Colombia’s Power Grid Faces Summer Shortfalls, Calls for More Thermal Generation

A June 5, 2026 XM energy bulletin warns that Colombia’s National Interconnected System (SIN) is entering a state of surveillance due to low reservoir levels and rising demand. The country's net effective capacity stands at 21,315.61 MW, supplied by hydro (62%), thermal (29%) and solar (9%). Aggregate reservoir storage is at 69.43 % of useful volume, 0.63 percentage points below the regulator’s winter‑path target, prompting an early‑warning alert.

Demand surged 8.76 % year‑on‑year in May, hitting a record daily peak of 261.86 GWh on 15 May. Climate forecasts give a >90 % probability of an El Niño event, potentially reaching strong intensity later in 2026. XM recommends boosting thermal generation to sustain more than 90 GWh‑day throughout the summer and raising reservoir levels above 80 % before the season starts, while coordinating fuel logistics across the energy and fuel sectors.