Colombia and Peru

In Colombia, an effort to sell the state utility has begun. Colombia's congress has approved a privatization plan, which affects at least 25 companies in many industries, including the hydro and thermoelectric industry {see Endnote 277}. Foreign companies actively investing in Colombia include ABB Energy Ventures (Sweden/Switzerland), Citizens Power and Light (United States), General Public Utilities (United States), K&M Engineering and Consulting (United States), and Northern States Power (United States). All investment is in power generation, most of which is gas-fired (Table 8). One notable exception is the coal-fired generation investment of Citizens Power and Light.

Peru restructured its electricity industry into separate generation, distribution, and transmission companies, as have Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile {see Endnote 278}. However, unlike Bolivia and Chile, Peru hasseen much foreign investment in power distribution, in addition to power generation. Most of the power generation investment has been in hydroelectric generation. The companies active in Peru include the Chilean companies Chilectra, Chilquinta, Enersis S.A., and Endesa; the U.S. company Entergy; and the Canadian company Ontario Hydro (Table 8).