Otis Singleton
The electricity sector in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a complex system that plays a crucial role in powering the city and its surrounding areas. With a growing demand for electricity, the region has witnessed significant investments and projects aimed at enhancing generation and transmission capabilities. This includes the Electricity Interconnection Comahue-Cuyo and the Electricity Interconnection Rincón Santa María-Rodríguez, financed by the Andean Development Corporation (CAF). The electricity sector in Buenos Aires is served by companies such as Edenor, Edesur, and Edelap, which distribute and sell electricity to households and businesses. However, power outages, such as the one that occurred on March 5, 2025, leaving over 600,000 customers without electricity, highlight the challenges faced in meeting the rising demand for electricity in Buenos Aires.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity Sector Ranking in Latin America | Third Largest Power Market |
| Energy Sources | Fossil Fuels (66.17%), Wind (9.81%), Solar (2.03%), Hydro (16.76%), Nuclear (5.22%), Geothermal (0%) |
| Energy Generation Methods | Thermal Power, Hydropower |
| Electricity Demand | Rising by over 6% annually |
| Electricity Consumption | 600 KW/H |
| Electricity Distributors in Buenos Aires | Edesur, Edenor, Edelap |
| Areas Covered by Edesur | Southern Buenos Aires, Two-thirds of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), Twelve districts of the Buenos Aires Province |
| Areas Covered by Edenor | Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) |
| Areas Covered by Edelap | La Plata City |
| Electricity Bill Increases | Up to 150% |
| Blackout Incidents | March 5, 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Power outages
In January 2022, Buenos Aires recorded extremely high temperatures, with the city reaching a staggering 106°F (41.1°C). This led to massive power outages across the city, affecting 700,000 people. The majority of these outages were due to the high cooling demands, but about 43,000 were caused by a failure of lines at two substations.
To address the challenges, the Argentine government has undertaken various initiatives. In 2006, the country received financing from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) for two electricity projects, including high-voltage transmission lines. Additionally, the government has been commissioning large projects in generation and transmission sectors to keep up with rising demand. However, the necessary increase in transmission capacity has been a challenge, with only one significant project, the addition of a 1,300 km high-voltage line between Comahue and Buenos Aires, completed in the 1990s.
The government has also implemented programs to improve energy efficiency. For example, the national program PRONUREE aims to phase out incandescent bulbs by replacing them with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in households and selected public buildings. While these efforts contribute to reducing energy consumption, the combination of rising demand and limited generation capacity continues to strain the power grid in Buenos Aires, resulting in occasional power outages.
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Energy sources
The energy sector in Argentina, including Buenos Aires, relies mostly on thermal generation (60% of installed capacity) and hydropower generation (36%). The prevailing natural gas-fired thermal generation is at risk due to the uncertainty of future gas supply. The country's electricity sector constitutes the third-largest power market in Latin America.
In 2022, the energy mix in Argentina included fossil fuels (66.17%), wind (9.81%), solar (2.03%), hydro (16.76%), nuclear (5.22%), and geothermal (0.00%). Electricity can be generated in two main ways: by harnessing the heat from burning fuels or nuclear reactions in the form of steam (thermal power) or by capturing the energy of natural forces such as the sun, wind, or moving water.
In Buenos Aires, electricity distribution companies include Empresa Distribuidora Norte SA (Edenor) and Empresa Distribuidora Sur SA (Edesur). Edesur distributes and sells electricity in the southern area of Buenos Aires, covering two-thirds of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and twelve districts of the Buenos Aires Province. In 2008, residential electricity tariffs in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, served by Edenor, Edesur, and Edelap utilities, increased by 10-30% for households that consumed more than 650 kWh every two months.
In 2024, the Buenos Aires metropolitan region announced electricity bill hikes of up to 150% for consumers, with lower percentages of 70% and 65% for low- and middle-income Edesur and Edenor clients, respectively. The higher rates for high-income consumers aim to encourage more responsible and efficient energy use.
To improve its energy infrastructure, Argentina has received financing for various electricity projects, including the Electricity Interconnection Comahue-Cuyo and the Electricity Interconnection Rincón Santa María-Rodríguez, which are high-voltage transmission lines included in the Federal Transportation Plan. Additionally, the country has borrowed funds to repair its hydroelectric infrastructure.
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Electricity tariffs
The electricity sector in Argentina is the third-largest power market in Latin America. The country's electricity is primarily generated through thermal generation (60% of installed capacity) and hydropower generation (36%). The energy mix in Argentina, as of 2022, was fossil fuels (66.17%), wind (9.81%), solar (2.03%), hydro (16.76%), nuclear (5.22%), and geothermal (0.00%).
