Regulatory response to COVID-19 in the Ibero-American electricity sector: Policy implications and critical analysis of support measures

IF 9.3 2区经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS

Energy Policy Pub Date : 2023-10-07 DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113852

Gerson Aguirre , Joaquín Lazo , David Watts

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Abstract

The confinement measures implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19 caused massive job destruction and increased residential electricity consumption due to the increased time people spent in their homes, putting millions of people around the world at risk of energy poverty at a time when they depended on it for telecommuting, distance learning, recreation, and communication. Governments reacted quickly and introduced various emergency measures to secure the power supply. This article reviews and classifies the emergency measures implemented in the electricity sector in 22 Ibero-American countries, identifying the validity of the measures, the benefits provided, and the requirements to apply. The paper focuses on economic support measures for residential customers. The main measures include the prohibition of disconnection of electricity service, deferment of payment of the electricity bill, installment payments of the electricity debt, and reduction of the electricity tariff. However, measures aimed at commercial and industrial customers and companies participating in the electricity supply chain are also reviewed. We argue that these measures, applicable not only during health crises but also during any event that confines the population for an extended period, should be targeted at the most vulnerable population to reduce fiscal expenditure and increase social impact.

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伊比利亚-美洲电力部门应对新冠肺炎的监管措施：支持措施的政策影响和关键分析

为遏制新冠肺炎的传播而实施的限制措施造成了大规模的就业破坏，并由于人们在家中的时间增加而增加了居民用电量，使世界各地数百万人在依赖能源进行远程办公、远程学习、娱乐和通信的时候面临能源贫困的风险。各国政府迅速作出反应，采取了各种紧急措施以确保电力供应。本文回顾并分类了22个伊比利亚-美洲国家在电力部门实施的紧急措施，确定了这些措施的有效性、提供的好处和适用的要求。本文主要研究住宅客户的经济支持措施。主要措施包括禁止断开电力服务、推迟支付电费、分期偿还电力债务和降低电价。然而，还审查了针对商业和工业客户以及参与电力供应链的公司的措施。我们认为，这些措施不仅适用于健康危机期间，也适用于任何长期限制人口的事件，应该针对最脆弱的人群，以减少财政支出并增加社会影响。

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来源期刊

Energy Policy 管理科学-环境科学

CiteScore

17.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

540

审稿时长

7.9 months

期刊介绍： Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy conversion, distribution and use as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to contribute to climate change mitigation. The attributes of energy policy may include legislation, international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation, taxation and other public policy techniques. Energy policy is closely related to climate change policy because totalled worldwide the energy sector emits more greenhouse gas than other sectors.