New Parameters for Expanding Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Networks

Resolution 65 of the Federal Electricity Regulatory Agency (ENRE) was published in the Official Gazette on January 31, 2024. Among other matters, this resolution:

1. simplifies the approval process for Minor Expansions,
2. approves the methodologies to evaluate requests for: (a) construction, extension, or expansion of electricity facilities, and (b) access to existing transmission capacity,
3. creates informative registries.

The main provisions of Resolution 65 are:

I.        Minor Expansions

Annex I of Resolution 65 defines “Minor Expansion” as an expansion that, according to its scope, size, execution time, incremental environmental impact, and investment amounts involved requires a simplified and agile process to meet the needs of the service.

This annex incorporates an illustrative list of works considered Minor Expansions, among others:

1. fields and output cell of feeders of 13.2 kV and 33 kV of existing substations,
2. installing or replacing measurement transformers in general,
3. installing or replacing wave traps in general,
4. output fields in 132 kV lines of existing substations.

 

Expansion works that fall under the category of Minor Expansion will not require a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to be carried out; they may be carried out after obtaining ENRE’s authorization.

II.       Methodologies for evaluating applications

Annexes II and III of Resolution 65 approve, respectively, the regulations for granting the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and the regulations for the granting Access to Existing Transmission Capacity. These regulations complement the provisions of Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico SA’s (CAMMESA) Procedures regarding requests for expansion and access to the existing transmission capacity.

ENRE must decide the request for the certificate or access within three months as from the day the required documentation is filed.

Resolution 65 establishes ENRE may, in certain cases, revoke the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity or the granting of Access to Existing Transmission Capacity, for example, when the construction works have not yet begun three years after ENRE granted the authorization, or if after two years there is a new applicant.

III.      Informative Records: Transportation and Distribution System Expansion and Access to Existing Transportation Capacity

These records will be available in ENRE’s webpage. Among other matters, they will include:

1. the title of the extension work or access request, as the case may be,
2. ENRE’s file number,
3. the transmission or distribution concessionaire connected with the project,
4. the relevant province or municipality,
5. if applicable, whether it is an extension with a Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience or a Minor Extension,
6. the request’s status.