Consortia lose energy subsidies, but the government is preparing a change to avoid a massive increase in spending

The government is studying a change in the regulation of public service customers. It aims to exclude building consortia such as “General users”. This tariff category implies the loss of contributions for electricity, gas and water serviceswhich would lead to a sharp increase in expenses.

The decision to subtract consortia from “general users” to create some category of “special” customers is being studied in the Secretariat for Energy, according to official sources. Clarione.

Construction costs are increasing due to equality of building managers and accumulated inflation. If you add to this new values ​​for higher payments in service bills, the values ​​that those who live in the apartment must pay to stay in the building it could double or more compared to the beginning of the year.

The executive branch established it shopping malls and banks, for example, will lose subsidies for electricity and gas. They are defined as “generic users”, that is, they have consumption that exceeds that of residential users. The problem is that this category – of “general users” – also includes horizontal property consortia that host thousands of homes in the city of Buenos Aires.

The government assured it they don’t want to raise the cost of living for homeswhich differentiate from banks and shopping centers, on those who understand that there is a “contributory” ability to pay more for services.

Removing subsidies means consortia will have to pay more for electricity and water, for example. Buildings use electricity at a higher level than residential buildings to operate elevators, motors and common areas. They also require larger amounts of water than a home, because in many cases they tend to provide more units. And gas, in the case of those with centralized heating and hot water services.

Customers who shared a gas or water meter, who live in PH-type properties, have also received changes in the last few days. Instead of paying per unit, as was the case, they started paying for the entire area where their properties are located, including the neighbors. This is already causing headaches.

“Before paying the water bill and that’s it,” says Carla, who lives on a PH-type property, where there are six other neighbors in the same situation, in Chacarita. “Now, Aysa has informed us that the seven units that make up the PH have to pay at the same time. With which I have to collect my payment, and that of the other 6 neighbors. Worse still, there are empty units, people who don’t want to pay because they don’t understand what’s going on, which is very complicated, “she explains.

In the Aysa concession, over 300,000 consortia are considered “non-residential”. Today, his average account is $ 2,800 per month. But from November they will be losing $ 1,400 bi-monthly in subsidies. This implies that, in June, they will receive a bill of $ 7,000, according to a presentation made by the water and sewer company.

The sources consulted by Clarione he specified that the modification to the study includes light and gas. Aysa is in another wallet, as she is not dependent on the Secretary of Energy.