Río Negro proposes single regulator for public services

The government of Río Negro has submitted a bill to the provincial legislature to create a single regulatory body for public services. The proposed Ente Regulador de Servicios y Concesiones (ERSeC) would consolidate the oversight of electricity, drinking water, and sewage services.

Under the proposal, the Ente Provincial Regulador de la Electricidad (EPRE) would be dissolved, with its personnel, assets, and budget transferred to the new entity. The Departamento Provincial de Aguas (DPA) would retain other functions but would cede its authority to supervise water and sewage services, which are currently managed by ARSA and various cooperatives.

The ERSeC is designed to have functional and budgetary autonomy. Its responsibilities will include setting tariffs, approving rate schedules, monitoring service providers, applying sanctions, and resolving user disputes regarding billing or service deficiencies. The project also envisions the potential for the agency to expand its oversight to include gas distribution, waste management, transport, or digital services in the future.