Energua assumed responsibility for providing electricity service in 35 municipalities in the Colombian Caribbean on September 1st , becoming the new operator for approximately 365,000 customers distributed between Cesar, Magdalena and southern Bolívar.
The company will operate under the Energua (Energía del Guatapurí) brand and belongs to the EPM Group . Its arrival stems from the separation of a portion of the market that was previously managed by Afinia, which will continue to operate as a sister company within the same group, not as its parent company.
The new operator will have a presence specifically in 19 municipalities of Cesar, six of Magdalena and ten of southern Bolívar , with an infrastructure that includes 55 substations, 73 power transformers, 38 lines and about 12143 km of networks , in addition to 118 circuits and 14240 distribution transformers.
The scale comes with a considerable operational and financial challenge. Energua begins its operations with an energy loss rate of 41% and a collection rate of 61.2% , two variables that will be among the main points to address in this new phase.
The transition process was carried out gradually and included technical and operational tests, as well as support from the relevant authorities, with the aim of ensuring continuity of supply and avoiding disruptions to users during the change of operator.
“ Energa has the responsibility to work in a coordinated manner with authorities, institutions, unions and communities to promote solutions that meet the needs of the region and to promote the efficient, safe and responsible use of energy ,” said John Maya Salazar, CEO of EPM and leader of the EPM Group.
The planned strategy will not be limited to the conventional operation of the grid. Among the initiatives under consideration are renewable energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives, energy-sharing municipalities and communities , as well as programs to bring electrically underserved users up to standard and other alternatives tailored to the specific needs of the region.
In this way, the new operator will have to combine the management of an extensive distribution infrastructure with the reduction of losses, the strengthening of collection and the incorporation of new energy solutions.
Omar Otero Ruiz will head the new operation
The General Management of Energua will be headed by Omar Otero Ruiz , a business administrator and specialist in Electricity and Gas Regulation, Project Management and Project Design and Evaluation.
The executive has over 26 years of experience in the energy sector , with expertise in planning, regulation, risk management and management control, as well as leading multidisciplinary teams and formulating and executing business plans.
“ Our commitment is to work with communities, authorities and other stakeholders to find solutions that help address the energy service needs of this region ,” Otero stated.
The entry of Energua thus implies a reconfiguration of the electricity operation within the EPM Group in the Caribbean Region , with an independent company in charge of managing the transferred market.
Its starting point will be a base of 365,000 customers and a network of more than 12,000 km, but also indicators that mark the magnitude of the challenge: four out of ten energy units are currently associated with losses and the collection indicator is just above 61% .
Based on this structure, Energua must advance both in improving the service and its operational indicators, as well as in the renewable energy, efficiency and energy community initiatives planned for the 35 municipalities that remain under its management.