Summary.
The draft bill proposes rules intended to align electricity consumption measurements and billing with the monthly period actually measured. Its stated purpose includes protecting residential users’ entitlement to the state subsidy. It requires public electricity distribution companies to notify customers electronically on the same day each meter is read, using a means authorized by the customer. The notice must state the date and time, meter number, previous and current readings, consumption for the period, and the name or code of the employee or automated system that took the reading. It must also include a digital photograph of the meter when the technology permits.
Each user would have a fixed date or a window of no more than three (3) calendar days for the monthly meter reading. The distributor must inform the user of that date and keep it unchanged, except where duly justified force majeure applies. Any change requires notice at least thirty (30) calendar days in advance. To determine the state subsidy for residential consumers whose monthly consumption does not exceed three hundred (300) kilowatt-hours (300 kWh), consumption must be calculated solely over a period of no more than thirty (30) calendar days from the previous reading. A reading taken outside that period cannot cause the user to lose the subsidy.
If a cause attributable to the distributor delays a reading beyond thirty (30) calendar days, consumption must be prorated in proportion to the days actually elapsed to determine subsidy eligibility. The delay cannot cause the consumer economic harm. Each bill must show the dates of both readings, the number of days billed, average daily consumption, and total consumption for the period. It must also state, with reasons, whether the user retains or loses the subsidy.
The National Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos, ASEP) would oversee compliance and establish mechanisms for supervision, auditing, and handling complaints through regulations. A distributor’s failure to meet its obligations would give rise to administrative penalties set by the National Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos), as well as correction of the bill and restoration of any subsidy improperly lost. Distributors must adapt their technology platforms within six (6) months after the law enters into force. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) must issue implementing regulations within one hundred twenty (120) days after promulgation; the bill provides that the law would enter into force on the day following promulgation.
The public bodies concerned are the National Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos, ASEP) and the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo). The provisions would affect electricity distribution companies and public service users, particularly residential consumers who receive or seek the state subsidy.
What it proposes.
- Electronic notice of electricity meter readings.
- Monthly reading schedules and required bill information.
- Consumption calculations for the residential electricity subsidy.
- Oversight, complaints, and consequences of noncompliance.
Who it would affect.
- Public electricity distribution companies.
- Users of the public electricity service.
- Residential consumers eligible for the state subsidy.
Key points.
- Distributors must notify customers of each reading on the same day, providing meter and consumption data and identifying who took the reading.Art. 2
- Monthly readings must follow a fixed date or a window of no more than three (3) calendar days; changes require advance notice.Art. 3
- The residential subsidy is determined using consumption over no more than thirty (30) calendar days, without loss of the benefit because a reading falls outside that period.Art. 4
- When the distributor causes a delay in reading the meter, consumption is prorated to determine subsidy eligibility.Art. 5
- Bills must show reading dates, days billed, daily and total consumption, and the user’s subsidy status with an explanation.Art. 6
- The National Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos, ASEP) oversees compliance and establishes supervision, auditing, and complaint mechanisms.Art. 7
- Noncompliance may lead to administrative penalties, correction of the bill, and restoration of a subsidy improperly lost.Art. 8
- Distributors must adapt their technology platforms, and the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) must issue implementing regulations within the prescribed periods.Arts. 9-10