BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s government on Tuesday rolled out new incentives to reduce electricity consumption in the South American nation, which has been hit by a severe drought that has diminished the capacity of local hydroelectric plants and brought officials close to imposing power cuts.
The ministry of mines and energy said that in the following weeks homes and businesses that exceed their average monthly electrical consumption will be charged additional fees for every extra kilowatt-hour used, while those who use less electricity than usual will be rewarded with discounts.
Officials in Colombia hope the measures will help to reduce consumption and help local reservoirs recover.
“We want to stop the waste of electricity, especially among large consumers,” Andrés Camacho, Colombia’s mines and energy minister, wrote on X. He added that a decision to shut down government offices last Friday and a recent uptick in rain raised the level of local reservoirs by about 2% over the weekend.
Ncuti Gatwa looks dapper in blue pinstripe suit as he films Doctor Who with co
Xi uses metaphor to stress rarity of ceramics
Leaders highlight goals, tasks in talks
China's top political advisory body starts annual session
Hong Kong schools ban books, warn teachers not to get 'political' — Radio Free Asia
Press center opens for China's annual legislative, political consultative sessions
Food quality, safety underscored in China's new draft law
Jennifer Aniston, 55, and Reese Witherspoon, 48, both stun in chic all
$8 billion US military aid package to Taiwan will 'boost confidence' in region: president
Book on Xi's discourses on China's manufacturing strength published