Annual and Transition Report (foreign Private Issuer) (20-f)

 

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 20-F

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 Commission File Number: 001-33422

Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Distribution and Marketing Company of the North S.A.	Argentine Republic
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)	(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Avenida Del Libertador 6363

Ciudad de Buenos Aires, C1428ARG

Buenos Aires, Argentina
(Address of principal executive offices)

German Ranftl Tel.: [phone] / Fax: [phone] Avenida Del Libertador 6363 (C1428ARG) Buenos Aires, Argentina Chief Financial Officer (Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class B Common Shares   American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, each representing 20 Class B Common Shares	EDN     EDN	New York Stock Exchange, Inc.*     New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

___

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: N/A

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 462,292,111 Class A Common Shares, 442,210,385 Class B Common Shares and 1,952,604 Class C Common Shares

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes [_] No [X]

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes [_] No [X]

Note: Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically, every

Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes [X] No [_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer	[_]	Accelerated Filer	[_]
Non-Accelerated Filer	[X]	Emerging Growth Company	[_]

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [_]

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (§ 15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. [_]

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing: U.S. GAAP [_]
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board [X] Other [_]

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow: Item 17 [_] Item 18 [_]

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [_] No [X]

 

 

 

PART I
Item 1.   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors	1
Item 2.   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable	1
Item 3.   Key Information	1
Item 4.   Information on the Company	49
Item 4A.   Unresolved Staff Comments	97
Item 5.   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects	97
Item 6.   Directors, Senior Management and Employees	138
Item 7.   Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions	151
Item 8.   Financial Information	156
Item 9.   The Offer and Listing	163
Item 10.   Additional Information	170
Item 11.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	203
Item 12.   Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities	204
PART II
Item 13.   Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies	206
Item 14.   Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds	206
Item 15.   Controls and Procedures	206
Item 16A.   Audit Committee Financial Expert	208
Item 16B.   Code of Ethics	208
Item 16C.   Principal Accountant Fees and Services	208
Item 16D.   Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees	209
Item 16E.   Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers	209
Item 16F.   Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant	209
Item 16G.   Corporate Governance	209
Item 16H.   Mine Safety Disclosures	215
Item 16I   Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.	215
PART III
Item 17.   Financial Statements	215
Item 18.   Financial Statements	216
Item 19.   Exhibits	216
Index to Financial Statements	F-1

 

 

 

 

PART I

Item 1.

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

Not applicable.

Item 2.

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not applicable.

Item 3.

Key Information

In this annual report, except as otherwise specified, references to “we”, “us”, “our” and “the Company” are references to (i) Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A., or “Edenor”. For more information, see “Item 4—Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report includes forward-looking statements, principally under the captions “Item 3. Key Information - Risk Factors”, “Item 4. Information on the Company” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current beliefs, expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting our business. Forward-looking statements may also be identified by words such as “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “projects”, “intends”, “should”, “seeks”, “estimates”, “future” or similar expressions. Many important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this annual report, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements, including, among other things:

·

the treatment of tariff updates according to the Integral Tariff Revision process (Revisión Tarifaria Integral or “RTI”);

·

uncertainties related to future Government interventions or legal actions;

·

general political, economic, social, demographic and business conditions in the Republic of Argentina, (“Argentina”) and, particularly, in the geographic market we serve;

·

the evolution of energy losses and the impact of fines and penalties and uncollectible debt;

·

the impact of regulatory reform and changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate;

·

electricity shortages;

·

potential disruption or interruption of our service;

·

the revocation or amendment of our concession by the granting authority;

·

our ability to implement our capital expenditure plan, including our ability to arrange financing when required and on reasonable terms;

·

fluctuations in exchange rates, including depreciation of the Peso;

·

the effects of a pandemic or epidemic and any subsequent mandatory restrictions or containment measures, including lockdowns and other restrictions;

·

the impact of high rates of inflation on our costs;

·

the unsustainability of the tariff freeze in the distribution of energy;

·

the renegotiation of our commercial debt with CAMMESA;

·

our ability to continue as a going concern;

·

the renegotiation of public debt; and

·

additional matters identified in “Risk factors”.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements after we file this annual report because of new information, future events or other factors. In light of these limitations, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements contained in this annual report.

       

 

EXCHANGE RATES

In 2021, the Argentine Peso continued to depreciate against major foreign currencies, particularly against the U.S. dollar. According to the exchange rate information published by the Banco de la Nación Argentina, the Argentine Peso depreciated by 22.1% against the U.S. dollar during the year ended December 31, 2021 (compared to 40.5%, 58.9% and 102.2% in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively).

The following table sets forth the high, low, average and period-end exchange rates for the periods indicated, expressed in Pesos per U.S. Dollar and not adjusted for inflation. When preparing our financial statements, we utilize the selling exchange rates for U.S. Dollars quoted by the Banco de la Nación Argentina (“Banco Nación”) to translate our U.S. Dollar denominated assets and liabilities into Pesos. There can be no assurance that the Peso will not further depreciate or appreciate in the future. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not report a noon buying rate for Pesos. For more information regarding depreciation, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Factors Relating to Argentina—Fluctuations in the value of the Peso could adversely affect the Argentine economy and, which could, in turn adversely affect our results of operations.”

In this annual report, except as otherwise specified, references to “U.S.$” and “Dollars” are to U.S. Dollars, and references to “Ps.”, “AR$” and “Pesos” are to Argentine Pesos. Solely for the convenience of the reader, we have converted certain amounts included in this annual report from Pesos into Dollars using, for the information provided as of December 31, 2021, the selling exchange rate reported by the Banco Nación, as of December 31, 2021, which was Ps.102.72 to U.S.$1.00 unless otherwise indicated. These conversions should not be considered representations that any such amounts have been, could have been or could be converted into U.S. Dollars at that or at any other exchange rate. On March 31, 2022, the exchange rate was Ps. 111.01, to U.S.$1.00. As a result of fluctuations in the Dollar Peso exchange rate, the exchange rate at such date may not be indicative of current or future exchange rates.

		Low			High			Average			Period End
		(Pesos per U.S. Dollar)
Year ended December 31,
2018		18.41			41.25			29.26	(1)		37.70
2019		36.90			60.40			47.82	(1)		59.89
2020		59.82			84.15			70.87	(1)		84.15
2021		84.15			105.20			95.13	(1)		102.72
Month
November-21		99.81			105.20			100.47	(2)		100.94
December-21		101.00			105.20			102.36	(2)		102.72
January-22		102.72			105.02			103.92	(2)		105.02
February-22		105.02			107.45			106.32	(2)		107.45
March-22		107.45			111.01			109.38	(2)		111.01
_____________________
Source: Banco Nación

  

(1)        Represents the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period.

(2)        Average of the lowest and highest daily rates in the month.

 

2

RISK FACTORS

 

The following summarizes some, but not all, of the risks provided below. Please carefully consider all of the information discussed in this Item 3.D. “ Risk Factors” of this annual report for a more thorough description of these and other risks:

Risks Related to Argentina

 

·

A global or regional financial crisis and unfavorable credit and market conditions may negatively affect our liquidity, users, business, and results of operations.

·

The Argentine economy remains vulnerable and any significant decline may adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

·

Economic and political developments in Argentina, and future policies of the Argentine Government may affect the economy as well as the operations of the energy distribution industry, including Edenor.

·

If high levels of inflation continue, the Argentine economy and our results of operations could be adversely affected.

·

As of July 1, 2018, the Argentine Peso qualifies as a currency of a hyperinflationary economy and we are required to restate our historical financial statements in accordance with IFRS, in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting year, which could adversely affect our results of operation and financial condition.

·

The credibility of several Argentine economic indexes was called into question, which may lead to a lack of confidence in the Argentine economy and, in turn, limit our ability to access credit and the capital markets.

·

Argentina’s ability to obtain financing from international markets could be limited, which may impair its ability to implement reforms and foster economic growth and, consequently, affect our business, results of our operations and growth prospects.

·

Fluctuations in the value of the Argentine Peso could adversely affect the Argentine economy and could in turn adversely affect our results of operations.

·

Intervention by the Argentine Government may adversely affect the Argentine economy and, as a result, our business and results of operations.

·

Argentine corporations may be restricted to make payments in foreign currencies or import certain products.

·

Argentine public expenditure may generate negative consequences for the Argentine economy.

·

The Argentine economy remains vulnerable to external shocks that could be caused by significant economic difficulties of Argentina’s major regional trading partners, or by more general “contagion” effects. Such external shocks and “contagion” effects could have a material adverse effect on Argentina’s economic growth and, therefore, our results of operations and financial condition.

·

The global and local economies and our results of operations could be adversely affected as a result of the outbreak of war between Ukraine and Russia.

·

Developments relating to the coronavirus may have a material adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition or results of operations.

·

The application of certain laws and regulations could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

·

The Argentine economy and finances may be adversely affected as a consequence of a decrease in the international prices of commodities that Argentina exports.

·

Failure to adequately address actual and perceived risks of institutional deterioration and corruption may adversely affect Argentina’s economy and financial condition.

·

Any downgrade in the credit rating or rating outlook of Argentina could adversely affect both the rating and the market price of our ADS, our Class B common shares and our corporate debt, affecting also our liquidity.

  

3

 

 

Risks Relating to the Electricity Distribution Sector

·

The Argentine Government has intervened in the electricity sector in the past, and may continue intervening.

·

The Argentine Government signed an agreement with the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires for the transfer of the public service of electricity distribution.

