Atrasos na transmissão de energia elevam conta dos colombianos

On August 9, 2026, Superserviços released a report that quantifies the economic weight of delays in energy transmission projects in Colombia. Between 2022 and 2025, users paid an extra 24.9 billion pesos on their electricity bills, reflecting constraints in the National Interconnected System.

Cost of constraints on consumers' bills

The study indicates that the amount paid by consumers represents 42.2 % of the 58.9 billion pesos accumulated since 2008 in expenses linked to system constraints. These constraints arise when energy cannot be transported efficiently due to lack of infrastructure or projects that do not come into operation on the scheduled date, forcing the use of more expensive generation.

Evolution of the constraint values

In 2008, the annual cost of constraints was 1.15 billion pesos. The figure rose to 8.34 billion in 2024 – seven times more – and, although it fell back to 5.36 billion in 2025, it was still 4.7 times higher than in 2008. This increase highlights the worsening of the problem in recent years.

Extent of unfinished projects

With a cut-off in May 2026, 189 of the 390 identified constraints (48.5 %) have no associated expansion project. Moreover, 94.9 % of the constraints do not have works progressing according to the planned schedule, indicating a widespread delay in the transmission network.

Main causes of the delays

Superserviços attributes the delays to three main factors: delays in environmental licensing processes, difficulties in acquiring land and easements, and logistical and technical problems during construction.

Regional impacts and the energy transition

The Caribbean region accounts for 39 % of the constraints, with 73 cases lacking a defined project, making it the most vulnerable area to infrastructure shortages. Between 2008 and 2025, national commercial demand grew 55.4 %, while overdue expansion projects increased from zero to 30, widening the gap between need and installed capacity. This situation also hampers the integration of new renewable generation projects into the national system.

Superserviços recommendations

The report presents eight recommendations aimed at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the CREG and the UPME, including: strengthen institutional coordination, expedite environmental licenses, accelerate calls for regional projects, create early‑warning mechanisms for delays, and include an explicit assessment of economic impact in decisions to postpone works. The entity will send the study to sectoral authorities and will maintain periodic monitoring of the progress of transmission projects and their effects on the tariffs paid by consumers.

With information from El Tiempo.