The directors of the Association of Electrical Materials Suppliers (Asume) propose to refocus the efforts of the electrical sector to reduce losses in electrical distribution and to make EDES more efficient.
Likewise, they urge to be careful with privatizing the Electricity Distribution Companies (EDES) and affirmed that they favor strengthening the regulation of the sector, which is one of the great weaknesses.
They stressed that the authorities of the electricity sector are focusing a lot on generation, but there are already many advances in this aspect and the most important thing now is to improve the operation of the distributors.
By participating as guests in the HOY Economic Meeting, the directors of Asume Douglas Hasbún, president; Roque Ureña, José de Jesús Fuentes and Juan Rozón, members, affirmed that the EDES have made a 360-degree change in the management of transparency in the bidding processes and have held meetings to improve the problems that were evidenced in the large bidding process carried out. this year jointly with Edenorte, Edesur and Edeeste to buy materials and supplies they need to reduce operating expenses and losses for these companies.
They highlighted that this unified process of the three distributors was the largest seen so far and that this led to problems and even challenges.
The president of Asume warned that care must be taken with privatizing electricity distributors since there was already a very bad experience when they belonged to Unión Fenosa at the end of the 90s. He explained that this company made its direct purchases without bidding, giving participation to foreign companies . In addition, they brought in foreign technicians to the detriment of the local working class.
“They took advantage of what they had control of the purchases and contracts of the distributors to do what they understood and gave greater participation to foreign companies,” he said in the interview.
In another order, Hasbún stressed that the technical staff of the distributors should not change every four years, since it takes them a long time to understand how the system works and when they are changed they are already trained, are operational and handle this technology.
He added that the EDES management strategy cannot be changed every four years, because it is a trauma for Asume members, since they paralyze the contracts already in force.
He stressed that there are conflicting opinions in the sector and some companies favor privatization while others reject it. He stated that historically the private sector is more efficient because it responds to interests.
