Announcements and electricity sector

MR. DIRECTOR:

The President of the Republic announced last Thursday a measure that is in line with the energy transition and corresponds to the elimination of the charge for additional winter energy, also known as "winter limit". This is undoubtedly a good sign to encourage the use of electricity for heating to replace fossil fuels. However, in order to advance in the energy transition in a firm and safe manner, it is necessary to carry out reforms in different segments of the electricity sector in the short term.

In generation, it is urgent to incorporate storage systems and the announcement in this line is an appropriate signal, without prejudice to the clarifications that should be incorporated. Additionally, it is necessary to give the appropriate signals to guarantee investments with clear and long-term rules. It is not possible to repeat situations in which, due to impetuous private decisions, artificial action alternatives are proposed, to the direct detriment of end users. The modification of the regulation of the generation segment must necessarily consider the energy, power and complementary services markets at the same time.

In transmission, it is imperative to advance in the energy transition project announced by the government to solve the problem of line congestion, considering of course an adequate and optimal planning that does not necessarily imply building slack for certain types of technology.

Finally, in order for the residential user to see the benefits of the long-awaited energy transition, it is essential to open the discussion of the reform to the distribution segment. The "winter limit" is only a small part of the problems that must be addressed in the last segment of the electricity supply chain.

Humberto Verdejo

Academic in the Department of Electrical Engineering Usach