泛美開發(fā)銀行（IADB）：從新冠危機(jī)到經(jīng)濟(jì)韌性：拉美和加勒比地區(qū)能源行業(yè)從業(yè)者的工具

2.每日分享：6份行研精選報(bào)告、3個(gè)行業(yè)主題4.嚴(yán)禁廣告：僅限行業(yè)報(bào)告交流，禁止一切無關(guān)信息AuthorsJoséLuisIrigoyenJuanPabloBrichettiJuanCarlosCárdenasCopyright?2023Inter-AmericanDevelopmentBank.ThisworkislicensedunderaCreativeCommonsIGO3.0Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivsWorks(CC-IGO3.0BY-NC-ND)license(https:///licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/legalcode)andmaybereproducedforanynon-commercialuse,awardingtherespectiveacknowledgmenttotheIDB.Derivativeworksarenotallowed.AnydisputesarisingfromtheuseofIDBworksthatcannotberesolvedthroughamicablemeanswillbesubjecttoarbitrationinaccordancewiththeUNCITRALrules.TheuseoftheIDBnameforpurposesotherthantherecognitionanduseoftheIDBlogoarenotauthorizedbythisCC-IGOlicenseandrequireanadditionallicenseagreement.PleasebeawarethattheURLlinkprovidedcontainsadditionaltermsandconditionsrelatedtothislicense.TheopinionsexpressedinthispublicationareoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheInter-AmericanDevelopmentBank,itsBoardofExecutiveDirectors,orthecountriesitrepresents.ContentExecutivesummaryIntroduction4.Finalconsiderations5.References040722263537FiguresandTablesGraphGraph1Suspensionofpowercutsduetonon-paymentGraphGraph2AdjustmentmeasuresofpaymentmechanismsGraphGraph3MeasurestoreduceenergypricesGraphGraph4TypesofmeasurestomitigateimpactondistributorsGraphGraph5Changesintheparticipationofrenewableenergies:2020vs2017-2019averageGraphGraph6Changesintheinstalledcapacityofelectricpower:2020vs2017-2019averageTableTable1Variationofaccountsreceivableandtotalincomeoftheaggregateofsurveyedcompanies(atconstant2017prices)AbbreviationsADMSAdvancedDistributionManagementSystemAMIAdvancedMeteringInfrastructureBatteryEnergyStorageSystemDistributedEnergyResourcesDRMDisasterRiskManagementElectricalDistributionCompaniesEnergyNotSuppliedEnterpriseRiskManagementEnergyStorageIADBInter-AmericanDevelopmentBankLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanMVMediumVoltagePNRRDNationalPolicyforDisasterRiskReduction[PolíticaNacionalparalaReduccióndelRiesgodeDesastre]RegionalPublicGoodsSDGSustainableDevelopmentGoalsSENAPREDNationalDisasterPreventionandResponseService[ServicioNacionaldePrevenciónyRespuestaanteDesastres]SINAPREDNationalDisasterPreventionandResponseSystem[SistemaNacionaldePrevenciónyRespuestaanteDesastres]SmallandMediumEnterprisesAcknowledgmentsThisreportispartoftheknowledgeagendadevelopedbytheEnergyDivisionoftheInter-AmericanDevelopmentBank.TheagendaaimstocreatenewknowledgeproductsandtechnicalassistanceprogramsforthecountriesofLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean.Theknowledgeproductsaredesignedtoinform,guide,andofferarangeofrecommendationstopolicymakersandactiveparticipantsinenergymarkets,includingconsumers,utilitiescompanies,andregulators.ThereportwaspreparedundertheoveralldirectionofMarcelinoMadrigal,ChiefoftheEnergyDivision.LeadingtheworkteamisJoséLuisIrigoyen.ThemainauthorsofthereportareJuanPabloBrichetti,JuanCarlosCárdenas,andJoséLuisIrigoyen.TheteamwouldliketoexpresstheirgratitudetoLeninBalza,YuriDaltoandGabrielaMontesoftheInter-AmericanDevelopmentBankfortheircommentsandreview.TheteamwouldalsoliketoacknowledgethefinancialsupportprovidedbytheRegionalPublicGood“FromtheCOVID-19CrisistoResilience:AToolboxforActorsintheWater,Sanitation,andEnergySectorsinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean”(RG-T3763),aswellasthecontributionsfrommembersofitsEnergySectorSteeringCommittee:AlejandroQuispeandLeonardoJaureguifromtheBolivianMinistryofHydrocarbonsandEnergy;MijalBraidyandJoanRomerofromtheChileanMinistryofEnergy;XavierSeguraandAnabelLemusfromtheMinistryofEnergyandMinesofEcuador;NigelChetramofGuyanaPowerandLight,Inc.;andMiguelFigueroaandJairNassarfromtheHonduranMinistryofEnergy.WealsoappreciatetheOLADEStudies,Projects,andInformationManagementTeam,ledbyMedardoCadena.InInlinewiththisinstitutionalmandate,theIDBestablishedtheInitiativeforthePromotionofRegionalPublicGoodsin2004.TheRPGrecognizesthatLACcountriesfacedevelopmentchallengesthatcanbemoreeffectivelyandefficientlyaddressedthroughregionalcollectiveactionandcooperation.Overthecourseofnineteenannualpubliccalls,theBankhasselectedandfundednearlytwohundredprojectsthatfosteredcollaborationamongcountriestodeviseregionaldevelopmentsolutions.Aspartofthisprocess,partnershipswereformedwithinstitutionsandorganizations,fromwithinandoutsidetheregion,toenhancetheregionaldecision-makingprocessonvarioussocial,institutional,sustainability,commercial,andregionalinfrastructure-relatedissues.PrefaceSupportforregionalSupportforregionalintegrationandcooperationarefundamentalaspectsoftheInter-AmericanDevelopmentBank’s(IDBortheBank)developmentmandate.ArticleIoftheIDBStatutestatesthattheBank’spurposeisto“contributetotheaccelerationoftheprocessofeconomicandsocialdevelopment,bothindividuallyandcollectively.”TheproductsfeaturedinthispublicationarepartofasuccessfulprojectfinancedbytheInitiative.Theprojectnamed“FromtheCOVID-19CrisistoResilience:AToolkitforActorsintheWater,Sanitation,andEnergySectorinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean”seizeschallengessuchasthepandemicandtransformsthemintoanopportunityforstrengtheningpeer-to-peerlearning.Thisisachievedthroughtheexchangeofgoodpracticesandlessonslearnedintheareasofpreparedness,prevention,andriskmanagementwithintheregion.Thecollectiveactionoftheparticipatingcountriesnotonlyresultsinthecreationofanopenapplicationtoolboxthatcanbeutilizedbyanyinterestedcountrybutalsocontributestotheadoptionofsharedstandardsandofqualityacrosstheinvolvednations.IDB’scommitmenttosupportingeffectiveregionalintegrationinLACisdemonstratedthroughsimultaneousinvestmentsinintegrationsoftware,suchaspoliciesandregulatoryframeworks,andhardware,suchasinfrastructure.Thishighlightsthesignificanceofcooperationbetweencountriesasacornerstoneofintegration,showcasingitsbenefits.ItisthusbothamandateandaspirationoftheBanktocontinueactingasastrategicpartnerforcooperationamongitsborrowingmembercountries.Thisincludesthetransferofknowledge,technology,andthecollectivecreationofsolutionstoaddressvariousdevelopmentissues.PabloGarcíaHeadoftheRegionalIntegrationUnitIntegrationandTradeSectorInter-AmericanDevelopmentBankTheenergysectorplayedacrucialroleinmitigatingtheimpactsoftheCOVID-19pandemiccrisis.Itnotonlyensuredtheprovisionofelectricitytohospitalsandhouseholdsbutalsofacilitatedtheoperationofcommunicationandtechnologyservices,enablingpeopletocarryouttheirdailyactivitieswhileadheringtosocialdistancingmeasures.However,thepandemicposedsignificantchallengestotheoperationandsustainabilityofenergyservicesintheregion.Therewerechangesindemand,difficultiesinperformingsystemmaintenanceandoperationalactivities,andanincreaseinunpaidbills,leadingtoadeclineinrevenueandputtingthefinancialsustainabilityofoperatingcompaniesatrisk.InInresponse,variousactorsinthesector,includingpolicymakers,regulators,serviceproviders,andusers,proposedandimplementedactionstoensureuninterruptedaccesstoenergyservicesforthepopulation.TheRegionalPublicGood(RPG)initiative,named“FromtheCOVID-19CrisistoResilience:AToolboxforActorsintheWater,SanitationandEnergySectorsinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean(LAC),”emergedasanopportunitytosystematizebestpracticesandlessonslearned.Itaimedtoconsolidateknowledgesharingamongpeersandenhancethecapacityforpreparation,prevention,riskmanagement,andultimately,improvetheresponsecapacitytodisasters,ofparticipatingcountriesinthesector,inamoreefficientandeffectivemanner.Asaresult,theRPGinitiativesuccessfullyconsolidatedtheeffortsofsevenLACcountries,Bolivia,Chile,CostaRica,Ecuador,Guyana,Honduras,andPanama,inthecreationofthe“Energy:FromtheCovid19CrisistoResilience”Toolbox.ThistoolboxisavailableontheEnergyHUB.Resilienceintheenergysectorencompassesthecapacityofthesystemtowithstandandrapidlyrecoverfromvariousdisruptions,includingnaturaldisasters,cyber-attacks,fuelsupplydisruptions,orequipmentfailures.Throughoutthesechallenges,theenergysectormustcontinueprovidingessentialservicestocustomers.TheRPGhasplayedacrucialroleinconductingstudiesaimedatenhancingresilienceinbeneficiarycountries,preparingthemforfuturecatastrophicevents.Thesestudiesprimarilyfocusonleveragingnewtechnologiestodiversifytheenergymix,incorporatingnon-conventionalrenewableenergysources,storagesolutions,digitalizationofmarketingactivitiestofacilitatebusinessoperationsandassessmentofriskandemergencyresponseplans.MarcelinoMadrigalHeadoftheEnergyDivisionInfrastructureandEnergySectorInter-AmericanDevelopmentBankExecutiveSummaryTheTheoutbreakoftheCOVID-19pandemicandtheresultingcontainmentmeasurespresentedasignificantchallengetotheglobaleconomy,particularlyaffectingsectorsinvolvedinprovidingpublicservices.Itbecameevidentthatthesesectorslackedsufficientresiliencetowithstandanunforeseenandunprecedentedshockofsuchmagnitude.Themobilityrestrictionsandshifttoremoteworkdisruptedtheusualoperationsofpublicserviceproviders.Physicalmeterreadingsbecameimpractical,andcustomersfaceddifficultiesaccessingofficesforproceduresandbillpayments.Essentialactivitiessuchasperiodicinspections,servicecuts,andreconnectionswereimpacted.Thesedisruptions,alongwithdecreasedincomeandincreasedcosts,ledtoreducedinvestmentandreputationaldamagewithinthesector.ThestudyconductedontheexperiencesoftheenergysectorinthesevenbeneficiarycountriesoftheRPGprojectnamed“FromtheCOVID-19CrisistoResilience:AToolkitforActorsintheWater,Sanitation,andEnergySectorinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean”identifiesthreemaincategoriesofgovernmentmeasuresimplementedinresponsetothepandemicshock.Thesecategoriesinclude:1)Measuresaimedatmitigatingtheimpactonconsumers,suchassuspendingservicedisconnectionduetonon-paymentoradjustingpaymentmethods.2)Measuresfocusedonmitigatingtheimpactondistributioncompaniestoimprovetheirfinancialsituation.3)Measuresaimedatpromotingtheuseofrenewableenergytoreducedependenceonconventionalenergysources.TheIDBhasaprimaryobjectiveintheenergysector:toaidintheexpansionofdiversifiedandsecureaccesstoefficient,sustainable,reliable,andaffordableenergyinLACcountries.Bydoingso,theIDBwillcontributetopovertyreduction,improvethequalityoflife,fostercompetitiveness,andpromotedevelopmentandeconomicgrowth.Achievingtheseobjectivesrequiresastrongemphasisonenhancingtheresilienceofenergyservicesthroughouttheregion.22ExecutiveSummarya)Planning:Thisinvolvesidentifyingandmanagingpotentialrisksthatcouldimpactserviceprovision.ThisThisdocumentprovidesasummaryofItrangesfromidentifyingcriticalinfrastructuretoproposalsderivedfromexperiencesinenhancingcommunicationprotocols;sevencasestudiesacrosstheregion(Bolivia,Chile,CostaRica,Ecuador,Guyana,Honduras,andPanama)regardingtheresponseoftheelectricitysectortotheCOVID-19shock.Theseb)Digitizationofservices:Thisfocusesonsupportingcommercialoperationsandmanagement,includingcustomerservice,billing,collection,andlosscontrol;andproposalsaimtoenhancetheresilienceofpublicserviceprovisionandimprovethesector’sabilitytorespondtounforeseenevents,focusingonthreemainareas:c)Improvementsinenergysystemcapabilitiesintheregion:Thisconsidersaspectssuchasgeneratingnewenergysourcesandincorporatingtechnologiestoenhanceserviceprovision.Theimportanceofriskplanningisemphasized