After the National Assembly approved amendments to the National Electric Power System Law, lawmaker José Gregorio Correa called them an important step toward overcoming the crisis. He said that, for Venezuelans today, electricity shortages have become a more pressing problem than inflation and crime. The new rules remove barriers to attracting foreign capital to restore infrastructure, while also envisaging the use of local workers. Correa acknowledged that the law is not perfect, but said it is better than the current one: among other things, it creates opportunities for clean energy.
The lawmaker stressed that the shift to renewable sources, including solar panels, is important in the medium and long term. However, the sector cannot be restored quickly: years of neglect and inadequate maintenance require sustained work, not an instant fix. Correa compared the task to a light switch that cannot simply be flipped to resolve problems that have built up over time.
On managing the power sector, Correa proposed first preserving the central government’s leading role, then gradually transferring authority to states and municipalities. In his view, rapid decentralization could prove too much for local authorities: some municipalities lack the funds even to cover day-to-day expenses, so they would be unable to guarantee residents a reliable electricity supply.
