The National Government has decided to keep electricity and gas rates unchanged during the month of July, a measure that will apply to household consumption. This means that users will not see an increase in their utility bills in August, when July consumption is reflected. According to sources from the Ministry of Energy, the decision was made to take into account the seasonality and greater consumption that winter brings, thus seeking to sustain the recovery of the purchasing power of the population.
Impact on Users
“If a consumer in June spent exactly the same consumption as in July, their bill will have the same amount to pay,” sources from the Ministry of Energy explained to the newspaper Ámbito Financiero. Furthermore, if consumption decreases, the bill will be lower. It is important to remember that the June bill already includes the previously announced increase.
Changes in Subsidies and Bonuses
Earlier this month, the Government modified the maximum subsidized consumption caps and bonuses on wholesale electricity and natural gas prices for users in categories N2 (low income) and N3 (middle income), in accordance with the Transition Period established by Decree No. 465/24.
This regulation marks the beginning of a process to move from a generalized subsidy regime to a targeted one, where users can know the cost of kW of electricity and m3 of natural gas, identical for all, and determine state assistance according to their ability to pay.
Billing Examples
Taking an average consumption of 250 kWh, the increases in the different categories are as follows:
- N1 (high income): From $24,710 to $30,355 (23% increase). In July, if the household maintains the same consumption, they will pay the same amount, i.e. $30,355. This category covers 1.5 million households.
- N2 (low-income): From $6,295 to $12,545 (99% increase). Comprises 1.9 million users.
- N3 (average income): From $6,585 to $16,850 (156% increase). It encompasses 1 million clients.
In electric energy, category N1 has no caps, while N3 has a limit of 250 kWh/month (replacing the previous 400 kWh/month), and N2 will have a maximum subsidizable consumption of 350 kWh/month.
Gas Rates Without Increases in July
For gas rates, there will also be no increases in July consumption. This means that 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 were established in the gas tariff schedule of 9.2% for the N1 segment, 33% for N2 and 10% for N3.
This measure of keeping electricity and gas rates unchanged during July seeks to alleviate the impact of higher consumption in winter and support the recovery of the purchasing power of Argentine households. The implementation of these changes in subsidies and bonuses is a step towards a more focused and transparent system, where users can better understand the real cost of their consumption and the assistance they receive from the State.
