The National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) is facing a worrying staff shortage as it absorbs a surge of new duties mandated by recent government legislation aimed at addressing the energy crisis. With prices rising, energy companies and regulators alike are under pressure as oversight expands to cover electricity, gas, and fuels. The CNMC’s role in monitoring energy markets has become more demanding even as demands on its resources grow.
During successive reforms, the government moved to soften the impact of price increases on households and businesses. This produced new authorizations for the CNMC and created a heavier workload for the Energy Directorate. The department had already been short on personnel and was stretched by the added responsibilities.
In response to the strain, the executive board led by the commission’s chair obtained a second staff increase within months, through the Ministry of Finance, to handle the expanded control duties over electricity and oil firms while preserving routine functions. A call to create an additional set of positions has been authorized, with 38 troops already allocated and more openings anticipated as the agency strengthens its energy remit.
The Remuneration Commission, which reports to the Ministry of Finance, initially approved 24 civil servant posts and later confirmed a plan to add more staff. Reports from CNMC sources indicate that 14 more workers were slated, aligning with the need to scale operations.
more reinforcements
Following the Treasury’s assent, four additional posts remained pending approval to complete the institution’s request. The CNMC had not yet finalized the new hires, but authorization was granted to establish the positions and begin a hiring process expected to be completed by the end of 2022. The current Energy Department staffing sits at around 115 employees.
Nevertheless, the process to extend the energy‑sector team remains active, with the government signaling readiness to request extra resources if necessary. The CNMC has stated it will seek additional personnel whenever new mandates cannot be covered by the existing team, particularly for new energy functions.
control over energy
As part of a legislative package designed to mitigate the effects of last year’s energy crisis, the government moved to curb extraordinary profits arising from elevated wholesale prices. Measures included a universal 20-cent-per-liter discount and robust oversight to ensure proper implementation. A key component of this oversight falls under CNMC responsibility.
In September of the prior year, the government introduced a system of price controls for electricity suppliers to curb extra profits linked to energy prices. The plan required some nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewable resources to repatriate extraordinary income that could otherwise fuel high wholesale prices. These reforms sought to prevent inflated costs from passing down the chain to consumers.
Electricity providers routinely send large volumes of contracts to illustrate terms and prices for customers with long‑term bilateral agreements. The process begins with the central operator of the electricity grid, which the government assigns to calculate monthly settlements and then relay them to the CNMC for market oversight.
The government’s use of macro‑decrees tied to the war in Ukraine further supported a framework to reduce excess income in contracts priced above the market, applying existing anti‑crisis measures and maintaining vigilance over big electricity players to ensure that inflated profits do not slip through the cracks within corporate groups.
CNMC also oversees that all gas stations apply the mandated 20‑cent-per-liter fuel discount for drivers, a policy designed to dampen fuel price hikes. Additional tasks include a rapid recalculation of fees tied to renewable energy yield guarantees and a fresh distribution model for the electricity social bond, aimed at benefiting vulnerable households across the sector.