The public consultation to which the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP in Spanish) submitted its proposes for rule changes for the calculation of prices in the wholesale electricity market, resulted in opposing views from power generators and the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.

Prensa.com reported that "The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Irvin Halman, also commented that the proposed changes would generate distortion in the electricity market that was designed to work in balance between supply and demand. The union leader said that the current system has proven to work, and proof of this is the $3.17 billion invested plus thousand 900 million dollars in private investment in generating plants. 'The only way that Panama will achieve constant energy supply at competitive prices is by promoting investments in the sector and maintaining a stable outlook for new investors to enter the market', said Halman as quoted on Asep’s website. "

Source: Prensa.com

More on this topic

Investments of $480 million in Electricity Distribution

July 2013

The possibility of a change of hands of concessions for electricity distribution in Panama, has not hindered the projects for expansion of the system.

The demand for electricity in Panama is growing annually between 7 and 8%, and the three distributors, Edemet, Ensa Edechi have investment plans, which together total $480 million, to expand their networks over the next few years.

Colombia Interested in Panamanian Electricity

June 2013

Two Colombian companies have submitted pre-qualification documents for the purchase of 51% of the shares of the electricity distributors Edemet and Edechi.

Promigas and Empresa de Energía del Pacífico S.A., presented the documentation to the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP) as part of the tender for the sale of the majority of the shares of the distributors, a concession contract for 15 years which expires October.

Panama Tenders 51% of Electricity Distribution

March 2012

The current concessions will expire in 2013 and the contracts include an obligation to provide "a competitive process of free competition ... the sale of majority shares of the company holding the concession."

The concession contracts signed in October 22, 1998 with Gas Natural Fenosa and Ensa, 15 years ago are going to expire, meaning that the National Authority of Public Services (ASEP) must tender the sale of 51% of the aforementioned distribution companies shares before October.

Panamanian electric companies seek energy to supply high demand

September 2008

Yesterday electricity distributors, Elektra Noreste y Edemet-Edechi, went looking to buy energy to guarantee the supply for the 2012 - 2022 period.

The purchase, which is medium and long term, is from existing generating companies or new electric generation projects, and will be for 205 megawatts (MW) for 2012 and 350 MW from 2013 to 2022 at the best prices offered in the generation market.