·

There is uncertainty as to what other measures the Argentine Government may adopt in connection with tariffs on public services and their impact on the Argentine economy.

·

Electricity distributors were severely affected by the emergency measures adopted during the economic crisis, many of which remain in effect.

·

Electricity demand may be affected by tariff increases, which could lead distribution companies, such as us, to record lower revenues.

·

Energy shortages may act as a brake on growing demand for electricity and disrupt distribution companies’ ability to deliver electricity to their customers, which could result in customer claims and material penalties imposed on these companies.

·

If the demand for energy is increased suddenly, the difficulty in increasing the capacity of distribution companies in a short or medium term, could adversely affect the Company, which in turn could result in customer complaints and substantial fines for any interruptions.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

·

We operate our business pursuant to our Concession Agreement granted by the Argentine Government, the revocation or termination of which would have a material adverse effect on our business.

·

Downgrades in our credit ratings could have negative effects on our funding costs and business operations.

·

Our business is subject to risks arising from natural disasters, catastrophic accidents and terrorist attacks. Additionally, our businesses are subject to the risk of mechanical or electrical failures and any resulting unavailability may affect our ability to fulfil our contractual commitments and thus adversely affect our business and financial performance.

·

Our operations could cause environmental risks and any change in environmental laws, climate change legislation or regulations restricting emissions of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) and legal frameworks promoting an increase in the participation of energies from renewable sources could significantly impact our business and result in increased operating costs.

·

Failure or delay to negotiate further improvements to our tariff structure, including increases in our distribution margin, and/or to have our tariffs adjusted to reflect increases in our distribution costs in a timely manner or at all, affected and may continue to affect our capacity to perform our commercial obligations and could also have a material adverse effect on our ability to perform our financial obligations.

·

We may not be able to adjust our tariffs to reflect increases in our distribution costs in a timely manner, or at all, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

·

Our distribution tariffs may be subject to challenges by Argentine consumer and other groups.

·

We have been, and may continue to be, subject to fines and penalties that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

·

The increase in the illegal settlements within the Great Buenos Aires area may affect the Company’s ability to distribute energy to its customers, as well as produce an increase in public safety risks.

·

If we are unable to control our energy losses, especially the theft of energy, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

 

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·

Under the Concession Agreement, the Argentine Government could foreclose on its pledge over our Class A common shares under certain circumstances, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

·

Default by the Argentine Government could lead to termination of our concession, and have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

·

The expiration of the management period could result in the sale of the Company’s controlling interest.

·

We may be unable to import certain equipment to meet growing demand for electricity, which could lead to a breach of our Concession Agreement and could have a material adverse effect on the operations and financial position.

·

We employ a largely unionized labor force and could be subject to an organized labor action, including work stoppages that could have a material effect on our business.

·

We could incur material labor liabilities in connection with our outsourcing that could have an adverse effect on our business and on our results of operations.

·

Our performance is largely dependent on recruiting and retaining key personnel.

·

We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and antitrust laws and regulations in Argentina. Any violation thereunder could have a material adversed effect on our reputation and the results of our operation.

·

We are involved in various legal proceedings which could result in unfavorable decisions for us, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

·

In the event of an accident or other event not covered by our insurance, we could face significant losses that could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

·

We currently are not able to effectively hedge our currency risk in full and, as a result, a devaluation of the Peso may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

·

A substantial number of our assets are not subject to attachment or foreclosure and the enforcement of judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may be substantially limited.

·

The loss of the exclusivity of electricity distribution in our service area may be adversely affected by technological or other changes in the energy distribution industry, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

·

A potential nationalization or expropriation of 51% of our capital stock, represented by Class A shares, may limit the ability of Class B shares to participate in the Board of Directors.

·

We may not be able to raise the funds necessary to repay our commercial debt with CAMMESA, our major supplier.

·

We may not have the ability to collect the amounts corresponding to the discounts of the Social Rate, the ceilings of the Social Rate and the bonuses for neighbourhood clubs, that must be financed by the Province of Buenos Aires and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.

·

All of our outstanding financial indebtedness contains bankruptcy, reorganization proceedings and expropriation events of default, and we may be required to repay all of our outstanding debt upon occurrence of any such events.

·

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance a change of control offering as required by our Senior Notes due 2022.

·

The New York Stock Exchange and/or the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange may suspend trading and/or delist our ADSs and Class B common shares, upon the occurrence of certain events relating to our financial situation.

·

Changes in weather conditions or the occurrence of severe weather (whether or not caused by climate change or natural disasters), could adversely affect our operations and financial performance.

·

Cybersecurity events, such as interruptions or failures in our information technology systems as well as cyber-attacks, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

·

The Company’s operations and business could be affected by the adoption of restrictions on the import of products or the technical conditions applicable thereto.

  

5

 

 

Risks relating to our ADSs and Class B common shares

 

·

Restrictions on the movement of capital out of Argentina may impair the ability of holders of ADSs to receive dividends and distributions on, and the proceeds of any sale of, the Class B common shares underlying the ADSs, which could affect the market value of the ADSs.

·

Our shareholders’ ability to receive cash dividends may be limited.

·

Under Argentine law, shareholder rights may be fewer or less well-defined than in other jurisdictions.

·

Holders of ADSs may be unable to exercise voting rights with respect to the Class B common shares underlying the ADSs at our shareholders’ meetings.

·

Our shareholders may be subject to liability for certain votes of their securities.

·

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud and investor confidence and the market price of our securities may be adversely impacted.

·

Provisions of Argentine securities laws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the price of our shares and ADSs.

  

Risks Related to Argentina

Overview

We are a stock corporation (sociedad anónima) incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Argentina and all of our revenues are earned in Argentina and all of our operations, facilities, and users are located in Argentina. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations depend to a significant extent on macroeconomic, regulatory, political and financial conditions prevailing in Argentina, including growth rates, inflation rates, currency exchange rates, taxes, interest rates, and other local, regional and international events and conditions that may affect Argentina in any manner. For example, a slowdown in economic growth or economic recession could lead to a decreased demand for electricity in our concession area or a decline in the purchasing power of our users, which, in turn, could lead to a decrease in collection rates from our users or increased energy losses due to illegal use of our service. For example, Argentina’s economy grew in 2017 and 2021, but contracted in 2018, 2019 and 2020.Several factors have impacted the Argentine economy in the recent past, and may continue to impact it in the future, including among others, inflation rates, exchange rates, commodity prices, public debt, amendments to the tax regime, trade and fiscal balances, government policy, the international context and further developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Our activity is highly regulated and subject to uncertainties due to politic and economic factors, changes in legislation, termination and modification of contractual rights, control of prices and currency fluctuations, among others.

 

We cannot assure that the Argentine Government will not adopt other policies that could adversely affect the Argentine economy or our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, we cannot assure you that future economic, regulatory, social and political developments in Argentina will not impair our business, financial condition or results of operations, nor cause the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares to decline.

A global or regional financial crisis and unfavorable credit and market conditions may negatively affect our liquidity, users, business, and results of operations

The effects of a global or regional financial crisis and related turmoil in the global financial system may have a negative impact on our business, ability to access credit and the international capital markets, financial condition and results of operations, which is likely to be more severe on an emerging market economy, such as Argentina. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Factors Relating to Argentina—Argentina’s ability to obtain financing from international markets could be limited, which may impair its ability to implement reforms and foster economic growth and, consequently, affect our business, results of our operations and growth prospects”. This was the case in 2008, when the global economic crisis led to a sudden economic decline in Argentina in 2009, accompanied by inflationary pressures, depreciation of the Peso and a drop in consumer and investor confidence.

 

6

 

 

Global economic and financial crises, and the general weakness of the global economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected emerging economies like Argentina’s economy. Global financial instability, any further economic global downturn due to COVID-19 and any future increases in the interest of the United States and other developed countries may impact the Argentine economy and prevent Argentina to be put back on track to growth or could aggravate the current recession with consequences in the trade and fiscal balances and in the unemployment rate. Although Argentina’s economy has recovered substantially during 2021, Argentina’s economic growth was severely impacted as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It might also be negatively affected in the future by several domestic factors such as an appreciation of the real exchange rate which could affect its competitiveness, reductions and even reversion of a positive trade balance, which, combined with capital outflows could reduce the levels of consumption and investment resulting in greater exchange rate pressure. Additionally, abrupt changes in monetary and fiscal policies or foreign exchange regime could rapidly affect local economic output, while lack of appropriate levels of investment in certain economy sectors could reduce long-term growth. Access to the international financial markets could be limited. Consequently, an increase in public spending not correlated with an increase in public revenues could affect the Argentina’s fiscal results and generate uncertainties that might affect the economy’s growth level.

 

In addition to the severe social and market disruption at a global scale during 2020 caused by the COVID 19 outbreak, in recent years, several trading partners of Argentina (such as Brazil, Europe and China) have experienced significant slowdowns or recession periods in their economies. These slowdowns intensified during 2020. While the vast majority of economies recovered during 2021, if such slowdowns or recessions were to recur, this may impact the demand for products coming from Argentina and hence affect its economy. Additionally, there is uncertainty as to how the trade relationship between the Mercosur member States will unfold, in particular between Argentina and Brazil. We cannot predict the effect on the Argentine economy and our operations if trade disputes arise between Argentina and Brazil, or in case either country decided to exit the Mercosur.

