After increases in bills of up to 400% in June, the Government postponed the planned increase in electricity and gas rates with the aim of postponing the measures and avoiding additional pressures on the cost of living.
In that sense, it will not apply adjustments to the fuel tax either. In this case, the tax was going to be updated by 115% and the impact on the pump was going to reach around 20% in different parts of the country.
The measures are taken after learning the data on the loss of purchasing power to slow down the costs for families. In turn, in July, in addition to being the peak season for consumption due to the low winter temperatures, there is also the winter break period, which means even more expenses for households. The intention is to generate seasonality.
Initially, the decision was made for July rates with the intention of supporting the recovery of the population’s purchasing power. The measure is established for household consumption in the seventh month and, depending on the billing date, in principle most users would pay it in August.
Electricity and gas subsidies
At the beginning of June, the Government modified the maximum subsidized consumption limits and bonuses on wholesale prices of electricity and natural gas for N2 (low income) and N3 (medium income) users in accordance with the Transition Period established by the Decree No. 465/24.
The measure marks the beginning of a process to move from a generalized subsidy regime to a focused one, in which the user can know the cost of the kilowatt of electrical energy and the cubic meter 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). Taking an average consumption bill of 250 Kw, the increase in the different categories will be:
- -N1 (high income): A bill of $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.
- -N2: (low income) goes from an average bill of $6,295 to $12,545,260 (99% increase). It comprises 1.9 million users.
- -N3 (average income) from $6,585 to $16,850 (156% increase). It includes 1 million clients.
In the case of gas rates, July consumption will not increase either. That is to say, the user will pay exactly the same as in June, as long as their consumption is the same.
For the current month, increases in the established gas tariff schedule of 9.2% for the N1 segment, 33% for N2 and 10% for N3 were established.
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