,asitinvolvesanticipatingandanalyzingeventsthatcouldpotentiallyimpacttheorganization’sobjectives.Bybeingproactiveandprepared,amorereliableelectricitysupplycanbeensured,eveninadversesituations.Itisessentialtohaveawell-definedriskmanagementstrategythatassignsresponsibilities,promotescoordinationamongstakeholders,andmonitorscrisissituationseffectively.Additionally,greaterdigitizationofservicescancontributetosustainingbusinessoperationsandmanagementinrelationtonewmobilityrestrictions,notonlyduringapandemicbutalsointhefaceofnaturaldisastersorothershocks.Simplifyingclientinteractionswouldbeasignificantadvancementinthisarea.Implementingplatformsthatfacilitateproceduressuchascontractsigning,claims,andrequests,aswellasestablishingnewformsofvirtualinteractionwithusers,andstreamlineprocesseswithreducedresponsetimes.Itisalsoessentialtoprovideeffectivemechanismsfortimelymonthlybillpayments.Digitalmetersofferadvantagessuchaslowererrormargins,easydisconnections(toincentivizepayment),fasterreconnections,andpreventionoftampering.Whilethecost-effectivenessofsuchmeasuresmustbeevaluatedonacase-by-casebasis,lessburdensomeadvancementscanbepromoted,suchasallowinguserstosubmitreadingsbyuploadingaphoto.Lastly,improvingthecapacitiesofelectricpowersystemsintheregionfocusesonachievinggreatersourcediversification,environmentalcommitment,distributionstability,andtheadoptionofnewtechnologiestomitigateunforeseenshocksandenhanceresilience.Theanalyzedcasesdemonstratethepotentialforcertainregionstogeneratenewrenewablesources,makingrecommendationsfortheirutilization.Furthermore,incorporatingemergingtechnologies,suchasever-developingenergystoragesolutions,presentsfavorableoptionsthatincludenotonlyeconomicconsiderationsbutalsotechnicalandsocialfactors.33IntroductionTheTheCOVID-19pandemic,officiallydeclaredbytheWorldHealthOrganizationinMarch2020,hadanunparalleledglobalimpactacrossvarioussectors.Fromasocialstandpoint,thepandemictriggeredahealthcrisisthataffectedmillionsofpeople,leadingtotheimplementationofconfinementandsocialdistancingmeasurestocurbitsspread.Thesemeasuressignificantlydisruptedpeople’slives,alteringtheirroutinesandadverselyimpactingtheirwell-being.Notably,theimpactwasnotevenlydistributed,butdisproportionatelyaffectedthemostvulnerablepopulations.Economically,thepandemiccausedaworldwiderecession,bringingnumerouseconomicactivitiestoastandstillandresultinginincreasedunemploymentratesandreducedproductionandconsumption.InLACspecifically,theGDPcontractedby7.4%in2020.Thisdeclinewasmorethanthreetimesgreaterthanthedropexperiencedduringthe2009GreatRecessionandmorethandoublethedeclinewitnessedduringthe1983DebtCrisis.TheeconomicdownturninLACsurpassedthatofotheremergingeconomiesandmosthigh-incomecountries(IMF,2021).Governmentsworldwiderespondedtothiscrisisbyimplementingeconomicstimulusmeasures.However,inLACandotherdevelopingregions,thenegativeimpactwasexacerbatedbylimitedfiscalspace,makingitchallengingtoimplementcountercyclicalpolicieseffectively.Theenergysectorwasnotimmunetothesecircumstancesbutfaceddistinctchallengeslinkedtoitsuniquecharacteristics.Onthedemandside,theimplementationoflockdownandsocialdistancingmeasuresworldwideledtobusinessclosuresandareductioninindustrialproduction,resultingindecreasedenergydemandfromindustries.However,residentialdemandincreasedsignificantlysincemoreindividualsstartedworkingfromhomeandspendingmoretimeindoors.ArecentreportfromtheIDBEnergyDivision(Sánchezúbedaetal.,2021)highlightsthat,onaverage,themaximummonthlyreductioninelectricitydemandamongtheanalyzedcountriesintheregionwas15%.Throughoutatypicalmodeledyear,theweeklyimpactsrangedfrom8%to34%.Duringthemostcriticalmomentsofthepandemic,suchasApril2020,countrieslikePeruexperiencedareductioninelectricityconsumptionofone-thirdoftheirusuallevels.Onthesupplyside,theexistingenergyproductioncapacityandelectricalinfrastructurewereonlypartiallyequippedtohandlethisshiftinconsumptionpatterns.Additionally,thepandemicdisruptedtheenergysupplychain,causingdelaysintheconstructionofnewpowerplantsandtheinstallationofelectricalinfrastructure.Maintenanceandrepaireffortsforexistinginfrastructurewerealsohindered,increasingtheriskofpowersupplyinterruptions.55IntroductionOnapositivenote,thepandemichasacceleratedthetransitiontorenewableenergysourcessuchassolarandwind.Theseformsofenergyhaveproventobeviableoptionsinreducingdependenceonoil.Governmentshavealsoimplementedstimulusmeasurestoboostrenewableenergyproductioncapacityglobally.Intheenergysector,theIDBaimstoenhanceaccesstoefficient,sustainable,reliable,andaffordableenergyinLAC.Thisisachievedthroughdiversifiedandsecureapproacheswhilecontributingtopovertyreduction,improvingqualityoflife,fosteringcompetitiveness,andpromotingdevelopmentandeconomicgrowth.Theunprecedentedshockofthepandemichasprovidedvaluablelessonsthatneedtobeidentifiedandorganized,whichwillcontributetothedevelopmentoftoolsthatcaneffectivelyaddressfuturedisruptiveeventsandbuildmoreresilientenergysystems.Resilientpowersystemsaredesignedandmanagedtowithstand,absorb,adaptto,andrecoverfrompotentialdisruptionssuchassystemfailures,naturaldisasters,cyberattacks,orchangesindemand,quicklyandefficiently.Despiteadversechallenges,thesesystemscontinuetoprovideelectricityservices,minimizingdisruptionstoconsumersandcriticalinfrastructure.Achievingresilienceinapowersystemrequiresacombinationofrobustdesign,adaptiveoperations,redundancy,andrapidemergencyresponseplans.Furthermore,resiliencecanbeenhancedbydiversifyingenergysourcesanddecentralizingelectricitygeneration.Renewableenergyanddecentralizedgenerationsolutionsplayasignificantroleinachievingtheseobjectives.InlinewiththegoalofimprovingtheresilienceoftheelectricitysectorinLACbasedonthetakeawaysfromtheCOVID-19crisis,theIDBhasundertakenthetaskofgatheringinformationontheexperiencesoftheenergysectorinsevencountries:Bolivia,Chile,CostaRica,Ecuador,Guyana,Honduras,andPanama.ThesecountrieswerebeneficiariesoftheRPGinitiativetitled“FromtheCOVID-19crisistoResilience:AToolkitforActorsintheWater,Sanitation,andEnergySectorinLAC.”Thepurposeofthisdocumentistorecordtheactionstakenundertheseexceptionalcircumstancesandexplorehowtheregioncanbetterprepareforfutureshocks.Thestructureofthisdocumentisasfollows:Chapter2examinestheexperiencesofthebeneficiarycountriesinresponsetothepandemicshock,identifyingandcategorizingthemainmeasuresimplementedtomitigateitsimpact.Chapter3focusesonthekeyareasofimpactfromthepandemicandprovidesasummaryofpolicyrecommendationsrelatedtoplanning,digitization,andtechnologicaladvancementsintheelectricitysystem.Theserecommendationsaimtoenhancethesector’sresilienceinthefaceofpotentialfuturedisruptions.Lastly,Chapter4presentsthemainconclusionsderivedfromtheanalysis.66TheCOVID-19CrisisintheElectricitySectorinLAC:PublicPoliciestoSustainServiceDuringthePandemicOneOneofthegreatestchallengesfacedbygovernmentsandpublicandprivateactorsintheenergysectorduringtheCOVID-19pandemicwasensuringaccesstoenergy.Thistaskprovedtobeparticularlycomplexduetotheimpactofthehealthcrisisonsectorcompaniesandthechallengingeconomicsituationfacedbyfamiliesandbusinesses.Thesefactorsthreatenedthepaymentchain,therebyjeopardizingthefinancialstabilityofenergycompaniesandtheoverallsustainabilityofthesystem.Themeasuresimplementedbygovernmentscanbecategorizedbasedontheirfocus:mitigatingtheimpactonconsumers,companies,orpromotingtheenergytransition.Theinformationpresentedinthefollowingsubsectionshasbeencompiledusingthetoolkittofacefuturedisruptiveeventsanddevelopmoreresilientenergysystems,availableattheIDBEnergyHub:/es/indicators