Colombia Launches Energy Saving Program to Combat El Niño Effects
- Beginning September 1, 2026, a nationwide temporary energy-saving program takes effect across Colombia, according to an announcement from the Comisión de Regulación de Energía y Gas (Creg).
- Under Creg Resolution 101 120 of 2026, household and small business targets are calculated using a 12-month historical consumption baseline, according to reporting from El Heraldo.
- The regulatory framework avoids a blanket national average, incorporating regional climate variations such as the heavy use of air conditioning and fans in cities like Barranquilla compared to...
Beginning September 1, 2026, a nationwide temporary energy-saving program takes effect across Colombia, according to an announcement from the Comisión de Regulación de Energía y Gas (Creg). Designed to curb electricity consumption and protect falling reservoir reserves under pressure from the El Niño phenomenon, the initiative establishes individual consumption targets alongside temporary financial penalties for users who exceed their limits, as detailed by El Heraldo.
How Individual Energy Consumption Targets Work
Under Creg Resolution 101 120 of 2026, household and small business targets are calculated using a 12-month historical consumption baseline, according to reporting from El Heraldo. Regulators established a 10% operating margin above and below each user’s individual benchmark. According to Creg director Adriana Jiménez, cited by El Heraldo, a household with a target of 180 kilowatt-hours (kWh) can consume anywhere between 162 and 198 kWh without triggering financial adjustments or rewards. Users falling below 162 kWh accumulate savings credits within the program, while those exceeding 198 kWh face additional charges restricted strictly to the surplus kWh above that upper threshold.
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Penalties, Regional Differences, and Safeguards
The regulatory framework avoids a blanket national average, incorporating regional climate variations such as the heavy use of air conditioning and fans in cities like Barranquilla compared to Bogotá, as noted by El Heraldo. Subsistence consumption levels based on municipal altitude act as an absolute consumption floor, ensuring targets never drop below basic survival needs. Surplus consumption surcharges apply exclusively for a six-month duration, with penalty multipliers varying by user category, according to Creg statements reported by El Heraldo. These percentage multipliers apply exclusively to calculate the extra charge on energy consumed past the individual consumption limit rather than the total monthly bill. Users achieving more than a 10% reduction below their baseline receive financial credits that appear as positive balances on future utility bills, funded directly by the surcharges collected from over-consuming households, El Heraldo reports.
