Chilean delegate slams power outage response, demands regulatory review

Manuel Millones, the Presidential Delegate for Chile's Valparaíso Region, expressed frustration Saturday over the extended power outages affecting over 221,000 customers following a severe storm. He criticized the absence of mandatory restoration timelines for electricity companies during extreme weather events, noting that unlike outages caused by non-force majeure events, storm-related blackouts have no legal time limit for repair.

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When it's force majeure, there is no restoration time, unlike when it's not force majeure. So there are localities that have already been without electricity for more than 24 hours. The only thing the company does is that they are protected by the norm and therefore can take as long as they deem necessary.

Millones highlighted that some areas have been without power for over 24 hours, with companies citing the storm as justification for delays. He reported that Valparaíso has about 20,000 affected customers, Quilpué has 25,000, and La Ligua, where a waterspout downed 16 poles, has 12,000 users in the dark. "221,000 customers still without energy, according to the report. 20% is a very high number," he stated.

The delegate attributed the prolonged outages to a combination of factors, including a shortage of available repair crews, partly due to demand from emergencies in northern Chile, and safety concerns for workers in affected areas. He also pointed to a "shared responsibility" involving municipalities and private entities for not pruning trees near power lines.

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We have 221,000 customers still without energy, according to the report. It's very complex, 20% is a very high number.

Millones revealed he has raised his concerns with central government authorities, including the minister and president. He plans to request a review of current regulations to establish stronger obligations for power companies, ensuring that prolonged outages like this, especially during adverse weather, are not tolerated. A hospital in the region experienced a power outage but operated on a backup generator.

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We have to review the norm. We have to establish an obligation for greater reinforcement of the company, but for this unforeseen event, we cannot have cities or localities without light for more than 24 hours. Imagine raining, cold, and without light, the panorama is very complex.