By: Pier Luiggi Maquilón Lipari
As of July 1, 2011, in our country, subsidies for electricity consumption were reduced for users who consumed more than 500 kWh per month.
Despite the childish political opposition, which put up obstacles and promoted lawsuits against the State, brandishing the argument that with this increase "the poor of the country would not be able to turn on their air conditioning units" (please hold back your laughter until after you finish reading this post) the policy happened because it happened.
The results:
– Initially, there were 78,444 users who would be affected (2,43% of all users). As of July 31, this number dropped to 72,000 (2,03%). As of August 17, this number was 70,997 (2%).
– There are customers who continue to consume over 500 kW/h per month, but have reduced their electricity consumption. The downward trend in electricity consumption in the country is expected to continue.
The benefits to the environment:
– 8.2 million kw/h per month that are prevented from being generated in a country in which 49,66% of electrical energy is generated through thermal power plants.
This means that around 4.1 million kWh are generated by burning hydrocarbons.
The country's thermal power plants use diesel 2 to produce energy. The energy density of diesel is 17.63 kWh per kg.
Burning 1 kg of diesel emits 3.17 kg of CO2, the main greenhouse gas (GHG).
Thus, by avoiding generating 4.1 million kw/h, 233 tons of diesel are avoided from being burned, avoiding the emission of 737 tons of CO2 each month.
The economic benefits to the country:
– Electricity generation was reduced to 8.2 million kw/h per month = $500,000 monthly savings for the State.
– According to the Minister of Electricity, Esteban Albornoz, if the measure had not been implemented “there was a latent risk of an increase in energy demand of 500,000 dollars per month.”
Avoiding the waste of resources is a very important slogan for environmentalists.
The letter is written with blood… and this measure has forced citizens to “use energy rationally and not waste it.”
The comfort of users has not been reduced, but simply to avoid paying more (where it hurts the average citizen the most) those affected have had to use electricity sparingly. “Customers have received the message to save energy” says Minister Albornoz.
This measure has had a greater impact on society than many environmental awareness projects, an example of how important state intervention is as a guide to achieving sustainable development.
As an environmentalist, I applaud these types of initiatives that encourage us to abandon bad habits in our society.
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