Colombia prioritizes its energy; what will happen to exports to Ecuador?

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Just a month after Ecuador resumed electricity imports from Colombia, the situation changed. The neighboring country activated its supply risk alert period due to reduced water availability for hydroelectric generation and the threat of El Niño. It then took steps to prioritize its own energy supply.

For Ecuador, the new rules could limit imports of this supply because, according to the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG) , the entity that regulates the electricity and gas market in Colombia, during the period of risk of shortages, Colombia must first meet all of its domestic demand before allocating energy to exports.

This measure, which is contained in CREG Resolution 101 127, approved on August 27, 2026, applies from September 7.

The regulation comes at a key moment for Ecuador, which resumed purchases of Colombian electricity on August 5 , after more than six months of suspension, and with the approach of the dry season, which runs from September or October to March; and also the threat of El Niño.

Between August 5 and September 6, an average of 280 megawatts (MW ) of power was imported from Colombia. However, on September 7, this average dropped to 9 MW, according to Fernando Salinas, president of the Ecuador Energy Forum. “It’s a truly drastic reduction.”

During the risk period, exports may only be made to meet the electrical security needs of the importing country and after Colombia has fully met its demand.

Source: Wikipedia