MADRID, 28 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Secretary of State for Energy, Sara Aagesen, has estimated the savings on the electricity bill at 5,100 million euros that the Iberian mechanism has brought into force since its entry into force, which will finally last until December 31 following an agreement between the Spanish and Portuguese governments with the European Commission.
During his appearance at the Ecological Transition Commission, Aagesen has faced several questions from parliamentary groups regarding energy. Especially from the PP, which through its deputy Juan Diego Requena has asked about the Government’s assessment of this mechanism, which he has sometimes called an “Iberian scam”.
“I am surprised that they continue to call something that has managed to save the Spanish 5,100 million an Iberian scam,” emphasized the Secretary of State during her appearance. To better illustrate the data, Aagesen explained that the savings that the Iberian mechanism has meant for families has been an average of 90 euros since it was launched.
In this sense, the Secretary of State has insisted on defending a measure that, she assures, has protected consumers to date and will do so until December. The extension of this mechanism will not simply be based on a mere extension as it was applied to date, but will introduce some adjustments, such as the price reference, which until now increased by five euros per month, and will now be two euros .
And it is that, Aagesen has said, in the absence of this measure that will now be in force throughout 2023, the energy futures prices, which are those used by marketers to update prices and consumer bills, “would be much higher.”
In addition, the Secretary of State recalled that other European countries such as France have asked to implement the so-called ‘Iberian exception’ for themselves, something that has also happened in Greece, Romania or Lithuania.
On the other hand, Requena has been interested in the opinion of the Government about whether the electricity system will generate a tariff deficit “motivated by the accounting of income that is not being produced.”
In this regard, the Secretary of State has been blunt: “There is no tariff deficit”, said Aagsen, who has disdained a risk situation in the electricity system, despite the fact that 2022 was an “extremely complicated” year.
