N 1 (high income): An invoice from $24,710 to $30,355 pesos (23% increase). In July, if you maintain the same consumption, you will pay this same figure, that is, $30,355. It covers a universe of 1.5 million homes.
N 2 (low income): goes from an average bill of $6,295 to $12,545,260 (99% increase). It includes 1.9 million users.
N3 (average income): from $6,585 to $16,850 (increase of 156%). It covers 1 million customers.
It should be noted that there are no limits on electric energy N1. N3 has 250 kWh/month (the 400 kWh/month was replaced); N2 will have a maximum subsidizable consumption of 350 kWh/month.
In the case of gas rates, there will be no increase for July consumption either. That is, the user will pay exactly the same as in June, as long as their consumption is the same.
According to the official communication, For the current month, increases in the established gas tariff table of 9.2% for segment N1, 33% for N2 and 10% for N3 were established.
By Liliana Franco for Ambito.com
