Buenos Aires Province authorizes cooperatives to generate renewable energy

The government of Buenos Aires Province has enacted Law 15.665, modifying the provincial electrical regulatory framework to allow electric cooperatives and mixed-economy companies with municipal concessions to produce renewable energy. This new legislation introduces the figure of the “community self-generator,” enabling these entities to supply electricity from renewable sources to their members and users within their concession areas.

The law allows two or more municipal concessionaires to partner on community generation projects. While the energy produced is considered part of the public distribution service, any entity wishing to commercialize surplus energy must organize as a joint-stock company under national regulations. To support this transition, the Executive Branch will promote special long-term credit lines with subsidized rates through Banco Provincia to facilitate the acquisition of national equipment.

In General Madariaga, the COEMA Electric Cooperative has already approved a unanimous investment to install approximately 1,620 solar panels. This project, estimated at 1 megawatt (MW), aims to cover roughly 20% of the city’s daytime electricity consumption.