Electricity, gas and water companies must refrain from making supply cuts due to non-payment in the municipality of La Matanzafrom a precautionary measure issued this Wednesday by Justice. Days ago, the Government authorized increases in electricity rates.
The judicial decision is a consequence of a appeal for protection presented by the mayor Fernando Espinoza together with the Multisectorial of La Matanza, which had as its purpose “protect families, parishes, evangelical temples, businesses, neighborhood clubs, companies, retirees, workers and professionals” of the most populated district in Argentina.
The measure adopted by the Contentious and Administrative Court No. 1, led by Judge Federico José Gallo Quintian, will govern until it is decided to establish affordable rates.
La Matanza obtained a precautionary measure to stop electricity, gas and water cuts due to non-payment
Through a statement, the municipality of La Matanza indicated that, according to research by Conicet and the UBA, rates increased this year, on average, by 370% (four times more than inflation).
“The successive and tremendous tariffs imposed throughout the year by the energy and water companies, with the support of the national government, caused the majority of users to fall into a situation of Energy Povertythat is, the rates consume more than 10% of the income, with bills that have increased up to 1000%“, indicates the statement.
The municipality governed by Espinoza also highlighted that after the announcements of increases and the bills began to arrive, the community’s demand grew, expressed in the massive assemblies held by the Multisectoral of La Matanza.
“Priests, evangelical pastors, teachers, businessmen, workers, merchants, consumer defense entities and professionals, together with the municipality, coordinated the judicial presentation to oppose these violent policies that impoverish the majority of the population and directly affect the productive apparatus and the level of activity,” the statement says.
The Court’s decision orders the borrowing companies not to cut off the supply under any circumstances, until “establishing rates in line with the payment possibilities of usersgreatly affected by the policies of recession and loss of income of the vast majority of the population.
The Government authorized a new increase in electricity rates
He National Electricity Regulatory Entity (ENRE) published the new tariff tables based on the update of the Seasonal Price of Electric Energy (PEST) and the added value of transportation and distribution. The new prices apply from October 1, 2024.
According to the new tariff tables applying the PEST update and the transportation and distribution values, Average residential bills will have an increase of 2.7%.
The official text specified that “in October 2024 the average bill before taxes of users R-Level 1 high income, R-Level 2 low income and R-Level 3 medium income increase on average with respect to the table in force as of September 2024 a 2.7%”.
Source: Ambito
