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.
Pentagon set to send $1 billion in new military aid to Ukraine once bill clears Senate and Biden
Chile to recall ambassador from Venezuela for consultations
Friendship Blossoms on the Belt and Road
Ecuador's former vice president taken to hospital after arrest
Tiger Woods FINALLY reveals the three stars joining his TGL team next year
Feature: How Chinese are helping Suriname turn around its farming fortunes
More flights between China, US approved
Xi Orders Curbing Repeated Occurrence of Safety Accidents After Deadly Street Shop Fire
Emily Blunt gazes adoringly at husband John Krasinski as they grace the red carpet at star
World's highest UHV transmission tower completes construction
Rihanna camouflages herself as a TREE in a full body twig suit as she fronts FENTY x Puma campaign
Gatwick Airport aims to win more friends in China