Key change at the CEN: Ana Lía Rojas, one of the names being considered to join the Board of Directors

Ana Lía Rojas , current executive director of the Chilean Association of Renewable Energies and Storage (ACERA), would be one of those chosen to join the Board of Directors of the National Electric Coordinator (CEN) , as confirmed by sources to Energía Estratégica .

His eventual arrival would come amid an institutional change process within the organization after months of institutional pressure on his role in the safe operation of the Chilean electrical system, which in parallel has already begun to show internal movements with the incorporation of Gustavo Venegas as the new Manager of Network Planning and Development .

Rojas's name is well-known in the Chilean energy sector. An economist from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, he has over two decades of experience in the electricity market, both in the private sector and in areas of analysis, management, and sector representation. Since January 2022, he has led ACERA , a position from which he has established himself as one of the most active industry voices in the debate on modernizing the electricity system.

His eventual arrival on the CEN Board of Directors could have a relevant interpretation for the industry: it would incorporate into the organization a perspective linked to the development of new technologies, renewable integration and the regulatory challenges that accompany the transformation of the matrix.

This new challenge comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Coordinator. The organization has been experiencing months of intense institutional pressure following the massive blackout of February 25, 2025, which left a large part of the country without electricity and brought the system's operation, the responsibilities of the electricity companies, and the CEN's own role in the safe operation of the National Electric System under scrutiny.

In that context, the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) moved forward with sanctions and questioning the actions of various actors in the system. Among the most relevant measures, the regulator applied fines related to the origin and spread of the outage, while also targeting the role of the Coordinator and its authorities in monitoring operations during the contingency.

One of the latest chapters in this tension was the SEC's rejection of the claim filed by the Coordinator's president, Juan Carlos Olmedo , regarding the fine levied as a result of the historic blackout of 2025. The decision once again highlighted the standard of accountability required of the Board of Directors and the need to strengthen the governance of an organization that is key to the security of the Chilean electrical system.

The crisis also led to executive changes. Ernesto Huber , who had been one of the public faces of the Coordinator during the blackout and his subsequent explanations, left the organization's Executive Directorate. He was replaced by Ramón Castañeda , who assumed the position on April 1, 2026, after his tenure at the San Antonio Port Authority.

The restructuring is not limited to executive leadership. This week, the Coordinator also announced the appointment of Gustavo Venegas as the new Network Planning and Development Manager , following a competitive selection process. With over 25 years of experience in the energy industry, he will oversee critical functions for the system's operation, such as open access, project connectivity, bidding processes, and the monitoring of strategic infrastructure projects.

The partial renewal of the Board of Directors also falls within this context. The process involves three of the five positions that make up the body: the presidency, currently held by Juan Carlos Olmedo , and two board member positions, corresponding to Jaime Peralta and Humberto Espejo , whose terms expire in October 2026.

It's worth noting that the Coordinator's Board of Directors is currently composed of Juan Carlos Olmedo as president; Bernardita Espinoza as vice president; and Humberto Espejo , Carlos Finat , and Jaime Peralta as board members. If Ana Lía Rojas's appointment is officially confirmed, her name would be part of a renewal affecting most of the CEN's governing body.