The Superintendence of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) instructed electric companies to postpone the start of charging for the tariff adjustments associated with the debt from the freeze on the Distribution Added Value (VAD) for the period 2020-2024. Initially, these charges or credits were set to appear on bills starting in April 2026. However, following the agency's decision, their implementation will be moved to July of the same year.
The measure was adopted after requests from members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as well as from industry groups such as the Association of Distribution Companies and the National Federation of Electric Cooperatives, who highlighted the need to delay the process due to the current economic scenario, which includes rising gasoline prices and its impact on households. The SEC clarified that the adjustment process is in accordance with current regulations, which require the adjustment of differences between what was actually billed and what should have been charged according to the tariff formulas defined for the period 2020-2024. These differences will need to be charged or credited to customers on their electricity bills.
The SEC emphasized that the decision does not alter the legal obligation to carry out the adjustment but rather delays its application in light of exceptional circumstances, aiming to safeguard public interest and reduce the economic impact on families. Additionally, the previously defined installment payment mechanism will remain in place, which seeks to prevent excessive burdens on users, especially in cases where the amounts represent a significant percentage of monthly expenses. The superintendent of the SEC, Marta Cabeza, stated that “this measure allows for additional time for the proper implementation of the adjustment process, safeguarding both compliance with current regulations and the protection of families, in a context that requires special attention to its effects on households.