 

In addition, the global macroeconomic environment is facing challenges. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. There have been concerns over unrest and terrorist threats in the Middle East, Europe and Africa and over the conflicts involving Iran, Ukraine, Syria and North Korea. Moreover, political and social crises arose in several countries of Latin America during 2019, as the economy in much of the region has slowed down after almost a decade of sustained growth, among other factors. There have also been concerns on the relationship among China and other Asian countries, which may result in or intensify potential conflicts in relation to territorial disputes, and the possibility of a trade war between the United States and China. In addition, United Kingdom exited the European Union (“Brexit”) on January 31, 2020. The medium and long term implications of Brexit could adversely affect European and worldwide economic and market conditions and could contribute to instability in global financial and foreign exchange markets.

 

Furthermore, in February 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Although the severity and duration of the ongoing military action are highly unpredictable, the conflict in Ukraine, Russia’s prior annexation of Crimea, recent recognition of two separatist republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and subsequent military interventions in Ukraine have led to sanctions being levied by the United States, the European Union and other countries against Russia, with additional potential sanctions threatened and/or proposed. Russia’s military incursion and the market volatility could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and thus could affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions caused by Russian military action or resulting sanctions may magnify the impact of other risks described in this Annual Report and may result in compliance and operational challenges for the Company.  In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many countries have imposed economic sanctions against Russia, which has impacted the global economy as many commercial, industrial and financial businesses are closing operations in Russia. Trade restrictions imposed on Russia have led to increasing prices of oil, fluctuation in commodities markets and foreign currency exchange volatility. Russia’s military incursion and the market volatility could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and thus could affect our business, financial condition or results of operation. Further escalation of such armed conflict could lead to supply disruptions and higher energy costs, among others, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

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The effects of an economic crisis on our users and on us cannot be predicted. Weak global and local economic conditions, together with increased international tension and oil & gas constraints, could lead to reduced demand or lower prices for energy, hydrocarbons and related oil products and petrochemicals, which could have a negative effect on our revenues. Economic factors such as unemployment, inflation and the unavailability of credit could also have a material adverse effect on the demand for energy and, therefore, on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The financial and economic situation in Argentina or in other countries in Latin America, such as Brazil, may also have a negative impact on us and third parties with whom we do, or may do, business.

The Argentine economy remains vulnerable and any significant decline may adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition

The Argentine economy has experienced significant volatility in recent decades, characterized by periods of low or negative growth, high levels of inflation and currency depreciation. Sustainable economic growth in Argentina depends on a variety of factors including the international demand for Argentine exports, the stability and competitiveness of the Peso against foreign currencies, confidence among consumers and foreign and domestic investors and a stable rate of inflation, national employment levels and the circumstances of Argentina’s regional trade partners. The Argentine macroeconomic environment, in which we operate, remains vulnerable, as reflected by the following economic conditions:

·

according to the recent data published by the INDEC in 2022, for the year ended December 31, 2021, Argentina’s real GDP increased by 10.3% compared to the same period in 2020, mainly due to a recovery of economic activity after an atypical 2020 which was severally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Argentina’s performance has depended on a significant extent to high commodity prices which, despite having favorable long-term trends, are volatile in the short-term and beyond the control of the Argentine Government and the private sector;

·

continued increases in public expenditures have resulted and could continue to result in fiscal deficit and affect economic growth;

·

inflation remains high and may continue at those levels in the future, while regulated tariffs may lag behind;

·

investment as a percentage of GDP remains low to sustain the growth rate of the past decades;

 

8

 

 

·

protests or strikes may adversely affect the stability of the political, social and economic environment and may negatively impact the global financial market’s confidence in the Argentine economy;

·

energy or natural gas supply by generators may not be sufficient to supply increased industrial activity (thereby limiting industrial development) and consumption, mostly at peak demand such as in the winter season;

·

unemployment and informal employment remain high, which could have a bearing on energy theft levels potentially impacting our results and operations; and

·

the Argentine Government’s economic expectations may not be met and the process of restoring the confidence in the Argentine economy may take longer than anticipated.

 

As in the recent past, Argentina’s economy may be adversely affected if political and social pressures inhibit the implementation by the Argentine Government of policies designed to control inflation, generate growth and enhance consumer and investor confidence, or if policies implemented by the Argentine Government that are designed to achieve these goals are not successful. These events could materially affect our financial condition and results of operations, or cause the market value of our ADSs and our Class B common shares to decline.

Although Argentina’s economy has recovered substantially during 2021, Argentina’s economic growth was severely impacted as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic (including the spread of new variants). It might also be negatively affected in the future by several domestic factors such as an appreciation of the real exchange rate which could affect its competitiveness, reductions and even reversion of a positive trade balance, which, combined with capital outflows could reduce the levels of consumption and investment resulting in greater exchange rate pressure. Additionally, abrupt changes in monetary and fiscal policies or the foreign exchange regimes could rapidly affect local economic output, while lack of appropriate levels of investment in certain economic sectors could reduce long-term growth. Access to the international financial markets could be limited. Consequently, an increase in public spending not correlated with an increase in public revenues could affect the Argentina’s fiscal results and generate uncertainties that might affect the economy’s growth level.

The Argentine Peso has been subject to significant depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the past and may be subject to fluctuations in the future. We cannot predict whether and to what extent the value of the Peso could depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar and the way in which any such fluctuations could affect our business. The value of the Peso compared to other currencies is dependent, in addition to other factors listed above, on the level of international reserves maintained by the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina (Banco Central de la República Argentina, the “Central Bank” or “BCRA”), which have also shown significant fluctuations in recent years. As of December 30, 2021, the international reserves of the BCRA totaled U.S.$39,662 million. According to the exchange rate information published by the Banco de la Nación Argentina, the Argentine Peso depreciated by 14.7% against the U.S. dollar during the year ended December 31, 2021 (compared to 40.5%, 58.9% and 102.2% in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively).

In 2019, as a result of the economic instability, economic uncertainty, and rising inflation rates, the former Argentine administration and the BCRA adopted a series of measures reinstating foreign exchange controls, which applied with respect to access to the foreign exchange market by residents for savings and investment purposes abroad, the payment of external financial debts, the payment of dividends in foreign currency abroad, payments of goods and services in foreign currencies, payments of imports of goods and services, and the obligation to repatriate and settle for Pesos the proceeds from exports of goods and services, among others. Other financial transactions such as derivatives and securities related operations, were also covered by the new foreign exchange regime. Following the change in government, the new administration extended the validity of such measures, which were originally in effect until December 31, 2019, and established further restrictions by means of the enacted Law No. 27,541 on Social Solidarity and Productive Reactivation in the Framework of the Public Emergency (Ley de Solidaridad Social y Reactivación Productiva en el Marco de la Emergencia Pública, or the “Productive Reactivation Law”), regulated by Decrees No. 58 and 99/19, including a new tax on certain transactions involving the purchase of foreign currency by both Argentine individuals and entities. Although the official exchange rate has stabilized since the adoption of the foreign exchange controls, we cannot assure you that the official exchange rate will not fluctuate significantly in the future. There can be no assurances regarding future modifications to exchange controls. Exchange controls could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations and our ability to meet our foreign currency obligations and execute our financing plans. See “Item 10. Additional Information— Exchange Controls.”

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The success of these measures or other measures that the BCRA may implement in the future, is uncertain and any further depreciation of the Argentine Peso or our inability to acquire foreign currency could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict the effectiveness of these measures. We cannot predict whether, and to what extent, the value of the Argentine Peso may depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar or other foreign currencies, and how these uncertainties will affect electricity consumption. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that, in the future, no additional currency or foreign exchange restrictions or controls will be imposed. Existing and future measures may negatively affect Argentina’s international competitiveness, discouraging foreign investments and lending by foreign investors or increasing foreign capital outflow which could have an adverse effect on economic activity in Argentina, and which in turn could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We cannot predict how these conditions will affect the consumption of services provided by Edenor or our ability to meet our liabilities denominated in currencies other than the Argentine Peso, including our Senior Notes due 2022 for U.S.$98 million. Any restrictions on transferring funds abroad imposed by the Government could undermine our ability to pay dividends on our ADSs or make payments (of principal or interest) under our outstanding indebtedness in U.S. dollars, as well as to comply with any other obligation denominated in foreign currency.

Due to the above mentioned macroeconomic situation, the financial impact on the Company is discussed in Note 1 to our 2021 financial statements, where the Company’s Board and management concluded that there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, which was also expressed by our independent registered public accounting firm in their report appearing elsewhere herein. A decline in economic growth, an increase in economic instability or the expansion of economic policies and measures taken or that may be adopted in the future by the Argentine Government to control inflation or address other macroeconomic developments that affect private sector entities such as us, all developments over which we have no control, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations or would not have a negative impact on the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares.

Economic and political developments in Argentina, and future policies of the Argentine Government may affect the economy as well as the operations of the energy distribution industry, including Edenor

The Argentine Government has historically exercised significant influence over the economy, and our Company has operated in a highly regulated environment. The Argentine Government may promulgate numerous, far-reaching regulations affecting the economy and electricity companies in particular.

In the event of any economic, social or political crisis, companies operating in Argentina may face the risk of strikes, expropriation, nationalization, mandatory amendment of existing contracts, and changes in taxation policies, including tax increases and retroactive tax claims. In addition, Argentine courts have sanctioned modifications on rules related to labor matters, requiring companies to assume greater responsibility for the assumption of costs and risks associated with subcontracted labor and the calculation of salaries, severance payments and social security contributions. Since we operate in a context in which the governing law and applicable regulations change frequently, also as a result of changes in government administrations, it is difficult to predict if and how our activities will be affected by such changes.

