Two months after the start of the segmentation of residential subsidies by decree, the government announced on Tuesday the new scheme that was on hold increase the tariffs for water, electricity and gas services, as well as limits on consumption. In this way, try to save some of them 500 billion dollars.
The announcement is led by the Secretary of Energy, Flavia Royón, who in recent days has finalized the details with her team.
The segmentation began under the direction of Martín Guzmán, but due to the resistance of Kirchnerism in the Energy area, it began to be implemented only in the short interregnum of Silvina Batakis. The scheme provides the removal of subsidies from the sector with the highest purchasing powertogether with a 40% increase in the middle segment and 20% in the lower income segment, already in effect since June.
Then, with the landing of Sergio Massa, a greater reduction in subsidies was announced. This was announced by the Minister of Economy more than 9 million people signed up to keep the subsidy and 4 million quit or they have not registered, which represents 30% of the residential register, far more users than the “richest” 10% that Guzmán had estimated.
In the case of electricity, the limit is 400 kWh. In other words, as announced by Massa in its first conference, those who consume 500 kWh and have subscribed to the subsidy will have a reduced rate for 400 kWh and will pay the full rate for the remaining 100 kWh. These criteria, however, tThey have not yet been officially specified.
As for gas, the consumption limit is 92m3. The distributors assure that they have not yet received instructions.
For water, however, there will be the elimination of subsidies for the majority of the population on the basis of criteria related to “zonal value”, a reduction that will be total for high-income users from 1 November. “The subsidy in AySA is Pro-Rico”, reads an official document.
For the rest, the scheme will be progressive. Households with average water consumption in phase 1 will keep the 40% subsidy from November 1st to December 31st. In phase 2, they will drop to 20% from January 1, 2023 to February 28. And in phase 3, starting March 1 next year, They will lose the subsidy.
For low-consumption households, the subsidy scale will be 45% in phase 1, 30% in phase 2 e 15% from March. To be excluded from the total removal of benefits, it will be necessary to maintain them or access the social rate, which will remain in force for households with a net income of less than $ 216,575 in September.
Source: Clarin
