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Energy in Colombia Final Customers Identification

Customers Categorization

The final customers in the Colombian energy value chain can be broadly categorized into Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B) segments, primarily served by the Distribution and Commercialization stages for both electricity and hydrocarbons (natural gas and liquid fuels).

The B2C (Business-to-Consumer) segment primarily consists of: * Residential Users: Households that consume electricity and natural gas for domestic purposes. These customers typically fall under the regulated market for electricity and natural gas distribution and commercialization, meaning their tariffs and service conditions are set by the regulatory authority (CREG). * Individual Fuel Consumers: Drivers of vehicles who purchase gasoline, diesel, and LPG at retail service stations. While the transaction is with a commercialization company (like Terpel or Biomax), the end consumer is an individual for personal use.

The B2B (Business-to-Business) segment includes a more diverse group of customers with varying energy needs and consumption scales: * Small Commercial Users: Businesses such as small shops, offices, and restaurants. Along with residential users, these are often part of the regulated market for electricity and natural gas, paying regulated tariffs. * Large Commercial Users: Larger businesses and institutions (e.g., shopping malls, large office buildings) with significant energy consumption. These customers typically fall under the non-regulated market, allowing them to negotiate electricity and natural gas supply contracts directly with commercialization companies, often leading to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) or gas supply agreements. * Industrial Users: Factories and manufacturing plants with high energy demands, often requiring specific voltage levels or large volumes of natural gas. These customers are predominantly in the non-regulated market, negotiating terms directly with energy suppliers and commercializers. Their energy needs can be critical to their operations. * Retail Stations: While serving B2C customers, retail fuel stations themselves are B2B customers of the wholesale fuel distributors (like Terpel and Biomax). * Large Consumers of Refined Products/Natural Gas: Businesses or entities requiring bulk delivery of refined fuels (e.g., for fleets, industrial processes) or large volumes of natural gas supplied directly via pipelines.

Detailed Profiles of Customer Characteristics and Demographics

Detailed demographic data for each customer segment across Colombia is not extensively provided in the source text. However, the analysis offers insights into characteristics based on their category and market segment:

  • Residential Users (B2C): These customers are distributed across all socioeconomic strata and geographic regions of Colombia. Their consumption patterns are influenced by factors such as climate, household size, appliance ownership, and income level. As regulated customers, their primary characteristic from the energy value chain's perspective is their reliance on regulated tariffs for electricity and natural gas supply and distribution. Challenges like high distribution losses in certain regions (e.g., the Caribbean coast, served by Air-e and Afinia) are noted, implying that socioeconomic factors in these areas can contribute to issues like non-technical losses (theft).
  • Small Commercial Users (B2B - Regulated): These businesses have energy needs that are typically higher than residential customers but significantly lower than large industrial or commercial users. Like residential customers in the regulated market, their energy costs and service conditions are determined by regulatory frameworks.
  • Large Commercial and Industrial Users (B2B - Non-Regulated): Characterized by high energy consumption, these customers have the leverage to negotiate directly with commercialization companies. Their energy needs are often critical for their operations, and they may require tailored energy solutions, specific reliability levels, and predictable pricing, which motivates them to enter into long-term contracts (PPAs for electricity) outside the volatile spot market. Their locations are often concentrated in industrial zones or urban commercial centers.
  • Individual Fuel Consumers (B2C): This segment includes a wide demographic range of vehicle owners across the country. Consumption is driven by vehicle type, usage patterns, and fuel prices. The network of service stations caters to this broad base.
  • B2B Fuel Customers: Businesses with vehicle fleets or those requiring bulk fuel deliveries have consumption patterns dictated by their operational scale and logistical needs.

In summary, while specific demographic breakdowns are not available, the customer analysis derived from the value chain report highlights a key distinction based on consumption scale and regulatory status (regulated vs. non-regulated), which dictates their commercial relationship with energy providers and the nature of the products and services they receive. The challenges noted, particularly regarding distribution losses, suggest that socioeconomic characteristics play a role in the operational and financial dynamics of serving residential and small commercial customers in certain areas.

References:

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