Government puts electricity voltage reduction plan into action to face energy crisis

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SANTIAGO.-  Starting today, the government will have a new way of dealing with the scare electrical supply situation currently being faced by the country.  The National Energy Commission (NEC) has indicted that these new measures will help to minimize the risk of cuts in electricity over the next few months.

The periodical “Diario Oficial” has published the preventative rationing decree just as it was announced by the NEC minister, Marcelo Tokman.  The decree will be put into effect at the Central Interconnection System (CIS) and, among other measures, calls for a reduction in electricity voltage.

The regulation (which will be in effect until the 31st of August this year) requires distribution companies to reduce the nominal tension of electrical supply by 10% in urban areas.  According to the NEC, the measure will not affect the normal functioning of appliances used by the population.

The Commission added that decree is a preventative measure which does not immediately imply cuts in the supply of electricity, but rather calls for a series of measures to be taken in hopes of avoiding this type of scenario.