Megareform: Government Seeks to Challenge Article on Free Reconnection in Case of Catastrophe

The Chilean government is seeking to challenge a specific article within a broader "megareform" initiative, arguing it imposes an unconstitutional obligation on utility companies.

The Executive has filed a request with the Constitutional Tribunal to contest Article 31 of the reform. This article mandates that electricity, water, and gas distribution companies must reconnect services "free of charge and without prior condition of payment" to users in catastrophe-stricken areas. Crucially, this applies even if users were disconnected for non-payment prior to the disaster declaration.

Furthermore, the article sets strict deadlines for reconnection: 48 hours for electricity and gas, and 24 hours for water and sewage. The government contends that this provision was introduced through a parliamentary amendment and deviates from the core objectives of the original initiative, thereby violating Article 69 of the Constitution.

La Moneda (the presidential palace) asserts that the inclusion of this article, which dictates mandatory free reconnections and specific timelines, was not part of the reform's original intent. They argue its addition bypasses established legislative procedures and infringes upon constitutional boundaries regarding the executive's legislative proposals.