The bad weather in Portugal, marked by storm Kristin and the declaration of a calamity situation in several municipalities, led the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE) to adopt exceptional measures to protect electricity consumers in the affected areas. Basically, they cannot be left without electricity even if they fail to pay.
After days of intense rain, strong winds and floods, many families saw their routines abruptly changed. Flooded houses, closed roads and power supply failures worsened an already difficult scenario, especially for those who depend on electricity for heating, preserving food or running small businesses.
In this context, ERSE announced the prohibition of electricity cuts due to non-payment in municipalities covered by the Resolutions of the Council of Ministers that declared the situation of calamity, considering it urgent to guarantee stability in a time of social and economic fragility, leaving no one without electricity.
According to the regulatory entity, the scale of the losses requires an immediate response in the electricity sector, in order to ensure support for populations and economic activity in the most affected areas.
Operators prevented from cutting off supply
According to the announced decision, the distribution network operator is prevented from carrying out interruptions in the supply of electricity or reductions in contracted power for reasons attributable to the customer, namely due to lack or impossibility of payment.
In practice, this means that no family or company located in the municipalities covered will be left without electricity due to financial difficulties related to this exceptional phase.
The measure applies to low voltage customers and will remain in force until a new exceptional regulatory definition is approved by ERSE, currently scheduled for this month.
In addition to suspending the cuts, ERSE determined that affected consumers will no longer pay the charges associated with the contracted power related to the use of the networks. This value corresponds to the availability of the electrical network. As this availability was compromised by the effects of the storm, the entity understands that it should not be charged during the period in question.
Thus, customers will be entitled to a credit on their invoice corresponding to the value of the contracted power of the network access tariff, partially alleviating the financial impact at a time already marked by unexpected expenses with repairs and replacement of goods.
Billing adjusted to the interruption period
With regard to consumption billing, the same entity established that the energy estimate for periods in which supply was interrupted due to Storm Kristin will be considered null.
Under normal circumstances, regulations allow historical consumption to be used to estimate energy when there are interruptions. However, the regulatory entity clarified that, in this exceptional case, such a methodology is not appropriate. The storm affected the functioning of meters and the smart grid, making it impossible to apply the usual calculation criteria.
Measures have been taking effect since January
The decisions take effect from January 28th, the date from which these rules begin to apply in the municipalities covered by the disaster declaration.
Several regions of the country continue to be heavily impacted by persistent bad weather, with authorities on alert and emergency services on the ground. In many locations, the priority has been to reestablish basic infrastructure and guarantee minimum safety conditions.
The company assures that it will continue to monitor developments in the situation. If justified, new additional measures may be adopted, after urgent consultation with interested parties, a process that is already underway.
According to the entity, the objective is clear: to guarantee the continuity of electricity supply and reduce the charges borne by consumers affected by this exceptional situation, at a time when stability is essential for the recovery of communities and no one should be left without electricity.
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