 

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We cannot assure you that future economic, regulatory, social and political developments in Argentina will not adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, or cause the decrease of the market value of our securities.

If the high levels of inflation continue, the Argentine economy and our results of operations could be adversely affected

Historically, inflation has materially undermined the Argentine economy and the Argentine Government’s ability to create conditions that allow growth. In recent years, Argentina has confronted inflationary pressures, evidenced by significantly higher fuel, energy and food prices, among other factors.

According to data published by the INDEC, Consumers Price Index (“CPI”) rates for 2021 and 2020 were 50.9% in 2021 and 36.1%, , respectively and 3.9% and 4.7% in January and February 2022, respectively. See “Item 3. Key Information— Risk Factors—Risks Related to Argentina—The credibility of several Argentine economic indexes was called into question, which may lead to a lack of confidence in the Argentine economy and, in turn, limit our ability to access credit and the capital markets” below. The Argentine Government’s adjustments to electricity and gas tariffs, as well as the increase in the price of gasoline have affected prices, creating additional inflationary pressure. If the value of the Argentine Peso cannot be stabilized through fiscal and monetary policies, an increase in inflation rates could be expected.

A high inflation rate affects Argentina’s foreign competitiveness by diluting the effects of the Peso depreciation, negatively impacting employment and the level of economic activity and undermining confidence in Argentina’s banking system, which may further limit the availability of domestic and international credit to businesses. In turn, a portion of the Argentine debt continues to be adjusted by the Stabilization Coefficient (Coeficiente de Estabilización de Referencia, or “CER”), a currency index, that is strongly related to inflation. Therefore, any significant increase in inflation would cause an increase in the Argentine external debt and consequently in Argentina’s financial obligations, which could exacerbate the stress on the Argentine economy. The efforts undertaken by the Argentine Government to reduce inflation have not achieved the desired results. A continuing inflationary environment could undermine our results of operations, adversely affect our ability to finance the working capital needs of our businesses on favorable terms, and it could adversely affect our results of operations and cause the market value of our ADSs and our Class B common shares to decline.

There is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of the policies implemented by the Argentine Government to reduce and control inflation and the potential impact of those policies. An increase in inflation may adversely affect the Argentine economy, which in turn may have a negative impact in our financial condition and the result of our operations.

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As of July 1, 2018, the Argentine Peso qualifies as a currency of a hyperinflationary economy and we are required to restate our historical financial statements in accordance with IFRS, in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting year, which could adversely affect our results of operation and financial condition

As of July 1, 2018, the Peso qualifies as a currency of a hyperinflationary economy and we are required to restate our historical financial statements by applying inflationary adjustments to our financial statements.

Pursuant to IAS 29 “Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies”, the financial statements of entities whose functional currency is that of a hyperinflationary economy must be restated for the effects of changes in a suitable general price index. IAS 29 does not prescribe when hyperinflation arises, but includes several characteristics of hyperinflation. The IASB does not identify specific hyperinflationary jurisdictions. However, in June 2018, the International Practices Task Force of the Centre for Quality (“IPTF”), which monitors “highly inflationary countries”, categorized Argentina as a country with projected three-year cumulative inflation rate greater than 100%. Additionally, some of the other qualitative factors of IAS 29 were present, providing prima facie evidence that the Argentine economy is hyperinflationary for the purposes of IAS 29. Therefore, Argentine companies using IFRS are required to apply IAS 29 to their financial statements for periods ending on and after July 1, 2018.

We cannot predict the future impact that the eventual inflation adjustments described above will have on our financial statements or their effects on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The credibility of several Argentine economic indexes was called into question, which may lead to a lack of confidence in the Argentine economy and, in turn, limit our ability to access credit and the capital markets

Prior to 2015, the credibility of the CPI, as well as other indices published by the INDEC were called into question.

On January 8, 2016, based on its determination that the INDEC had failed to produce reliable statistical information, particularly with respect to CPI, GDP, inflation and foreign trade data, as well as with poverty and unemployment rates, the Argentine Government declared a state of administrative emergency for the national statistical system and the INDEC. The INDEC temporarily suspended the publication of certain statistical data until a reorganization of its technical and administrative structure to recover its ability to produce reliable statistical information.

In 2017, the INDEC began publishing a national CPI, which is based on a survey conducted by the INDEC and several provincial statistical offices in 39 urban areas including each of Argentina’s provinces. The official CPI inflation rate for the year ended December 31, 2021 was 50.9%.

Any future required correction or restatement of the INDEC indexes could result in decreased confidence in Argentina’s economy, which, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our ability to access international capital markets to finance our operations and growth, and which could, in turn, adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition and cause the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares to decline.

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Argentina’s ability to obtain financing from international markets could be limited, which may impair its ability to implement reforms and foster economic growth and, consequently, affect our business, results of our operations and growth prospects

Argentina’s history of defaults on its external debt and the protracted litigation with holdout creditors may reoccur in the future and prevent Argentine companies such as us from accessing the international capital markets readily or may result in higher costs and more onerous terms for such financing, and may therefore negatively affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, the value of our securities, and our ability to meet our financial obligations.

Following the default on its external debt in 2001, Argentina sought to restructure its outstanding debt exchange offers in 2005 and again in 2010. Holders of approximately 93% of Argentina’s defaulted debt participated in the exchanges. Nonetheless, a number of bondholders held out from the exchange offers and pursued legal actions against Argentina.

In 2016, the Argentine Government settled several agreements with the defaulted bondholders, ending more than 15 years of litigation.

In 2020, the Argentine Government reached an agreement with private creditors to renegotiate certain debt conditions as maturity dates and interest rates applicable for the following first years. On April 21, 2020, Argentina invited holders of approximately U.S.$ 66.5 billion aggregate principal amount of its foreign currency external bonds to exchange such bonds for new bonds. The invitation contemplated the use of collective action clauses included in the terms and conditions of such bonds, whereby the decision by certain majorities would bind holders that do not tender into the exchange offer. On August 31, 2020 it announced that it had obtained bondholder consents required to exchange and or modify 99.01% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of all series of eligible bonds invited to participate in the exchange offer. The restructuring settled on September 4, 2020. As a result of the invitation, the average interest rate paid by Argentina’s foreign currency external bonds was lowered to 3.07%, with a maximum rate of 5.0%, compared to an average interest rate of 7.0% and maximum rate of 8.28% prior to the invitation. In addition, the aggregate amount outstanding of Argentina’s foreign currency external bonds was reduced by 1.9% and the average maturity of such bonds was extended.

On June 22, 2021, the Minister of Economy announced that the Argentine Government had obtained a “time bridge” within the framework of the Paris Club negotiations, consequently avoiding default. The understanding provides that the Argentine Government will have until March 31, 2022 to reach a restructuring agreement with the Paris Club members, which was further extended until July 31, 2022.

On January 28, 2022, the IMF and the Argentine authorities reached an understanding on key policies as part of their ongoing discussions on an IMF-supported program for the refinancing of the debt of more than U.S.$[45] billion set to mature in 2022 and 2023. On March 4, 2022, the Argentine Government reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF and a bill was sent to the Argentine Congress. On March 11, 2022, the lower house of the Argentine Congress passed and sent to the Senate the bill that supports the agreement between Argentina and the IMF. On March 17, 2022, the Senate approved the agreement “Program of Extended Facilities” between the Argentine Government and the IMF, following the Argentine Congress’ endorsement of the understanding with the IMF, and on March 25, the Program of Extended Facilities was approved by the Executive Board of the IMF.

We cannot assure whether the agreement with IMF could not affect Argentina´s ability to implement reforms and public policies and boost economic growth, nor the impact of the result that renegotiation will have in Argentina’s ability to access international capital markets (and indirectly in our ability to access those markets) to access international capital markets, in the Argentine economy or in our economic and financial situation or in our capacity to extend the maturity dates of our debt or other conditions that could affect our results and operations or businesses.

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Fluctuations in the value of the Argentine Peso could adversely affect the Argentine economy and could in turn adversely affect our results of operations

The Argentine Peso suffered important fluctuations during the last four years: it lost more than 102% of its value with respect to the U.S. dollar in 2018 and approximately 58.9% in 2019, 40.5% in 2020 and 22.1% in 2021. We are unable to predict the future value of the Peso against the U.S. Dollar. If the Peso devaluates further, the negative effects on the Argentine economy could have adverse consequences on our business, our results of operations and the market value of our ADSs, including as measured in U.S. Dollars.

On September 1, 2019, certain exchange controls and restrictions were reinstated in order to control the volatility in the currency exchange rate. Such exchange controls and restrictions regulate, among others, the purchase of external assets for residents in Argentina, the payment of financial debts outside the Argentine borders, the payment of dividends, the payment of imports of goods and services, the obligation to repatriate and settle the incomes from exports of goods and services, and the obligation to refinance cross-border financial debts. Additional volatility, appreciation or depreciation of the Peso against the U.S. dollar or reduction of the Central Bank’s reserves because of currency intervention could adversely affect the Argentine economy and our ability to service our debt obligations and could affect the value of our ADSs and our Class B common shares. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls.”

On the other hand, a significant appreciation of the Peso against the U.S. Dollar also presents risks for the Argentine economy, including the possibility of a reduction in exports (as a consequence of the loss of external competitiveness). Any such increase could also have a negative effect on economic growth and employment, reduce the Argentine public sector’s revenues from tax collection in real terms, and have a material adverse effect on our business, our results of operations, our ability to repay our debt within its maturity dates and the market value of our ADSs, as a result of the overall effects of the weakening of the Argentine economy.

