Argentina plans summer power cuts amid rising demand

Argentina plans to implement scheduled power cuts this Southern Hemisphere summer to manage electricity demand, as forecasts predict high temperatures will drive increased air conditioning use.

Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos told Radio Mitre that years of neglect left the grid unable to handle demand surges. The government seeks to reach agreements with industrial users, similar to past actions taken during natural gas shortages.

A La Nina climate pattern will likely make Argentina’s summer hotter and drier than usual, worsening the situation. Despite fee increases for electricity distributors under President Javier Milei, the country still faces a lack of high-voltage transmission lines to support new power generation. Energy officials, including Undersecretary Eduardo Chirillo and Daniel Gonzalez, had warned of possible power cuts earlier this year.

Attribution: Bloomberg

Subediting: M. S. Salama