Buenos Aires, January 15 (NA) -- The year 2025 closed with a major restructuring of public service prices that hit Argentines' wallets, although the rates remain far from international averages. According to the Argentine News Agency (NA), electricity tariffs accumulated a real increase of 13% (discounting inflation) between January and October, while natural gas rose by 23% in the same period. A report from the consulting firm 'Economía y Energía' details that, measured in dollars, tariffs showed a 59% jump compared to 2023, driven by the peso's appreciation and the removal of subsidies. However, the study concludes that despite this recovery, 'Argentina continues to show the lowest residential electricity and gas prices in Latin America', placing it far below countries like Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay. The 'December shock': Rate hike or billing change? The end of the year brought an extra headache for users in the AMBA area. Under this system, some residential users will lose the benefit and pay the full price, while those who keep it will face a higher percentage of the real energy cost, consolidating the cut in public spending in the sector. In December, Edenor and Edesur customers received bills with increases of up to 100%, a situation many described as a 'rate hike,' but which is due to a technical and administrative issue. The National Electricity Regulatory Entity (ENRE) ordered, through Resolution 730/2025, the switch from bimonthly to monthly meter readings starting in November. This generated a 'transition problem': a remainder of unbilled days from the old system that is now being charged in two installments, inflating the final amount of year-end and January bills. What's coming in 2026: New subsidies. Looking ahead to the new year, the tariff landscape will change again. As of January 1, 2026, the 'Focused Energy Subsidies' (SEF) scheme will be in effect.