Fluctuations in the value of the Peso may also adversely affect the Argentine economy, our financial condition and results of operations. The Peso has been subject to significant depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the past and may be subject to further fluctuation in the future. A depreciation of the Peso against major foreign currencies may also have an adverse impact on our capital expenditure program and increase the Peso amount of our trade liabilities and financial debt denominated in foreign currencies. The depreciation of the Peso may have a negative impact on the ability of certain Argentine businesses to service their foreign currency-denominated debt, lead to high inflation, significantly reduce real wages, jeopardize the stability of businesses whose success depends on domestic market demand, including public utilities, and the financial industry and adversely affect the Argentine Government’s ability to honor its foreign debt obligations. In particular, further depreciation of the Peso may significantly affect us as U.S.$98 million of our Senior Notes due 2022 are denominated in U.S dollars.

Intervention by the Argentine Government may adversely affect the Argentine economy and, as a result, our business and results of operations

In the recent past, the Argentine Government intervened in the economy, including through the implementation of expropriation and nationalization measures, price controls and exchange controls, among others.

In the future, the Argentine Government may introduce new exchange controls and/or strengthen the existing ones, create restrictions on transfers to other countries, restrictions to capital movements or other measures in response to an eventual capital flight or an important depreciation in the Peso, measures that can, in turn, affect our ability to access the international capital markets. Such restrictions and measures may generate political and social tensions and deteriorate the Argentine Government´s public finances, as has occurred in the past, generating an adverse effect in the Argentine economic activity and, in consequence, adversely affecting our business and the result of our operations, and cause the market value of our ADSs and our Class B common shares to decline. See “Item 10. Additional Information— Exchange Controls.”Moreover, we cannot preditct the measures that may be adopted by the current or any future government, such as expropriation, nationalization, forced renegotiation or modification of existing contracts, new taxation policies, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting foreign trade and investments, restrictions to transfers to other countries or to capitals movement, or an important depreciation of the Peso will not have a material adverse effect on the Argentine economy and, as a consequence, adversely affect our financial condition, our results of operations or cause the market value of our ADSs and our Class B common shares to decline.

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Argentine corporations may be restricted to make payments in foreign currencies or import certain products

There are certain restrictions in Argentina that affect corporations’ ability to access to the exchange market (Mercado Libre de Cambios, or the “MLC”) to acquire foreign currency, transfer funds abroad, service debt payments in foreign currency, make payments outside Argentina and other operations, requiring, in some cases, previous approval by the Central Bank.

These restrictions may affect our operations and our expansion projects, as they require the import of services and goods for which payment may be restricted. The Argentine Government may impose or create further restrictions on the access to the MLC. In such case, the ability of Argentine corporations to make payments outside Argentina and to comply with their obligations and duties may be affected.

We cannot predict how the current foreign exchange restrictions may evolve after this annual report, mainly regarding limitations to transfer funds outside the country. The Argentine Government may impose further exchange controls or restrictions to capital transfers and modify and adopt other policies that may limit or restrict our ability to access international capital markets, to make payments of principal and interests and other additional amounts outside the country (including payments relating to our notes), or affect in other ways our business and the results of our operations, or cause the market value of our ADSs and our Class B common shares to decline.

Exchange controls in an economic environment in which the access to local capital markets is restricted may cause an adverse effect in our activities, mainly in our ability to make payments of principal and/or interests of our notes in foreign currency. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls.”

Argentine public expenditure may affect the Argentine economy

Public expenditure increased throughout the last decade in Argentina. The Argentine Government adopted several measures to finance its public expenditure

As of the date of this annual report, we cannot predict how the measures that the Argentine Government has applied and may continue to apply will impact the Argentine economy, and, in turn, our business, our financial condition and the results of our operations.

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The Argentine economy remains vulnerable to external shocks that could be caused by significant economic difficulties of Argentina’s major regional trading partners, or by more general “contagion” effects. Such external shocks and “contagion” effects could have a material adverse effect on Argentina’s economic growth and, therefore, our results of operations and financial condition

Although economic conditions vary from country to country, investors’ perceptions of events occurring in certain countries have in the past substantially affected, and may continue to substantially affect, capital flows into and investments in securities of issuers from other countries, including Argentina. There can be no assurance that the Argentine financial system and securities markets will not be adversely affected by policies that may be adopted by foreign governments or the Argentine Government in the future. Argentina can also be adversely affected by negative economic or financial events that take place in other countries, subsequently affecting our operations and financial condition, including our ability to repay our debt at its maturity date.

Argentina’s economy is vulnerable to external shocks. For example, economic slowdowns, especially in Argentina’s major trading partners such as Brazil, led to declines in Argentine exports in the last few years. Specifically, fluctuations in the price of commodities sold by Argentina and a significant devaluation of the Peso against the U.S. Dollar could harm Argentina’s competitiveness and affect its exports. In addition, international investors’ reactions to events occurring in one market may result in a “contagion” effect which could lead to an entire region or class of investment being disfavored by international investors. Additionally, financial and securities markets in Argentina are also influenced by economic and market conditions in other markets worldwide.

The situation of the U.S. economy and the restrictive economic measures taken by the federal administration could adversely affect the economy of developing countries, including Argentina.

The U.S. economy has registered its highiest inflation rates over the last decades. As of February 20, 2022, inflation has increased at 7.9% per cent on an annual basis, which caused increased consumer concern, affecting the economic activity and, eventually causing recession. We cannot predict the decisions and policies that the Biden administration will adopt in the future, which could generate uncertainty in the international markets and could have a negative effect on developing economies, including Argentina.

In July 2019, the Southern Common Market (“MERCOSUR”) signed a strategic partnership agreement with the European Union (the “EU”), which is expected to enter into force in the near future, subject to the approval of the corresponding legislatures of each member country. Such approval is pending as of today, as some member countries are demanding amendments to the agreement (for example, the French government has demanded the inclusion of guarantees regarding the protection of the Amazon, compliance with European agri-food and phytosanitary standards and the fight against climate change). The objective of this agreement is to promote investment, regional integration, increase the competitiveness of the economy and achieve an increase in GDP. However, the effect that this agreement could have on the Argentine economy and on the policies implemented by the Argentine Government is uncertain. Regarding other free trade agreement negotiations, the current Argentine government announced on April 24, 2020 that it would stop participating in Mercosur’s trade agreement negotiations with countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Lebanon, Canada and India, excluding those already concluded with the EU.

Moreover, the challenges faced by the EU in stabilizing some of its member economies have had and may continue to have international implications affecting the stability of global financial markets, which has hampered economies around the world.

Furthermore, COVID-19 has caused significant social and market disruption during 2020 (see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Factors Relating to Argentina—Developments relating to the coronavirus may have a material adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition or results of operations”). There can be no assurance that the Argentine financial system and securities markets will not be adversely affected by policies that may be adopted by foreign governments or the Argentine Government in the future, or by events in the economies of developed countries or in other emerging markets. There can be no assurance that the Argentine financial system and securities markets will not be adversely affected by policies that may be adopted by foreign governments or the Argentine Government in the future, or by developments in the economies of developed countries or other emerging markets.

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Finally, international investors’ perceptions of events occurring in one market may generate a “contagion” effect by which an entire region or class of investment is disfavored by international investors. Argentina could be adversely affected by negative economic or financial developments in other emerging and developed countries, which in turn may have material adverse effects on the Argentine economy and, indirectly, on our business, financial condition and results of operations, and the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares.

The global and local economies and our results of operations could be adversely affected as a result of the outbreak of war between Ukraine and Russia.

In October 2021, Russia began moving troops and military equipment near the border with Ukraine, generating concerns about a possible invasion. By December 2021, more than one hundred thousand troops were located near the border.

 

In mid-December 2021, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a series of demands that included a ban on Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) and the reduction of NATO troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe for its military forces to withdraw. The United States and other NATO allies rejected those demands and warned Russia that they would retaliate if Russia invaded Ukraine, including through the imposition of economic sanctions. Tensions remain high as negotiations continue without any apparent progress toward a formal agreement.

 

Subsequently, on February 23, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a “special military operation” in Ukraine. On the same day, several media organizations reported explosions in several cities and evidence of large-scale military operations throughout Ukraine. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many countries have imposed economic sanctions against Russia, which has impacted the global economy as many commercial, industrial and financial businesses are closing operations in Russia. Trade restrictions imposed on Russia have led to increasing prices of oil, fluctuation in commodities markets and foreign currency exchange volatility. Russia’s military incursion and the market volatility could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and thus could affect our business, financial condition or results of operation. Further escalation of such armed conflict could lead to supply disruptions and higher energy costs, among others, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We are not sure and cannot predict if and to what extent this war will impact the global economy, nor can we foresee what measures the Argentine Government may take to address any scenario, and if those measures will result in any negative effect on the Argentine economy, which could, in turn, affect our business and results of operations.

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Developments relating to the coronavirus may have a material adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition or results of operations.

In late December 2019 a notice of pneumonia originating from Wuhan, Hubei province (COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus) was reported to the World Health Organization (“WHO”), with cases soon confirmed in multiple provinces in China, as well as in other countries. On March 11, 2020, the WHO designated the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak as a “pandemic”, asserting it would probably spread all around the world. The virus rapidly spread globally and, as of the date of this annual report, has affected more than 150 countries and territories around the world, including Argentina, causing tragic consequences for many people. Global efforts to stop the virus have had, and may continue to have, major economic consequences.

