Aspirants to preside over the CRE appear in the Senate

The three candidates proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to preside over the Governing Body of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) appeared yesterday afternoon before legislators from the Third Working Commission of the Permanent Commission.

It is expected that today, the Plenary of the Permanent Commission will be in charge of the election of the president commissioner of the CRE.

On January 5, the federal president sent deputy Santiago Creel Miranda, president of the board of directors of the Permanent Commission, the shortlist to occupy the position in the CRE for a period of seven years.

Among the proposals are Leopoldo Vicente Melchi García, who last December concluded his first term as president commissioner of the regulatory body; and he seeks again to occupy the position for a second term.

It also included the names of Alfonso López Alvarado and Víctor David Palacios Gutiérrez, whom he had previously proposed to head the CRE and who had already been ruled out in committees of the Senate of the Republic.

Therefore, within the framework of the installation of the Third Committee: Finance and Public Credit, Agriculture and Development, Communications and Public Works of the Permanent, deputies, deputies, senators and senators approved with 8 votes in favor, zero against and 3 abstentions, the opinion of the shortlist on the occasion of the appointment of the president commissioner of the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).

During their appearance before the legislators of the Union Congress, the three candidates outlined their work plan as eventual presidents of the CRE, as well as their trajectory in the matter.

In his turn, Alfonso López Alvarado, thanked for having been proposed by López Obrador, in addition to highlighting that he has 37 years of experience in the energy sector, working as a chemical engineer, at the same time that he said he was retired by Pemex, where he worked for 33 years.

Likewise, he maintained that among his priorities in the event of being elected president of the CRE will be to support the rescue of the energy sector, as proposed by the federal government. While he recognized the existence of regulatory challenges that must be addressed, above all, he said, in coordination with the Ministry of Energy.

In addition to the imbalance that exists in power generation, mainly in terms of renewable energy, as well as the supply of natural gas.

Meanwhile, Víctor David Palacios Gutiérrez, said he had 42 years of experience in public service, and indicated that the CRE’s work plan must be based on adherence to the current National Development Plan 2019-2024 since said governing document includes the needs of Mexican society.

He specified that the work plan should also focus on supporting energy security and sovereignty and take into account final energy consumers as a central element. Regarding guaranteeing clean energy, he said that there must be planning for the energy transition and review the prospects for the production of fossil hydrocarbons and “this work is done in the Ministry of Energy.”

While Leopoldo Vicente Melchi García mentioned that, from October 2019 to December 31, 2022, he held the position of president of the CRE and maintained that with his acquired experience “I have the leadership and knowledge that allows me to propose to the Commission a Comprehensive strategy with various lines of action, in order to correctly fulfill its powers on time and in a proper manner”.

He explained that the objective of his work plan is to comply with the attributions entrusted to the CRE, attending to the activities in terms of regulation, attention to procedures, compliance with obligations and information management. The factors that must be considered are: fostering the efficient development of the industry, promoting competition in the sector, protecting the interests of users, and promoting adequate national coverage.

Deputy Francisco Javier Borrego Adame (Morena) affirmed that the energy industry is an essential sector through which it is possible to ensure the growth and economic development of Mexico; For this reason, “we endorse our commitment to rescue and strengthen the State’s productive companies and we speak out against favoritism to the private sector.”

From a digital platform, Senator Estrella Rojas Loreto (PAN) explained that today the Energy Regulatory Commission is subordinate to the Federal Electricity Commission, hence she asked if they will continue to comply with instructions from CFE and Pemex and what is the commitment to end the backlog of permits for renewable energy generation.

Also via zoom, the deputy Rodrigo Sánchez Zepeda (PAN) inquired if it is correct to exempt Pemex from the Official Mexican Standard on fuel quality in the sulfur content in the diesel that is marketed, if it should privilege companies that sell Pemex and on the criteria for interconnection permits.

The deputy Ana Laura Huerta Valdovinos (PVEM) described as a success the proposal issued by the Executive to occupy the position in the Energy Regulatory Commission by reviewing the curriculum of those appearing and listening to their work plan. She expressed her concern about what they would do to continue the fight against hydrocarbon theft from the CRE.

Jesús Fernando García Hernández, deputy of the PT, affirmed that the commissioner president of the CRE will have the purpose of avoiding monopolies and oligopolies that harm Mexican families, as well as promoting competitive rates that do not damage the pockets of the most needy social classes and have clean and environmentally friendly energy, but without jeopardizing demand.

Finally, after being interviewed, the members of the Third Commission voted in favor of the opinion that approves the three proposals of the Mexican president for president of the CRE and it was turned over to the Board of Directors of the Permanent Commission, for its programming for debate in plenary session. , in the ordinary session of this Wednesday, January 11.