2024-09-19 16:34:30
The SEC said that the power cuts caused the deaths of three electro-dependent patients, who did not receive backup equipment from Enel, despite being registered.
The Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC) filed charges against Enel after verifying a series of non-compliances, after The death of three electro-dependent patients during power cuts which occurred from August 1st.
The SEC stated that the electricity distributor did not provide backup equipment to two of the electro-dependent patients who were registered, while his relatives tried unsuccessfully to contact the company.
The agency detailed that “11 calls were not answered in one case and 3 were not answered in another case. This lack of attention contravenes the obligation to offer priority communication channels for users in vulnerable situations.”
In this regard, he pointed out that Enel did not take preventive measures to deal with the prolonged power outages, in addition to not prioritizing the restoration of service to electro-dependent patients, who were without electricity for up to 59 hours.
Marta Cabeza, SEC Superintendent, stressed that “we reiterate our commitment to protecting the rights of the most vulnerable users, especially those who depend on a continuous electricity supply for health reasons. In this regard, the SEC will continue to monitor strict compliance with the regulations and will take the necessary measures to sanction any non-compliance that puts the safety of citizens at risk.”
The regulatory body added that Enel is exposed to sanctions that could result in fines of up to 10,000 Annual Tax Units.although the final amount will depend on the merits of the ongoing investigation, while the background information was forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Enel, for its part, responded by stating that it regrets the “death of the three people registered as dependent on electricity, in the context of the extraordinary and unpredictable climatic event that hit the Metropolitan Region on August 1 and 2.”
Along with this, they made it clear that they communicated with the families of the victims to whom “we reiterate our condolences and regret,” noting that they not only provided “all the relevant information to the SEC in a timely manner, but also continue to update the Superintendency on the consequences of such a dramatic and unusual climatic phenomenon.”