“TWe are a cyclical problem in terms of prices in the wholesale electricity and natural gas market. The electricity tariff proposal is an oxygen balloon to solve the problem from January, but we have to get there,” Pedro Verdelo considered in a parliamentary hearing.

The member who remains on the Board of Directors of the Energy Services Regulatory Authority (ERSE) has been chosen to lead the energy sector regulator, succeeding Maria Cristina Portugal, who died on 8 September.

According to the tariff proposal for domestic electricity consumers in the organized market, which was presented on Friday, the price of electricity is expected to rise by 0.2% next year, compared to the average for the current year, but – if the two phased increases are taken into account – the proposed electricity price will decrease By 3.4%.

However, to counter the increase in energy prices in the wholesale market, ERSE approved, on Monday, a package of exceptional measures for the electricity and natural gas sectors, aimed at mitigating the negative impact of that rise.

“To protect consumers and also mitigate systemic risks, a set of measures have been proposed that we believe will solve the problem in the short term in a transparent manner,” the president-designate stated.

According to the official, part of the extraordinary measures are part of the so-called “tool box” approved by the European Commission, with potential measures that EU member states could adopt to exempt citizens at a time when electricity and gas prices are increasing. reach the maximum.

Asked about controlling fuel marketing margins, a government legislative initiative to set limits, Pedro Verdelo emphasized that “regulation must comply with legislation”.

Pass the legislation, this oversight, and this oversight [pela ERSE] He pointed out that this will have to be done, and of course, if insufficient margins are revealed, outside what is acceptable, as the legal mechanisms will be activated.

On Monday, the environment minister defended the “necessity” for the government to be able to “act on the sidelines” of fuel marketing to counter the increase in prices, even though there is “no ability” to do so. And therefore.

“In terms of fuel, it is above all about ensuring justice issues, and therefore it has not yet been published or released, but from the point of view of the government it is really necessary to act on the sidelines, not only in marketing, the gas pump, but on all sides of the actors Many are present at all stages of the process,” said the Minister for Environment and Climate Action.

On October 8, the Council of the Republic approved today the final text of a government bill that allows setting maximum marketing margins for simple fuels and packaged LPG.

Read also: Energy: ERSE agrees to measures to mitigate the effects of price hikes