On December 10, 2025, the Secretary of Energy (the “SE”) published Resolution 501/2025 (“Resolution 501”) which complements Section 3.1 of the “Rules for the Normalization of the Wholesale Electricity Market and its Progressive Adaptation” (the “Rules” and the “WEM”), approved by Resolution SE 400/25 (see our comments on this regulation here), related to the decentralized and competitive fuel management scheme applicable to thermal power generation.
In this regard, Resolution 501 is framed within the transitional period established by Decree 450/2025 (see our comments on said regulation here) and the provisions of the Rules concerning fuel management, setting complementary rules for Plan Gas withdrawals, defining assignment of contracts, dispatch and remuneration of gas, and ensuring decentralization of fuel management in the WEM under clear cost and operational conditions.
Resolution 501 introduces complementary guidelines to the scheme for the withdrawal of volumes under Plan Gas, as detailed below:
- Contract assignment: Producers withdrawing gas may request to Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico S.A (“CAMMESA”) to assign their contractual position to a generator.
- Dispatch using withdrawn gas: Generators that use gas that has been withdrawn from Plan Gas are considered self-managed and are dispatched within the WEM based on declared variable cost of production (“CVP”).
- CVP of generators with WEM contracts: Thermal generators contracting with CAMMESA to secure volumes within Plan Gas may declare a CVP, which shall be limited by capped and floored values (maximum value based on reference prices, and minimum set at seventy-five percent (75%) of those reference prices).
- Dispatch: Gas volumes allocated under Plan Gas shall be dispatched following the same conditions applicable to other centrally administered Plan Gas contracts and may be complemented by volumes from contracts with CAMMESA if needed.
- Remuneration: Payment is proportional to self-consumed volumes; recognition applies if CAMMESA bears costs for unused gas.
- Dispatch Priority: The use of gas volumes under Plan Gas does not grant dispatch priority.
- Irrevocability of Withdrawn Gas: The withdrawal option is irrevocable unless the Rules are amended to the contrary.
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For additional information, please contact Nicolás Eliaschev, Javier Constanzó, Daiana Perrone, Milagros Piñeiro, Macarena Becerra, María Paz Albar Díaz, Rocío Valdez, Victoria Barrueco, Sol Villegas Leiva, or Manuel Crespi.