/la-energia-de-la-crisis-del-covid19-laresiliencia.Thisplatformprovideskeydatathatoffersinsightsintotheimpactofthepandemicontheregionalenergysectorandtheprimarymeasurestakentomitigateitseffects.ThroughcollaborationbetweentheIDB,theLatinAmericanEnergyOrganization(OLADEbyitsacronyminSpanish),andtherepresentativesofthesevencountries,thisworkhascompiledandstructuredrelevantinformationregardingenergyconsumers,energycompanies,andtheconsequencesofthisuniquecontextontheenergytransitionprocess.Thecompilationwasbasedsolelyonofficialandpubliclyavailableopendatasources.ActionstomitigatetheimpactonconsumersTheeconomiccrisisresultingfromtheCOVID-19pandemicleftmanyconsumers,includingsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises(SMEs)andresidentialcustomers,strugglingtocovertheirenergybills.Topreventpowercutsanddisruptionsinthepaymentchain,severalcountriesimplementedmeasurestoprovidetemporaryrelief.Thesemeasuresincludedthesuspensionofpowercutsduetonon-payment,adjustmentsinpaymentmechanisms,and/orreductionsinenergyprices.Duringthestrictestperiodofconfinementin2020,atleastfiveoutofthesevenanalyzedLACcountries,Chile,Bolivia,Panama,CostaRica,andHonduras,informationwasunavailablefortheothers,restricteddistributioncompaniesfromdisconnectingthepowersupplyincasesofnon-paymentordelays.By2021,asthecrisisbegantoease,thenumberofcountriesmaintainingsuchmeasuresdecreasedtothree:Chile,Panama,andEcuador.88TheCOVID-19CrisisintheElectricitySectorinLAC:PublicPoliciestoSustainServiceDuringthePandemicGraph1.Suspensionofpowercutsduetonon-paymentSource:/es/indicators/la-energia-de-la-crisis-del-covid-19-la-resilienciaAdditionally,toaddressthedelaysininvoicepaymentsallcountriesexceptGuyana,forwhichnotpublicinformationisavailable,implementedmeasurestoadjustpaymentmechanismsduring2020.Thesemeasuresincludedextendingpaymentdeadlines,waivingfines,andimplementingrepaymentfacilitiesinChile,Bolivia,CostaRica,Ecuador,Panama.Somecountriesalsoeliminatedsurcharges,suchasChile,andHonduras.However,by2021,onlythreeoutofthesixcountriescontinuedwiththesemeasures,Chile,Panama,andEcuador,withChilebeingparticularlynoteworthyformaintainingallofthemconsistently.Graph2.AdjustmentmeasuresforpaymentmechanismsSource:/es/indicators/la-energia-de-la-crisis-del-covid-19-la-resiliencia99TheCOVID-19CrisisintheElectricitySectorinLAC:PublicPoliciestoSustainServiceDuringthePandemicLastly,fiveoutofthesevencountries,CostaRica,Ecuador,Bolivia,Honduras,andPanama,analyzedimplementedmeasuresregardingthereductioninenergyprices,in2020.Allofthemreducedrates,andsomecountriesalsoeliminatedtaxes,CostaRicaandEcuador,and/orfixedcharges,CostaRica.However,by2021,onlytwooutofthesevencountriesmaintainedthesemeasures,CostaRicaandPanama.Thesefindingsdemonstratetheswiftresponseandrecognitionoftheproblembythecountriesintheregion,withwidespreadimplementationofmeasurestomitigatetheimpactofthepandemic.Graph3.MeasurestoreduceenergypricesSource:/es/indicators/la-energia-de-la-crisis-del-covid-19-la-resilienciaActionstomitigatetheimpactoncompaniesTheimpactonconsumers,bothsmallandlarge,hadarippleeffectondistributors,leadingtonegativeimplicationsfortheireconomicandfinancialwell-beingcausedbythereductionornon-paymentbymanyclients.TableNo1.showsthatacrossallthecountriesanalyzed,exceptforCostaRica,therewasanoticeableincreaseinaccountsreceivable(atconstant2017prices)in2020comparedtothepre-pandemicaverage,2017-2019.Somecountriesexperiencedsubstantialincreasesofover50%,asobservedinthecasesofGuyana,Honduras,andBolivia.Incontrast,TableNo.2showsthatthetotalincomeofcompanies(atconstant2017prices)witnessedanaveragedeclineofnearly5%forthesameperiod,withPanamabeingparticularlyaffectedwithacontractionofover10%,whileGuyanastoodoutasanexceptionincreasing6.7%.TheCOVID-19Crisisinthe