Colombia is beginning to feel the effects of El NiƱo, the climate pattern that brings drier, hotter conditions to parts of South America, and authorities are asking households and businesses to adjust their habits accordingly.
In MedellĆn, the country’s second-largest city, water utility officials have started scheduling nighttime shutoffs of the municipal water supply as reservoir levels drop. Officials say the goal is to stretch existing water reserves while monitoring how quickly they decline in the coming weeks.
At the same time, a new program is taking effect in Colombia’s regulated electricity market. Under the plan, each household or business is assigned an individual consumption target. Customers who use less energy than their target can qualify for savings on their bill, while those who exceed it face extra charges. The measure is designed to trim national electricity demand by about 4 percent, easing pressure on the power grid as hydroelectric damsāColombia’s main energy sourceāsee reduced water inflow.
Officials are closely tracking reservoir levels nationwide after uneven results in August, when some dams held steady while others fell. The dual push on water and electricity reflects growing concern that this El NiƱo cycle could strain both drinking water supplies and the power system if conditions worsen in the months ahead.
For more details on how the energy savings program could affect your bill, read the full report at El Tiempo.
Source: El NiƱo pone en marcha medidas de ahorro de agua y energĆa: hay metas de consumo y cortes en Colombia (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Kevin Rae.