Economic Subsidies as Instruments for Access to Public Energy Services in theArgentine Republic (2003–2023)

Abstract

This research paper analyzes the implementation of economic subsidies for public energy services in the Argentine Republic between 2003 and 2023.
During the 1990s, the State Reform Law significantly shifted public policies toward privatization. Considering the subsidy system introduced in Argentina following the 2001 economic crisis, these subsidies emerged as a tool to prevent tariff increases in sectors that are economically strategic and socially sensitive.
Initially applied during a severe economic crisis, the subsidies aimed to guarantee electricity and gas access and consumption for the population. In a second phase, they were directed at subsidizing supply to encourage hydrocarbon production.
In energy-related debates, a crucial dimension is often overlooked: the relationship between the distribution of energy subsidies and access to energy (electricity, natural gas, and bottled gas).
Generally, access to energy services—essential for poverty reduction and improving conditions for the most socially vulnerable groups—receives little attention in official government policies. In national development plans and poverty reduction or energy strategies across a wide range of Latin American and Caribbean countries, the link between subsidies and energy access is often absent (ECLAC, 2009, p. 07).
In this context, the analysis offers a discussion tool grounded in empirical evidence, focusing on the changes, continuities, and main challenges surrounding the energy subsidy paradigm. Energy policy, like all public policy, involves a set of decisions, actions, and governmental measures aimed at managing the energy sector.