Electricity sector in Chile
Chile: Electricity sector
Data
Electricity
coverage(2003)
97%(total), 90%(rural);
(LAC total average in
2007: 92%)
Continuity of
supply
11.5 h interruption per
subscriber
Installed
capacity(2005)
11.98 GW
Share of fossil
energy
60%
Share of
renewable energy
<1%
GHG emissions
from electricity
generation (2003)
13.82 Mt CO2
Average
electricity use
(2005)
2,745 kW·h per capita
Distribution
losses (2005)
6.52%; (LAC average in
2005: 13.6%)
Average
residential tariff
(US$/kW·h, 2004)
0.109; (LAC average in
2005: 0.115)
Average industrial
tariff (US$/kW·h,
2006)
medium: 0.0805 (LAC
average in 2005: 0.107)
Annual
investment in
electricity
n/a
Share of self-
financing by
utilities
n/a
Share of
Government
financing
n/a
Share of private
financing
n/a
Institutions
Sector
unbundling
Yes
Share of private
sector generation
100%
Share of private
sector in
transmission
100%
Competitive
supply to large
users
Yes
Competitive
supply to
residential users
No (if below 2MW)
Number of service
providers
generation: 36,
transmission: 5,
distribution: 36
Responsibility for
transmission
Transelec
National
electricity
regulator
Fuel and Electricity
Superintendence (SEC)
Responsibility for
policy setting
National Energy
Commission (CNE)
Responsibility for
renewable energy
National Energy
Commission (CNE)
Responsibility for
the environment
CONAMA
Electricity Sector
Law
Yes (1982, modified in
2004 and 2005)
Renewable Energy
Legislation
Yes
CDM transactions
related to the
electricity sector
8 registered CDM
projects; 2 Mt CO2e
annual emissions
reductions
The electricity sector in Chile relies pre-
dominantly on thermal generation (60% of in-
stalled capacity), with hydropower sources
making up
for
the remaining capacity
(39.6%) and other renewable sources having
an insignificant presence. Faced with natural
gas shortages that have the potential to jeop-
ardize electricity supply, Chile is currently
building its first LNG terminal to secure sup-
ply for its existing and upcoming gas-fired
thermal plants. In addition,