COLOMBIA · ENERGY
Key Facts
- The country Colombia is a South American country of about 52 million people that gets most of its electricity from hydropower.
- What happened The acting head of XM, the company that runs the national grid, warned on Thursday 15 October that rationing could return in March and April 2027.
- Why now A strong El Niño weather pattern is expected to keep rainfall low, and the grid came close to rationing on 28 and 29 September.
- The numbers Inflows into the national grid are at 60% of the historical average in October, and only 40% in the region of Antioquia.
- What it means for you Travellers, exporters and investors with a stake in Colombia should expect energy-saving appeals and some risk of scheduled outages next year.
- Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
- Still open No rationing has been ordered, and the government has not published a plan for how any cuts would be shared.
Colombia power rationing could return in March and April 2027, the acting head of the national grid operator warned on Thursday 15 October. Juan Carlos Morales, who leads XM, said a strong El Niño could leave reservoirs too low to meet evening demand.
The Colombia power rationing warning matters to US readers because Colombia is a major US trading partner and a popular travel destination. Factories, hotels and foreign investors there all depend on a grid that has just come close to power cuts.
What the Grid Operator Said
El Tiempo, a Bogotá daily, reports that Morales told an energy-market congress that rationing like the late-September near miss could repeat. He placed the greatest danger in March and April 2027, when reservoirs are expected to sit at their lowest.
XM is the company that runs Colombia’s national grid and its wholesale electricity market, matching supply and demand every hour. Infobae, another Colombian outlet, quotes Morales saying the country “ran out of capacity to meet electricity demand” on those September days.
Why El Niño Matters So Much
El Niño is a periodic warming of the Pacific Ocean that often brings drought to Colombia. Morales said El Niño will be strong or very strong until March 2027, which he put at 100% probability.
Water flowing into the national grid is at 60% of the historical average so far in October, according to El Tiempo. In Antioquia, home to major hydropower plants, the figure falls to 40%, and XM expects conditions to worsen from December.
The Close Call Before Colombia Power Rationing
On 28 and 29 September, demand for electricity exceeded the generation that companies had declared available, and the country nearly ordered rationing. Generators that had not been scheduled to run were called in, and cuts were avoided.
The problem is mostly at night, when demand peaks and solar parks produce nothing. XM says evening supply has shrunk year after year, though capacity is about 22,500 megawatts (MW) against peak demand near 13,000 MW.
A Grid With Weak Links
A megawatt is one million watts, roughly the power used by several hundred homes. Daily demand has reached 267 gigawatt-hours (GWh), and the highest hourly load is around 12,700 MW.
El Tiempo adds that grid bottlenecks in Antioquia, the Caribbean coast and the south-west forced 364 disconnection orders from April to September. Morales said the network must be strengthened if the system is to cope with rising demand.
What XM Wants Done
To prevent Colombia power rationing, XM lists steps such as securing fuel for thermal plants and faster approvals for small local generators. Over the longer term it points to battery storage and a broader mix of energy sources.
A voluntary saving programme that began in September has cut demand by about 3.28 GWh a day, or 1.2%, according to El Tiempo. The newspaper notes that weather may also have played a part, and Morales urged the sector to start planning “structural solutions” now.
What It Means for You
For US travellers, the dry season from December to February could bring public appeals to save power. Hotels and restaurants may have back-up generators, but visitors should check before booking in affected regions.
For US companies and investors in Colombia, power rationing raises costs and the risk of interrupted production. Our earlier reports on the cost of rationing in an El Niño year and the government’s household savings plan give the wider background.
What Is Not Known
No Colombia power rationing has been ordered, and XM describes a possibility, not a decision. The government has not said how any cuts would be shared between homes, industry and regions.
It is not yet clear how deep the drought will be, or whether new generation and extra fuel can arrive before March. The savings seen since September may also fade once the weather changes.
More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colombia power rationing happening now?
No. The grid came close on 28 and 29 September, but no rationing was ordered. XM warns that Colombia power rationing could return in March and April 2027.
What is XM?
XM is the company that operates Colombia’s national power grid and its wholesale electricity market. Its acting general manager is Juan Carlos Morales.
Why is El Niño a threat to Colombian electricity?
Colombia relies heavily on hydropower, and El Niño usually brings less rain. Lower reservoirs mean less water for the plants that supply much of the country’s power.
Should travellers to Colombia worry about blackouts?
Nothing has been ordered, so no cuts are scheduled. Visitors planning trips between December and April should follow local announcements and ask hotels about back-up power.
Sources: El Tiempo, 15 October 2026; Infobae, 15 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief