Former Mines and Energy Minister Amylkar Acosta warned of energy rationing risks in Colombia due to the El Niño phenomenon and suggested measures such as advancing the official clock.
Acosta, in an interview with La FM de RCN Radio, noted that the electric system faces a firm supply deficit of 2.3 %, equivalent to 259.92 gigawatt-hours per day. Demand grew 8.8 % in May, a historic increase linked to rising temperatures. The former official warned that during peak hours the system covers only 90 % of required consumption. He proposed advancing the official clock, as in 1992, and replicating the 2015 “Apagar Paga” program to reward savings. He also recommended differentiated tariffs with lower prices between 8:00 a.m. and noon, and between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., to shift consumption to off-peak hours. He mentioned that in the Caribbean region, companies such as Air-e and Afinia are already carrying out scheduled cuts.
