MADRID, 25 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -
The National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has opened an informative file to energy companies in the face of the difficulties that consumers are encountering for the transfer to regulated electricity and natural gas rates, cheaper especially in the latter service, after the latest government measures to contain the impact of the energy crisis, that the free market, as indicated by the Secretary of State for Energy, Sara Aagesen.
In statements to RNE collected by Europa Press, Aagesen stated that there is an "avalanche" of requests for this change to the regulated rate by consumers, especially in the case of natural gas.
Thus, he indicated that at the gates of winter many consumers are betting on this change to the TUR 1, 2 and 3 of natural gas, "a safer and less volatile rate", especially with the measures of the Government, which limited its increases by law and that has also been reinforced with the creation of a new TUR for the boilers of neighboring communities.
The regulated natural gas tariff can be contracted through the Naturgy, Endesa, Iberdrola and TotalEnergies marketers for this purpose.
In addition, Aagesen stressed that the Government will be "very attentive" in case it is necessary to adopt new measures so that these practices can be punished by means of a sanctioning file or to speed up the transfer of clients to the regulated rate.
Likewise, he indicated that marketers could be asked to reinforce customer service in the face of this avalanche of changes. "There are many new requests and customer service is the same. You still have to work with them and with the CNMC for a correct dimensioning according to demand," he added.
On the other hand, the Secretary of State for Energy defended the so-called 'Iberian exception' and assured that its implementation has not caused an increase in the consumption of natural gas.
Regarding current electricity prices, lower in the last week than those registered in recent months, which has led to the Iberian mechanism not being applied in recent days due to the fall in the price of natural gas, he considered that probably rise again with the arrival of the cold. "It's a pretty plausible scenario that as demand increases eventually markets will raise prices again," he said.
