ASEP applies fines that exceed B / .14 million

The National Authority of Public Services (ASEP), in the exercise of its functions, applied a total of B /. 14.4 million sanctions against regulated electricity, potable water and telecommunications companies during the last five years, according to a report presented by this entity.

The information highlights that the electricity companies in Panama remain the sector with the highest amount of economic sanctions registered with B /. 13.5 million, followed by telecommunications companies with B /. 492 thousand and potable water and sewerage with B /. 396 thousand 600.

As a result of its oversight role of public services, it is detailed that, from the fines applied by the ASEP, the electricity distribution companies received economic sanctions for B /. 7.9 million.

Statistics from the ASEP detail that the Metro West Electric Distribution Company (EDEMET) and the Chiriquí Electricity Distribution Company, SA (EDECHI) add the largest total with B /. 7.5 million (B / .6,914,484.13 and B / .557,250, respectively) followed by the company Elektra Noreste, SA (ENSA) with B / .481,000.00

The fines applied to electric distribution companies are mostly due to faults found as broken insulators, disconnected lightning rods, absence of pruning, bird nests in transformers, sections of primary lines without neutral and transformers without fuses that affected customers and users.

The total fines against companies for the provision of public services at the national level have been credited to the invoice of the total number of customers in the sector.

Law 38 of July 31, 2000, by means of which the general administrative procedure applied to the sanctioning processes is regulated, determines as mandatory compliance the term for the payment and accreditation of the fine to the clients.

The sanctioned companies have complied with the notification to the ASEP regarding the return of the amount to their respective clients and the detail of the credit granted.

The ASEP reminds customers and users of public services of their rights and duties that may be exercised against a borrower who fails to comply with the agreements established.

Those interested in opening a claim process against a company must first go to the service provider and, if the answer is not satisfactory, go to the nearest Customer Service Office.

For any information or expedite a claim, the ASEP has available to customers and / or users the website www.asep.gob.pa or call toll-free 800-3333.

This Asep release was published using machine translation.