Economy and Mining Minister Daniel Mas emphasized that small and medium enterprises across Chile have consistently raised this demand during ministry visits, characterizing the measure as a signal intended to contribute to sectoral reactivation. The peak-hour control mechanism considers demand registered between 18:00 and 22:00 hours from April through September, designed to reduce consumption during months and hours of greatest stress on the electrical system. By excluding September 2026 from the control period, demand registered during that month will not be considered within the calculation, permitting a reduction in costs associated with electricity consumption.
The ministry projects the initiative will particularly benefit the agricultural sector, alongside other industries operating extended hours, by enabling continued productivity and investment without the penalty of premium electricity rates during evening hours. The temporary suspension applies only to September 2026, leaving the April-to-August window and the standard 18:00-22:00 time band intact for future application. The measure does not alter underlying generation costs or tariff structures but removes the peak-demand surcharge from billing calculations for the designated month. With September traditionally marked by elevated commercial activity surrounding Chilean national holidays on September 18 and 19, the timing positions the relief to coincide with periods when SMEs face both increased production demands and extended operating hours. The government has not indicated whether similar suspensions will be applied in future years or extended beyond September.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
