Governor Pedro Pierluisi indicates that he does not favor the Electricity Authority (AEE) proposal to increase the cost of electricity billing.
‘Nadie quiere an aumento en la luz y me incluyo yo. Who wants a light bulb? For information that has been transmitted, it is only unique and exclusively at the cost of combustion. It is not motivated by administrative inefficiencies, “said the governor during a press conference in Bayamón.
The AEE solicited the Puerto Rican Energy Negotiator (NEPR) an increase in the bill of 2.14 cents per kilowatt hour that, it will be approved, will be reflected during the April quarter in June. The AEE attributes the increase in increments over the first quarter of this year, between January and March, below the cost of combustion and energy sales.
The increase is now in the hands of NEPR and the governor is soliciting that it is “verified” that in effect responds to the cost of combustion.
“There is a regulator that believes in making sure that those who support themselves are well within the AEE and establish that they have the ultimate word for how to increase rates,” he said.
I claim that, in short and wide space, the alternative is “sell the fossil energy”.
“It has to do with energy public policy, which requires that by 2025 40% of the energy will be renewable energy,” he said. “The only renewable source is the most expensive that costs a fortune. Can not be subject to lower the cost of petroleum. The gasoline tank is the most expensive because of the cost of the oil we do not control. The solution is to burn petroleum and use the sun ”.
11% increase
The proposed increase – which represents an increase of 11% approximately – could raise the rate to $ 17 starting in April and is part of the quarterly revision carried out by the public corporation, confirmed the CEO of the AEE, Efran Paredes, during a radial interview ayer. Insistence that respond only to increment in combustion markets.
“It’s not a nice note because it’s solid. When it comes to miracles, the increase in the residential client client, 800 kilos is about $ 17. We are clear with that … The combustible part is a part that does not fit directly into the client “, explained the executive in an interview with WKAQ .
The AEE has the responsibility to present the projections and costs to be reconciled, while the NEPR evaluates, audits and establishes the quarterly adjustment to be devolved to the client or vice versa. As of 2019, according to the Negotiated, the basic rate for a residential client accrues to the General Residential Service (GRS) rate with a consumption of 800 kWh following the average of 5.73 c / kWh (centavos the kilowatt hour).
On the other hand, fluctuations have been sharply increased in terms of cost-adjustable adjustments such as energy purchases, which have varied the market. For the period from January to March 2020, preview of the pandemic, the cost per kilowatt hour is 22.80 c / kwh, the cost of combustible represents 10.41 c / kwh and the energy purchase 4.59 c / kwh.
“Lamentably, while we are looking at the combustibles and the waves of the market, this is the reality we have,” said Paredes.
For its part, engineer Tomás Torres, representing consumers ahead of the AEE junta, said he opposes the electricity increase, which is currently being implemented by the NEPR, as well as information breaches. which someten about the cost and inventory of combustible.
“The solicitation takes place within a scenario of multiple inconsistencies being recorded by the company in terms of cost and control of combustible inventory. These inconsistencies in the cost and inventory control of combustible continuum are being evaluated, so no action has been taken to file any petition until further notice that all investigations and analysis required are completed, ”Torres submits.
In addition, signal that the energy cost adjustment must be performed annually or every six months and not quarterly as is currently the case. “The bargaining chip should consider the adjustments in a mayor’s time slot to ensure mayor stability in energy costs,” he said.
Preoccupation in the commercial sector
For his part, the president of the Center for Detailing, Jesús Vázquez, stated that another increase in the electrical service would be prejudicial to the commercial sector “which has been severely affected by the pandemic”.
“We are always working on the oil pipeline and we are not preparing it because it is the most economical. The trade and the terminating cities are due to the disorganization of the authority. There are businesses that have come up with obligations since a year ago and that is the sum of this increase. It’s fair and simple that no one can beat the ball, ”Vázquez said.