Consequently, after the approval of the Argentine Congress, the Argentine Government enacted the Productive Reactivation Law, proposing to Congress a wide range of economic and social reforms. The Productive Reactivation Law declared a state of public emergency until December 31, 2020, in economic, financial, fiscal, administrative, pension, tariff, energy, health and social matters. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of public emergency was partially extended until December 31, 2021. The Productive Reactivation Law sanctioned the delegation of certain legislative powers to the Executive Branch to address social and economic distress, as well as to adjust the profile of Argentina’s public debt.

Thus, since late March 2020, the Argentine Government adopted several measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak aimed at preventing massive infections of Argentine residents and health service congestion, which mainly included: (1) imposition of a “Social, Preventive and Mandatory Isolation” (“ASPO”) nationwide, allowing only the transit of persons engaged in the excepted activities since they were considered essential activities and services, as extended on successive occasions; (2) a “Social, Preventive and Mandatory Distancing” (“DISPO”) and general prevention measures and local and targeted containment provisions, based on scientific evidence and epidemiological dynamics, to be complied with by all persons, in order to mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its health impact, until April 9, 2021, among others.

On April 30, 2021, the Federal Executive Power published the Necessity and Urgency Decree No. 287/2021 through which it established, until May 21, 2021, general measures for the prevention of COVID-19 applicable throughout Argentina, and local and focused provisions for the containment of contagions. Subsequently, the Necessity and Urgency Decree No. 334/2021 extended the provisions of the Necessity and Urgency Decree No. 287/2021 until June 11, 2021 (subsequently extended through August 6, 2021). It also provided for certain measures applicable to places at high epidemiological and sanitary risk or in a situation of epidemiological and sanitary alarm between May 22 and May 30, 2021 and on June 5 and 6, 2021.

On October 1, 2021, the Argentine Government published Decree No. 678/2021 in the Official Gazette by means of which it provided for a series of general preventive measures with the intention of relaxing the restrictions imposed in respect of the coronavirus pandemic and regulating the performance of certain activities that entail greater epidemiological risk.

These included: (i) the lifting of the mandatory use of the use of a mask in the open air, to the extent that a 2-meter distance is repected; (ii) the possibility of holding social gatherings without limits of people to the extent that the prevention and distancing measures are complied with; (iii) the authorization of 100% capacity in economic, industrial, commercial, service, religious, cultural, sports and recreational activities carried out in closed places; (iv) the authorization of massive events with 50% capacity as long as the complete vaccination scheme is complied with. In addition, such Decree extended, through October 31, 2021, the prohibition of entry to the country by foreigners established by Necessity and Urgency Decree No. 274/2020, allowing only nationals and residents of neighboring countries to enter Argentina. Such measures was in force until December 31, 2021.

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On December 24, 2021, the Argentine Government, through No. Decree 867/2021, extended the sanitary emergency established by Decree No. 260/2020 and the DISPO until December 31, 2022.

To date, our activities have been adversely affected by measures adopted by the Argentine Government to protect the population and combat the disease, including (i) preventive and mandatory social isolation (subsequently transitioned to a social distancing regime), (ii) measures to protect the labor force by imposing double severance payments and a prohibition on layoffs, (iii) measures prohibiting public utility companies, such as Edenor, to discontinue their services to certain users who fail to pay three consecutive or alternate bills due as from March 1, 2020 until December 31, 2020, and (iv) measures to freeze electricity and gas tariffs charged by utility companies that are under federal jurisdiction.

In September and October 2021, the Argentine Government announced a set of measures aimed at promoting production, consumption and employment, including the following (i) the minimum monthly wage was raised; (ii) the minimum monthly income subject to income tax was also raised; (iii) the income tax and personal property tax exemptions were extended to savings in pesos; and (iv) certain export taxes on services were eliminated as of January 2022, among other measures. Any prolonged restrictive measures put in place in order to control an outbreak of a contagious disease or other adverse public health development such as the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, have had and may continue to have a material and adverse effect on our business operations, financial condition or results of operations including that (i) our earnings have reduced as our commercial offices had to remain closed in the beginning, and even after we were allowed to reopen them, we could not attend the same number of customers as we used to attend, due to the current social distancing measures, (ii) most of our customers faced difficulties to pay tariffs, (iii) demand from non-residential customers has been lower, which may not be offset by the increased demand of residential customers, (iv) we may not be able to comply with the investment plan as required by ENRE, which may lead to fines and penalties and (v) impairment of long-lived assets. We may also be affected by the need to implement policies limiting the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations, including home office policies. For more information, see “Item 5— Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”

Although the pandemic seems to be better controlled due to the fast and reliable testing and highly effective vaccination rollouts, it is not over, and it is unclear whether these challenges and uncertainties will be contained or resolved, and what effects they may have on the global political and economic conditions in the long term. Additionally, we cannot predict how the disease will evolve in Argentina, nor anticipate what additional restrictions the Argentine Government may impose. However, we expect COVID-19 to have a significant adverse effect on the world economy, which will in turn negatively affect Argentina’s economy.

The Company has taken and is currently considering further alternatives to mitigate the effects this outbreak may have on its operations and undergoing projects, as well as with regards to measures adopted by the Argentine Government, which so far have resulted in a slowdown in economic activity that affected economic growth in Argentina in 2020 and continued in 2021, and possibly will continue to affect economic growth in 2022, to a degree that we cannot quantify as of the date of this annual report. For more information on the measures adopted by the Argentine Government, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Recent Developments in Argentina—Health situation.” 

The application of certain laws and regulations could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition

 

The Company’s operations and business could be affected by the adoption of restrictions on the import of products or the technical conditions applicable thereto.

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In February 2011, the then Ministry of Industry issued Resolution No. 45/11 by means of which, among other issues, it resolved to extend the application of the non-automatic licensing system with respect to the import of products that the Ministry of Industry considers to be luxury or that compete unfairly with local production on the understanding that such national production was capable of meeting domestic demand. On January 25, 2013 and by means of Decree 11/13, the Ministry of Economy repealed Resolution No. 45/11 putting an end to the mechanism that required importers to process an authorization certificate to enter certain products into the country. On January 8, 2020, the Secretariat of Industry, Knowledge Economy and External Trade Management of the Ministry of Productive Development issued Resolution (SIECGCE) No. 1/20 (i) incorporated new tariff items that shall process non-automatic licenses (“LNA”), (ii) modified the forms for the import license application, (iii) decreased the tolerance in the FOB unit value of goods subject to the processing of LNA, (iv) decreased the term of validity of the LNA from 180 to 90 days as from its approval in the SIMI, (v) extended the scope of imports of goods to the territory of the Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego (except for products coming from the continental territory), and (vi) established the Undersecretariat of Trade Policy and Management of the Secretariat of Industry, Knowledge Economy and External Trade Management as the enforcement authority.

In addition, by means of Resolution of the Secretariat of Domestic Trade 247/2019 and its extensions, it has been established that by December 31, 2021, electric meters must comply with certain characteristics that none of the suppliers based in Argentina have, which leads to greater imports and therefore, subject to the restrictions that exist on the matter.

As of the date of this annual report, Edenor cannot guarantee that in the future, measures limiting or restricting import of products or the technical conditions will not be adopted which may have an impact on the goods used by the Company as inputs, causing the Company an adverse effect on its net worth, economic, financial or other situation, its results of operations, business operations and/or its ability to comply with its obligations in general.

Moreover, Law No. 26,854, which regulates the procedure applicable to injunctions that are requested against or by the Argentine Government or any of its decentralized entities, was promulgated on April 30, 2013 as part of a judicial reform bill approved by the Argentine Congress. The principal changes implemented pursuant to Law No. 26,854 include: (i) prior to issuing a ruling on injunctions requested against the Argentine Government or decentralized entities, judges must request a report on the relevant matters from the competent administrative agency (the “Preliminary Report”), within five days in ordinary proceedings and three days in abbreviated proceedings and in actions for the protection of a constitutional right. Also, judges are authorized to request an opinion on the matter from the relevant representative of the General Prosecuting Office, (ii) judges are permitted to order interim measures before ruling on the injunction request, in the event that "exceptional circumstances, objectively insurmountable" are present. Such interim measures are effective until the competent administrative authority has produced the Preliminary Report or until the term for producing such report has expired, and (iii) injunctions that are ordered against the Argentine Government or its decentralized entities must have a "reasonable term of effectiveness" (a maximum term of six months if the injunction is granted within the framework of an ordinary judicial procedure or three months if it is an abbreviated proceeding or an amparo action). In addition, Law No. 26,855, which became effective on May 27, 2013, modified the structure and functions of the Argentine Consejo de la Magistratura (judicial council), which has the authority to appoint judges, present charges against them and suspend or remove them. As of the date of this annual report, several aspects of this legislation have been struck down as unconstitutional by the Argentine Supreme Court.

 

On August 7, 2014, Law No. 26,944 on State Responsibility was enacted to regulate the liability of the Argentine Government and public officers, including state liability for unlawful and lawful actions Such law governs the responsibility of the Argentine Government regarding the damages that its activity or inactivity may cause to individuals’ properties or rights. Additionally, Law No. 26,944 establishes that the Argentine Government’s responsibility is objective and direct, that the provisions of the civil and commercial codes are not applicable to the actions of the Argentine Government in a direct or subsidiary manner and that no dissuasive financial penalties may be imposed on the Argentine Government, its agents or officers. Additionally, Law No. 26,944 provides that the Argentine Government shall not be liable for the damages caused by public services concessionaires.

