Browse Honduras Daily Stories

Congress president Tomás Zambrano ordered the national power utility to implement a debt-forgiveness program for approximately 80,000–100,000 low-consumption households (under 250 kilowatts) without additional requirements beyond verifying existing debt, as mandated by the Energy Justice Law passed in August.

Honduras's new Energy Justice Law seeks to attract investment and boost competition in the electric sector while freezing ENEE rates for the first six months and opening the way for short- and long-term energy auctions and residential solar projects.

A congresswoman from the Libre party has proposed legislation to identify tenants as responsible for electrical consumption during their occupancy, with provisions to report unpaid debts to credit bureaus and protect landlords from inheriting tenants' arrears.

Honduras's Supreme Audit Court found that the state power utility ENEE redirected about 2 billion lempiras (roughly $80 million) intended for a national program to reduce electrical losses, preventing the purchase of equipment and services needed to meet its efficiency targets in 2023–24.

A proposed law would make tenants responsible for electric bills incurred during their lease term and allow utilities to report unpaid debts to credit agencies after a 30-day notice period, protecting property owners from inherited arrears.

President Nasry Asfura signed the Law of Energy Justice, which restructures the state power utility ENEE by separating generation, transmission, and distribution into three subsidiary companies while maintaining state ownership, aimed at reducing losses and improving electricity service.

Congress Energy Commission member Eder Mejía said the government's electric-sector reforms, which would forgive debts for users consuming under 200 kWh monthly, freeze rates for six months, and regularize illegal connections, are expected to be published in the official gazette next week.

ENEE Manager Guillermo Peña Panting said Congress-approved energy reforms are not being modified and outlined a timeline for implementation once published in the official gazette, including meetings with multilateral lenders and planning for resources, staffing, and technical support.

Lawmakers unanimously approved a motion to enforce a 2016 decree exempting public soccer fields and parks nationwide from paying for electricity, citing a decade-long failure by the state utility ENEE to apply the law and noting that youth sports programs are being harmed.

Dozens of Hondurans carrying torches and signs marched peacefully to Casa Presidencial on Friday demanding government action on the country's water shortage and opposing recent energy reforms approved by Congress.

Former president Manuel Zelaya criticized Congress's approval of an energy-reform law as a surrender of state control to private corporations, arguing it exemplifies how élites and external political pressure undermine Honduran democracy.

A national poll finds nearly half of Hondurans view proposed changes to the state utility ENEE as privatization, with 37.4% fearing the reforms will harm households already squeezed by high electricity costs, food prices, and fuel.

Lawmakers approved the Energy Justice Law on final vote with 78 votes, restructuring the state electric utility ENEE through legal reforms to the sector's framework while keeping it publicly owned.

A Liberal congresswoman confirmed discussions with US diplomats about Honduras's electric-sector reform and US investment opportunities, saying the US has made clear it has no interest in privatizing the state utility ENEE.

The president of Congress announced that lawmakers will resume debate on controversial reforms to Honduras's electricity sector on Tuesday, with party caucuses still negotiating points of disagreement ahead of the planned third and final vote.

Lawmakers are intensifying negotiations to break a months-long deadlock over reforms to Honduras's electric power system, with legislators aiming to bring the bill to a final vote this week after incorporating opposition demands to protect state assets and reduce consumer costs.

Mayors and lawmakers aligned with the Liberal Party are preparing an alternative energy proposal that would keep the national power utility ENEE under state control, combat electricity theft and meter fraud (cited as over 90% of losses), and renegotiate rates with private generators.

Honduras's Energy Commission is reviewing a Liberal Party counterproposal for restructuring the state electric utility into three operating subsidiaries, aiming to attract private capital for modernization while keeping state ownership of major generation and transmission assets.

Congress plans to vote next week on restructuring the state electricity company to stem annual losses exceeding 16 billion lempiras (about $640 million), but passage depends on the Liberal Party's backing and its proposed reverse-auction mechanism for energy procurement.

Congressman Yuri Sabas criticized the government's energy-reform bill for lacking substantive changes, warning that ENEE could become as hollowed-out as the failed state telecom Hondutel despite holding valuable assets like major dams.

The Liberal Party caucus presented a counterproposal to the government's energy-reform law, saying it includes legal safeguards and structural guarantees to benefit Hondurans while preventing what lawmakers call privatization risks to state utility ENEE.

Lawmakers are moving closer to agreement on reforms to Honduras's General Law of the Electrical Industry, with the Liberal Party and the legislative committee narrowing differences over how to attract private investment while keeping state assets under the control of the state-owned utility ENEE.

Congress President Tomás Zambrano declared that privatization of the national electricity company ENEE is entirely off the table, saying proposed reforms to energy law aim instead to stabilize the utility's finances and resolve the country's power crisis.

Congress President Tomás Zambrano called on the Liberal Party to submit its observations on a proposed reform to Honduras's electricity law, framing the modernization of the troubled state utility ENEE as urgent for all Hondurans, not just the governing party.

The Liberal Party congressional bloc will present next week an alternative proposal to reform Honduras's electric-industry law, conditioning their support on incorporating their technical observations drawn from successful regional models in Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

Congressman Rumy Bueso said the Liberal caucus rejects the government's energy reforms, arguing they weaken state utility ENEE, and will introduce a counterproposal to strengthen the public company without privatization.

The National Congress heard from the ENEE director and energy regulator on annual contract renewals for 30, 50, and 80 megawatts of electricity, with lawmakers divided over whether the state utility has adequate funds to pay for the supply amid broader financial strain.

Congress President Tomás Zambrano announced that lawmakers have reached consensus on electricity-industry reforms and may hold a final vote next Tuesday, citing annual losses exceeding 16 billion lempiras at the state utility and chronic blackouts affecting Honduras more severely than neighboring countries.

Honduras's Liberal Party announced it will not support the government's electric-sector reform as written, instead proposing its own bill to preserve ENEE's public status, prevent privatization, and include workforce protections, fair tariffs, and financial audits.

At least 10 members of the Liberal Party in Congress oppose proposed counterreforms to the state power utility ENEE, signaling internal party division on energy policy.