In response to the request made by the mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, to President Gustavo Petro to authorize the rate freeze Regarding the public services provided by Grupo EPM in the country, various associations in the electricity sector mention several aspects that must be taken into account before making a decision in this regard.
Andeg, Acolgén, Asocodis, Andesco and Cenergía ensure that this type of request must be analyzed and processed within the institutional and legal framework established for this purpose, including technical and economic analysis.
(Also read: Daniel Quintero revealed details of the freezing of EPM rates in the country)
This in order to identify the impacts of this type of measures on companies, users and the National or regional Government, so that they in no way affect the quality and continuity of energy serviceand the financial sufficiency of the companies.
The unions also recalled that the high energy rates that are currently registered are due, in part, to inflation that has marked percentages that have not been seen for 23 years.
Setting the rates of public services is a delicate exercise, since it must balance the income of the companies to be able to make the required investments
In addition, they highlighted that with the regulatory measures that were taken in October 2022, the companies contributed around 3 trillion pesos to maximize rate increasesresulting in an average variation below inflation in the last four months.
“Setting utility rates is a tricky exercisesince it must balance the income of the companies, to be able to make the investments required to provide a reliable and quality service and the values that users must pay to access an essential service,” they added.
To achieve these objectives, the unions ensure that it is essential to carry out technical, economic and financial analyzes through the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (Creg)within the framework of the Constitution and by virtue of the criteria defined in Law 142 of 1994.
(Also read: Creg warned Minister Irene Vélez about intervention in energy rates)
“It is important that any modification fee respect the intangibility of the contracts, be the product of a broad analysis and do not sacrifice long-term objectives”, he stated.
On the other hand, the unions assured that, in accordance with the current regulatory framework, regional governments that have economic resources available can contribute them to alleviate the payment of these fees to the most vulnerable population.
Last week Andesco also assured that the request made by the mayor of Medellín should not be made to president Petro but to the general manager of EPM.
Therefore, it is the manager Jorge Andrés Carrillo who must analyze this proposal to freeze the rates, and if he finds it viable, he should present it and support it before the board of directors, which is chaired by the mayor daniel quintero.
With this measure, the inhabitants of the municipalities of 12 departments of the country where the subsidiaries of Grupo EPM are present are sought as beneficiaries: Antioquia, Córdoba, Bolívar, Sucre, Santander, Norte de Santander, Quindío, Risaralda, Caldas, Chocó, Providencia and cupcake.