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On September 18, 2014, the Argentine Congress enacted Law No. 26,991 amending Law No. 20,680 (the “Supply Law”), which became effective on September 28, 2014, to increase control over the supply of goods and provision of services. The Supply Law applies to all economic processes linked to goods, facilities and services which, either directly or indirectly, satisfy basic consumer needs (“Basic Needs Goods”) and grants a broad range of powers to its enforcing agency. It also grants the enforcing agency the power to order the sale, production, distribution or delivery of Basic Needs Goods throughout Argentina in case of a shortage of supply. The Supply Law includes the ability of the Argentine Government to regulate consumer rights under Article 42 of the Constitution and permits the creation of an authority to maintain the prices of goods and services (the “Observer of Prices of Goods and Services”). The Supply Law, as amended: (i) requires the continued production of goods to meet basic requirements; (ii) creates an obligation to publish prices of goods and services produced and borrowed; (iii) allows financial information to be requested and seized; and (iv) increases fines for legal entities and individuals. Additionally, on September 18, 2014 the Argentine Congress enacted Law No. 26,993, amending, among other laws, Law No. 25,156, which provides (i) the creation of a preliminary system where consumers may request a settlement of their complaints with companies, (ii) the incorporation of a new branch within the Judicial Power, namely the “National Courts on Consumer Relations” and (iii) the amendment of Law No. 24,240 (the “Consumer Defense Law”). Such reforms and creation of the Observer of Prices of Goods and Services could adversely affect our operations.

On October 1, 2014, the Argentine Congress approved the reform, update and unification of the National Civil and Commercial Code. A single new National Civil and Commercial Code became effective on August 1, 2015. In addition, the Argentine Congress has passed certain laws such as those reforming the pension system and establishing corporate criminal liability for certain corrupt practices and a tax law reform. On December 21, 2019, the Argentine Congress adopted the Productive Reactivation Law, which covers a wide range of political and economic areas and establishes measures that will significantly impact the Argentine economy. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Factors Relating to Argentina—Economic and political developments in Argentina, and future policies of the Argentine Government may affect the economy as well as the operations of the energy distribution industry, including Edenor.”

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By means of Executive Order No. 990/20, the 2021 Budget Law was partially approved. In its Section 87, the law provides for a system for the settlement of debts with CAMMESA and/or the WEM accumulated by the electricity distribution companies as of September 30, 2020, whether on account of the consumption of energy, power, interest and/or penalties, in accordance with the conditions to be set out by the application authority, which may provide for credits equivalent to up to five times the monthly average bill or to 60% percent of the existing debt, whereas the remaining debt is to be paid in up to sixty monthly installments, with a grace period of up to six months, and at the rate in effect in the WEM, reduced by 50%.

Consequently, by means of Resolution No. 40/2021, the SE established the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations” of electricity distribution companies that are agents of the WEM for the debts held with CAMMESA and/or the WEM whether on account of the consumption of energy, power, interest and/or penalties, accumulated as of September 30, 2020. It also established a “Special System of Credits” for those electricity distribution companies that are agents of the WEM and have no debts with CAMMESA and/or the WEM or whose debts are regarded as being within reasonable values vis-à-vis their levels of transactions as of September 30, 2020.

Subsequently, the SE determined that it was suitable to establish as indicators for purposes of calculating the credits to be recognized, the maintenance of the electricity rate schedules throughout the year 2020, the policies implemented by each distribution company that is an agent of the WEM aimed at benefiting the demand, the effect of the application of the provisions of Executive Order No. 311 dated March 24, 2020, as amended and supplemented, as well as the investment commitments on energy efficiency, technology applied to the provision of the service and/or energy infrastructure works that imply an improvement in the quality of the service provided to users. Therefore, it issued Resolution No. 371/2021, which supplements Resolution No. 40/2021.

Finally, on February 22, 2022, by means of Executive Order No. 88/2022, the Argentine Government extended until December 31, 2022 the implementation of the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations” provided for in Section 87 of Law No. 27,591.

The implementation of the aforementioned legislation has modified Argentina’s legal system. Future changes in applicable laws and regulations (including as a result of a change in government administration), administrative or judicial proceedings, including potential future claims by us against the Argentine Government, cannot be predicted and we cannot assure you that such changes will not adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Argentine economy and finances may be adversely affected as a consequence of a decrease in the international prices of commodities that Argentina exports

The commodities market is characterized by its volatility. Commodities exports have contributed significantly to the Argentine Government’s incomes. Subsequently, the Argentine economy has remained relatively dependent on the price of its exports (mainly soy). For more information, please see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Factors Relating to Argentina—Developments relating to the coronavirus may have a material adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition or results of operations.”

A sustained decrease in the international price of the main commodities exported by Argentina, or any future climate event or condition may have adverse effect in the agriculture, and therefore in the Argentine Government’s incomes and its capacity to comply with the payments of its public debt, eventually generating recessive or inflationary pressures, thus affecting our business, financial situation and the results of our operations.

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Failure to adequately address actual and perceived risks of institutional deterioration and corruption may adversely affect Argentina’s economy and financial condition

A lack of a solid and transparent institutional framework for contracts with the Argentine Government and its agencies and corruption allegations have affected and continue to affect Argentina. Argentina ranked 96 of 180 in the Transparency International’s 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index.

As of the date of this annual report, various investigations into allegations of money laundering and corruption being conducted by the Office of the Argentine Federal Prosecutor, including the largest such investigation, known as Los Cuadernos de las Coimas (the “Notebooks Investigation”) have negatively impacted the Argentine economy and political environment. Depending on the results of these investigations and how long it takes to finalize them, companies involved in the Notebooks Investigation may be subject to, among other consequences, a decrease in their credit ratings, having claims filed against them by investors in their equity and debt securities, and may further experience restrictions in their access to financing through the capital markets, all of which will likely decrease their income. Additionally, as the criminal cases against the companies involved in the Notebooks Investigation move forward, they may be restricted from rendering services or may face new restrictions due to their customers’ internal policies and procedures. These adverse effects could restrict these companies’ ability to conduct their operating activities and to fulfill their financial obligations. Consequently, the number of suppliers available for our operations may be reduced which could in turn have an adverse effect on our commercial activities and results of operations.

Recognizing that the failure to address these issues could increase the risk of political instability, distort decision-making processes and adversely affect Argentina’s international reputation and ability to attract foreign investment, the Argentine Government has announced several measures aimed at strengthening Argentina’s institutions and reducing corruption. These measures include the reduction of criminal sentences in exchange for cooperation with the government in corruption investigations, increased access to public information, the seizing of assets from corrupt officials, increasing the powers of the Anticorruption Office (Oficina Anticorrupción), submitting a bill for the issuance of a new public ethic law, among others. The Argentine Government’s ability to implement these initiatives is uncertain as it would be subject to independent review by the judicial branch, as well as legislative support from opposition parties.

We cannot estimate the impact that these investigations could have on the Argentine economy. Similarly, it is not possible to predict the duration of the corruption investigations, nor which other companies might be involved or how far-reaching the effects of these investigations might be, particularly in the energy sector, or if there will be any other future investigations in this or other industry, which may negatively impact the Argentine economy. In turn, the decrease in investor confidence resulting from any of these, among other issues, could have a significant adverse effect on the growth of the Argentine economy, which could, in turn, harm our business, our financial condition and operational results and affect the trading price of our Class B common shares and ADSs.

Any downgrade in the credit rating or rating outlook of Argentina could adversely affect both the rating and the market price of our ADS, our Class B common shares and our corporate debt, affecting also our liquidity

On June 24, 2021, Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) announced the reclassification of Argentina to the standalone or independent category with effect as of November 2021, thus being excluded from the MSCI indexes. In June 2019, Argentina had entered the emerging market category. According to MSCI the main reason for this decision lies in the reinstatement of exchange controls, which have been in force since September 2019.

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There can be no assurance that Argentina’s credit rating or rating outlook will not be downgraded in the future, which could have an adverse effect both on the rating and the market price of our ADS and Class B common shares.

Risks Relating to the Electricity Distribution Sector

The Argentine Government has intervened in the electricity sector in the past, and may continue intervening

Historically, the Argentine Government has exerted a significant influence on the economy, including the energy sector, and companies such as us that operate in such sector have done so in a highly regulated context that aims mainly at guaranteeing the supply of domestic demand.

To address the Argentine economic crisis in 2001 and 2002, the Argentine Government adopted the Public Emergency Law and other regulations, which made a number of material changes to the regulatory framework applicable to the electricity sector. These changes severely affected electricity generation, distribution and transmission companies and included the freezing of nominal distribution margins, the revocation of adjustment and inflation indexation mechanisms for tariffs, a limitation on the ability of electricity distribution companies to pass on to the user increases in costs due to regulatory charges and the introduction of a new price-setting mechanism in the Wholesale Electric Market (Mercado Eléctrico Mayorista or “WEM”) which had a significant impact on electricity generators and generated substantial price differences within the market. From time to time, the Argentine Government intervened in this sector by, for example, granting temporary nominal margin increases, proposing a new social tariff regime for residents of poverty-stricken areas, removing discretionary subsidies, creating specific charges to raise funds that were transferred to government-managed trust funds that finance investments in generation and distribution infrastructure and mandating investments for the construction of new generation plants and the expansion of existing transmission and distribution networks.

On December 17, 2015, the Argentine Government issued Decree No. 134/15 declaring the emergency of the national electricity sector which was in effect until December 31, 2017 and instructing the Ministry of Energy and Mining (“ME&M”) to adopt any measure it deemed necessary regarding the generation, transmission and distribution segments, to adjust the quality and guarantee the provision of electricity.

