Galán apologizes for his statements about clients of the regulated market

by time news

The Chairman of Iberdrola greets Chairman Pedro Sánchez. / Efe/Video: EP

Calviño accuses the president of Iberdrola of “lack of empathy” while Díaz describes his words as “a shame”

Barely 24 hours after his controversial statements, the president of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, has expressed his “sincere apologies” in the event that “someone felt offended” by some statements that took place “in a colloquial environment” and that did not they tried to “harm” any client of the electricity companies.

The apology has come after Galán tried to defend the benefits of free electricity rates – those that are covered by stable prices – emphasizing the mistake made by customers who still have the regulated rate, whom he branded of “fools” in an act in Sagunto (Valencia). Iberdrola has explained that both the president and the company point out that the only objective, in this case, is that citizens “do not pay a premium for consumption due to unforeseen issues such as the regulated one.”

Galán’s repentance came hours after the economic vice president, Nadia Calviño, did not hesitate to criticize the “lightness and tone” of the executive’s words, after being astonished by his “lack of empathy.” Calviño recalled in an interview on TV3 that energy companies have a “special responsibility” at this time and that they should “put their shoulders to the wheel” now that the Government has been “trying to lower the cost of electricity” for months with a fiscal cost of about 12,000 million euros.

The declarations took place in the middle of the negotiation of the Government with Brussels by the limit of the price of the electricity. Yesterday, President Pedro Sánchez assured that after weeks of “arduous technical negotiations” Spain and Portugal have already sent to the European Commission the joint proposal for the mechanism to cap the price of electricity, “which we trust will be the final one”. In his appearance at the Circle of Economy, the president hoped to have the preliminary approval of Brussels to be able to start it “in the next few days.” From the Commission they assured that the proposal will be analyzed “as soon as possible”, but without specifying dates.

Galán calls customers who still have a regulated electricity rate “fools”

Galán was also harshly criticized by the second vice president, Yolanda Díaz, who asked him to rectify “immediately” his statements for “mocking” those most in need, words that he described as “shame.” «He must rectify immediately, he is not just any person. That a person like him makes fun of the most needy people in our country is a shame, “Díaz demanded at a press conference.

Likewise, the Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, assured in statements to the media that these demonstrations say “who is the person who carries them out” and asked Galán for “respect” for the citizens who freely choose their rate. “When you have to access a social subscription you have to have that rate and, therefore, we are talking about the most vulnerable people in this country,” said Garzón, before adding that it is an “excess that will have to be accounted for by He has done it.”

In the midst of this controversy, Iberdrola also launched a campaign this Friday in which it encourages consumers to sign free electricity contracts because they are “cheaper” than the regulated rate. From the company they assure that the free rate ensures “stable” prices and affirm that 20 million households have seen how their electricity bill is “the same or less” today than a year ago for having a free rate.

Iberdrola criticizes that Spain is “the only country in Europe” whose regulated rate “changes every hour”, which generates “more doubts and uncertainty” for customers.

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