Source: Electricidad Magazine

This is indicated in Systep’s monthly report, which highlights the changes made to the regulations on this matter, from which it is expected that “the long periods of time will be reduced”.

A total of 98 Open Access connection requests are still in the pipeline from 2017, according to the latest monthly report from Systep Engineering, based on data from the National Electric Coordinator, of which 1 comes from 2017; 11 from 2018, and 86 correspond to 2019.

The consultant’s analysis indicates that for 2019 and 2020, “the installed capacity of applications received exceeded by several times the maximum demand of the system, which, reasonably could lead to think that there is a mismatch in relation to the expectations of system development or else some speculation by some project developers. This has led the Coordinator to have long lead time responses and, consequently, increased uncertainty for stakeholders.”

In this regard, Systep highlighted the positive impact expected with the new regulation on open access, which estimates a term of 6 to 11 months for the access process of Public Service Systems (SAC) and 4 to 10 months for the dedicated process (SUCTD).

“It is hoped that these new definitions will allow for a decrease in the lengthy delays, uncertainty and over-demand that the application of the open access process under SR No. 154 has seen,” the report states.

And it adds the projection that “these new requirements, deadlines and procedures established to guarantee the principle of Open Access will be implemented in such a way as to effectively obtain better results than the old bilateral negotiations between private parties in these matters”.