Colombia registers the highest level in water reserves since records have been kept. This, in part, due to the La Niña phenomenon, which has been the protagonist during the last months of the year. However, although this should show an encouraging picture and improvement in energy prices, on the contrary, they continue to rise.
Hydro generators have increased price offers since Friday, December 9 by more than $300 per kilowatt hour (kWh). This represents an increase of 155%, from $200 per kWh to $510 per kWh by December 28, according to XM figures.
The biggest concern is that these values might go as high as $945 per kilowatt/hour, which corresponds to the scarcity price.
“This would affect end users with rate increases similar to those that occurred due to the increase in the Producer Price Index in the last year, that is, rates might be increased by 40%, ending the efforts of the national government and distribution companies. in the Pact for Tariff Justice”, warned Senator José David Name.
Currently, the level of the reservoirs in Colombia is at its historical maximum, since since it has been registered December had never started with so many water reserves, since this month it started with 87.14%, while in the last month of previous years it stood at 79.05%.
The Ideam estimated that the passage of La Niña through the Caribbean, Pacific and Andean regions, between November and December, would be reflected with rains of 35% and up to 40% heavier than normal. But the projection had to be adjusted and in fact the rainfall was even higher.
After the strong rainy season, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies projects a new increase in rainfall that might last until March 2023, in what would be a second rainy season.
As for the last months of the year, the winter wave generated the heaviest La Niña phenomenon in 30 years, and among other effects, “nearly 2,400 floods and floods were reported in various reservoirs. The advantage is that many of them are on the power generation grid.”, recalled the director of Ideam, Yolanda González.
A) Yes, The actors in the sector have called on the Comptroller’s Office and the Superintendency of Residential Public Services to investigate the reasons for the excessive rise in prices for this service. and take the necessary corrective measures to protect end users.