In Buenos Aires, the electricity distribution companies are Empresa Distribuidora Norte SA (Edenor) and Empresa Distribuidora Sur SA (Edesur). Edesur distributes and sells electricity in the southern area of Buenos Aires, covering two-thirds of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) and twelve Buenos Aires Province districts.
In August 2008, after a 7-year tariff freeze, residential electricity tariffs in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area were increased by 10-30% for households that consumed more than 650 kWh every two months. For consumption between 651 kWh and 800 kWh, the increase was 10%, while for users over 1,201 kWh, the increase was 30%. Commercial and industrial users faced a 10% increase.
In 2024, the Buenos Aires metropolitan area saw another hike in electricity tariffs, with increases of up to 150%. Lower-income (N2) and middle-income (N3) sectors saw lower increases of 70% and 65%, respectively. However, middle-income households consuming more than 600 KW/H would experience a 130% increase. These new rates were expected to remain in place until the completion of the integral review for the 2024-2028 five-year period.
In 2006, Argentina received financing for two electricity projects: the Electricity Interconnection Comahue-Cuyo and the Electricity Interconnection Rincón Santa María-Rodríguez. These projects aimed to improve the country's high-voltage transmission lines. Additionally, the country borrowed funds to repair its hydroelectric infrastructure.
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Energy efficiency
The energy mix in Argentina consists of various sources, including fossil fuels (66.17%), wind (9.81%), solar (2.03%), hydropower (16.76%), nuclear (5.22%), and geothermal (0%). While the country has made strides in renewable energy sources, fossil fuels still dominate the energy landscape.
To improve energy efficiency and promote the use of energy-efficient technologies, Argentina implemented a national program to phase out incandescent bulbs by 2011. This government-financed initiative aimed to replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in households and selected public buildings connected to the electricity grid. Staff from distribution companies visited residences to replace incandescent bulbs and educate users about the benefits of energy-efficient alternatives.
Buenos Aires has experienced challenges in meeting electricity demand, particularly during heatwaves. On March 5, 2025, a power failure left over 600,000 customers without electricity, affecting traffic lights, subway services, and the city's electric grid. The sudden failure of a high-voltage power line during a heatwave, when electricity usage was already high, contributed to this blackout.
To address the increasing demand for electricity in Argentina, the government is commissioning large projects in the generation and transmission sectors. The country has received financing for electricity infrastructure projects, such as the Electricity Interconnection Comahue-Cuyo and the Electricity Interconnection Rincón Santa María-Rodríguez, from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF). These projects aim to enhance transmission capacity and improve the reliability of the electricity supply.
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Power plugs and sockets
If you are travelling to Buenos Aires, it is important to know what type of power plugs and sockets are used there. The standard voltage in Argentina is 220 V, with a standard frequency of 50 Hz. The power plugs and sockets that are used are Type C and Type I. Type C plugs have two round pins, whereas Type I plugs have two flat pins in a V shape, with a third pin for grounding. These types of plugs are also used in many other countries, including much of Europe and neighbouring countries in South America.
It is worth noting that the voltage in Buenos Aires is higher than in some other regions, such as North America, where the voltage is typically 120 V. As such, if you are travelling to Buenos Aires from a country with a lower voltage, you may need to use a voltage converter for certain appliances, or risk damaging your devices. However, many modern devices, such as phone chargers, are designed to support a range of voltages, so you may not always need a converter. It is always important to check the specifications of your devices before plugging them in.
In addition to the type of plug and voltage, it is also useful to know about the electricity providers in Buenos Aires. The city is served by three main electricity utilities: Edenor, Edesur, and Edelap. These companies provide electricity to the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, covering different districts of the city. In 2008, these companies increased their residential electricity tariffs by 10-30% for households that consume more than 650 kWh every two months.
In recent years, there have been efforts to improve energy efficiency in Buenos Aires and Argentina more broadly. For example, in 2011, the government financed a national program to phase out incandescent bulbs, replacing them with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in households and selected public buildings. Such initiatives aim to reduce energy consumption and promote more sustainable practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricity in Buenos Aires is distributed and sold by three utilities: Edenor, Edesur, and Edelap. In 2025, a power outage left over 600,000 customers without electricity in the Argentine capital.
The standard voltage in Buenos Aires, and Argentina more generally, is 220 V at a frequency of 50 Hz.
Argentina generates electricity through fossil fuels (66.17%), wind (9.81%), solar (2.03%), hydropower (16.76%), nuclear (5.22%), and geothermal (0.00%).
