Topocoro to become fourth reservoir spilling over due to overflow

The Playas reservoir has reached 110.5% of its capacity, starting spills of 2.0 GWh and becoming the third in this condition. The Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios reports three reservoirs in simultaneous overcapacity: Playas, Ituango, and Urrá I. Topocoro, at 96.2% fill, may soon join due to the high flow of the Sogamoso River.

The Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios reported that, as of February 26, 2026, Colombia's hydroelectric system has three reservoirs in simultaneous overcapacity. Playas is operating at 110.5% of its capacity, leading to spills of 2.0 GWh, joining Ituango (100.2%) and Urrá I (96.5%). This situation is described as unprecedented.

Ituango has recorded the week's highest spills, at 39.27 GWh, due to the record flow of the Cauca River at 1,367 m³/s, representing 218% of the historical average. In contrast, the Punchiná reservoir recovered notably to 76.0%, an increase of 59.7 points from 16.3% on February 22, thanks to reduced dispatch at the San Carlos plant.

Topocoro is at 96.2%, with only a 3.8% free margin, and the Sogamoso River is flowing at 982 m³/s, 504% of the historical average, making spills inevitable in the next 24 hours. Other rivers show significant increases: Prado at 314.6 m³/s (581% historical), pressuring its reservoir to 70.7%; San Carlos at 54.8 m³/s (337%); and Betania CP stable at 185.8 m³/s (132%), with no imminent spill risk.

Companies like EPM are maintaining constant monitoring of their electric generation reservoirs amid these intense weather conditions.

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