Chile announces plans to avoid power rationing

Chile's interior minister Edmundo Perez Yoma and energy minister Marcelo Tokman announced on Feb. 7 a series of measures to prevent power rationing in March, a spokesperson for the country's national energy commission (CNE) told.
Chile's government has instructed distributors to reduce the voltage on their transmission lines 10%. CNE reiterated this would not affect residential clients.

Daylight savings time will also be extended until the last Saturday of March, the month in which the government predicts the highest amount of power consumption. Hydro resources will be more "flexibly" managed to increase reservoir levels and local distributors will be able to provide incentives to encourage power savings, according to the statement.
The country also will make efforts to increase the efficiency of its diesel distribution network by adding more trucks, tankers and pipelines.

Tokman stressed none of the measures mean power cuts are on the horizon.
"These measures are being taken to ensure no cuts or rationing occur," he said. According to Tokman, 2008 will be difficult for several reasons. Last year was the third driest year in 50 years, world oil prices are at record highs and Chile is continuing to receive very little gas from Argentina.

In January 2008, Chile received an average of 1.2 mm cmpd of natural gas. In the same month of 2007, Argentina was sending an average of 15.6 mm cmpd to Chile, according to the statement.
Chilean generator Colbun's 370MW Nehuenco thermo plant is also expected to remain offline for another five months and the current La Niña weather system is expected to keep hydro levels low.