During 2017, the Argentine Government, through the relevant agencies enacted several resolutions to establish the penalties regime and adjust tariffs. On February 1, 2017, an RTI process was completed and a new tariff scheme for the following five-year period was enacted. However, on December 21, 2019, the Argentine Congress adopted the Productive Reactivation Law, which adopts measures that will significantly impact the Argentine economy, including the declaration of the public emergency in tariffs and energy matters until December 31, 2020, and the delegation to the Federal Executive Power of certain powers normally reserved to Congress or otherwise not within the purview of the Argentine Executive Power (including the ability to make determinations in the renegotiation of public tariffs). Additionally, on December 16, 2020, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 1020/20 which extended the freeze on electricity rates prescribed by the Productive Reactivation Law until March 31, 2021, or until the new transitional electricity rate schedules come into effect, whichever occurs first. Additionally, by means of Decree No. 1020/20, the Argentine Executive Power provided for the commencement of the Tariff Structure Review renegotiation process, which may not exceed two years, suspending the agreements relating to the respective Tariff Structure Reviews in effect. Interim Renegotiation Agreements may be entered into, which modify to a limited extent the conditions of the tariff review imposing a Transitional Tariff System until a Definitive Renegotiation Agreement is reached.

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On March 30, 2021, the ENRE called a public hearing, with the main goal of determining a transitional rate schedule for electricity distribution until the next RTI. As a result of such process, the ENRE approved a 20,9% of own distribution costs (“CPD”, also referred as value-added for distribution (“VAD”) in this annual report) (which resulted in a final 9% tariff’s increase).

On April 30, 2021, in order to reach a temporary solution to guarantee the continuity, accessibility and normal transportation and distribution of electric energy, through Resolutions No. 106/2021 and 107/2021, the ENRE defined a 9% increase in the average tariff for Edenor and Edesur users, effective as from May 1, 2021.

Finally, on February 26, 2022, the ENRE granted an additional 8% in CPD. However, it also enacted an increase of the penalty rate applicable to the energy sector, which resulted in a net increase of 4%.

The adjustment indicated above represents an increase in the Company’s income for the year 2022 of Ps. 2,915 million, which is insufficient to cover the requirement of Ps. 56,800 million requested by us as necessary to deal with the deficit for the period, affecting the our ability to operate and meet our obligations.

We cannot assure you that certain other regulations or measures that may be adopted by the Argentine Government will not have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations or on the market value of our shares and ADSs, or that the Argentine Government will not adopt further regulations in the future that may increase our obligations, including increased taxes, unfavorable alterations to our tariff structures or remuneration scheme and other regulatory obligations, compliance with which would increase our costs and may have a direct negative impact on our results of operations and cause the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares to decline. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Edenor Concession.”

The Argentine Government signed an agreement with the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires for the transfer of the public service of electricity distribution.

On May 10, 2019, we and the SE, on behalf of the Argentine Government, entered into the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations, pursuant to which the parties agreed to end the pending reciprocal claims originated during the 2006-2016 transitional period (the “2019 Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations”). As part of the jurisdiction transfer process, the then Energy Government Secretariat and the Renewable Resources and Electricity Market Secretariat signed with Edenor and Edesur on May 10, 2019 an agreement to end pending reciprocal claims originated during the 2006-2016 transitional period, before transferring concession companies to local jurisdictions (the “Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations”).

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However, on December 21, 2019 the Argentine Congress passed the Productive Reactivation Law which, among other things, suspended the transfer of Edenor’s jurisdiction to the jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires, reassuming the ENRE the jurisdiction over the public service of electricity distribution provided by Edenor and Edesur. Also, by virtue of this law, the ENRE was intervened by the Executive Branch.

On February 19, 2021, we assented to the Agreement on the Joint Exercise of the Regulation and Control of the Public Service of Electricity Distribution entered into by the Federal Government, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires, whereby it is recognized that the Federal Government currently retains the ownership and capacity as Grantor of the Concession of the public service of electricity distribution in our concession area, being it agreed that a number of instruments related to the transfer of the referred to service to the local jurisdictions will no longer be in effect and that a Tripartite agency in charge of the activity’s regulation and control will be set up. On February 23, 2021, such agreement was ratified by our Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting.

During the intervention framework of the ENRE, a technical, legal and economic audit was ordered to evaluate the aspects regulated by the Productive Reactivation Law in energy matters. As stated in the recitals of Resolution No. 590/2021 of the Ministry of Economy, the technical reports evidenced that the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations would contain serious defects that would cause its absolute nullity, among which it is mentioned that the Government Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Renewable Resources and Electricity Market lacked material competence to sign the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government.

In addition, Resolution No. 590/2021 of the Ministry of Economy instructed the Directorate of Contentious Energy Matters under the General Directorate of Legal Matters of this Ministry to initiate a judicial action for injunctive relief against the electricity distributors Edenor and Edesur, in order to obtain the judicial declaration of nullity of the Agreement and the acts issued as a consequence. Moreover, such Resolution No. 590/2021 suspended the administrative proceedings related to the execution of the obligations arising from the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations.

On September 20, 2021, the Ministry of Economy issued Resolution No. 590/2021, whereby it declared the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations, registered on May 10, 2019, harmful to the general interest. It also ordered the suspension of the administrative proceedings related to the execution of obligations originated in such Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations. Edenor filed a hierarchical appeal against Regulation No. 590/2021 in order to annul it.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date of this annual report, the Company has not been notified of the commencement of any legal action aimed at the judicial declaration of nullity of the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations or of the acts issued as a consequence thereof. The administrative act in question has not provided for the suspension of the legal effects of said Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations, and therefore it is in full and complete force and effect. The Company filed a hierarchical appeal against this resolution before the Office of the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers and an appeal for clarification before the Ministry of Economy, which was granted and resolved by Resolution ME No. 656/2021, notified on October 20, 2021, whereby said Ministry confirms that the aforementioned Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations is not suspended.

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Although as of the date of this annual report the above-mentioned transfer was reversed, we cannot assure whether any future actions in connection with that agreement will not have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations or would not have a negative impact on the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares.

There is uncertainty as to what other measures the Argentine Government may adopt in connection with tariffs on public services and their impact on the Argentine economy

As explained in other risk factors in this annual report, following the economic crisis of 2001-2002, the subsequent freeze on electricity rates in Pesos and the significant depreciation of the Argentine Peso against the U.S. Dollar, there was a lack of investment in the distribution capacities of electricity and, at the same time, demand for electricity increased substantially.

On February 1, 2017, an RTI process was completed. Through Resolution No. 63/17 (amended by ENRE Resolutions No. 82/17 and No. 92/17), the ENRE approved a rate of return for us of 12.46% before taxes. The resulting income was determined by applying the Net Replacement Value (“NRV”) methodology, over a slightly lower base capital than the one we had submitted in our proposal, reaching an amount of Ps.34 billion. The difference with our proposal was mainly explained by the fact that the ENRE excluded the fully depreciated assets from the regulatory net asset base. Moreover, the ENRE stated that our acknowledged remuneration as of December 2015 was Ps.12.5 billion, which adjusted to February 2017 reached to Ps.17.2 billion. The ENRE also established a non-automatic mechanism to adjust our tariffs, as it had done under the original Concession Agreement and the Adjustment Agreement (as defined below), in order to preserve the economic and financial sustainability of the concession in the event of price fluctuations in the economy. This mechanism has a biannual basis and includes a combined formula of wholesale and consumer price indexes (WPI, CPI and salaries increases) which trigger the adjustment of tariffs when the result is above 5%.

We filed an administrative appeal (recurso de reconsideración) against ENRE’s Resolution No. 63/17. On October 25, 2017, the ENRE, through Resolution No. 524/17, rejected the appeal filed by Edenor.

On January 31, 2018, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 33/18 which approved the new distribution cost for us to be applied as from February 1, 2018, and the new tariff scheme.

Furthermore, such resolution approved the new adjustments to CPD (last stage of 17% according to Resolution No 63/17, including the inflation adjustment of 11.9% for the period July 2017-December 2017 and a stimulus factor “E” of negative 2.51%) and determined the deferred income to be recovered in 48 installments for a total amount of Ps.6,343.4 million. Additionally, it reported that the price of the average tariff reached Ps.2.4627/ KWh.

Furthermore, on September 19, 2019, we and the Federal Government entered into an Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement, which provided for the following:

 

§

to keep the electricity rate schedules that were effective prior to August 1, 2019, for all electricity tariff categories;

§

to postpone until January 1, 2020, the application of the CPD that was to be applied as from August 1, 2019, regarding the January-June 2019 period, which amounted to 19.05%;

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§

to update the electricity rate schedules in relation to seasonal energy prices as from January 1, 2020; and

§

to regulate the difference of the CPD and the seasonal energy prices generated between those applied as from August 1, 2019, and those to be applied as from January 1, 2020, for the August 1, 2019-December 31, 2019, period. Such difference shall be recovered in seven monthly and consecutive installments as from January 1, 2020, and shall be adjusted in accordance with the relevant CPD adjustment and the plan set forth in late payment procedures applied by CAMMESA, respectively.

 

The Productive Reactivation Law, authorized the Executive Branch to (i) initiate either a renegotiation process of the tariff structure in effect or an extraordinary review, and (ii) freeze electricity rates for 180-days (term that was extended until December 31, 2020 by means of Decree No. 543/2020 and later on extended until March 31, 2021 by means of Decree No. 1020/20 until March 31, 2021), or until the new transitional electricity rate schedules come into effect, whichever occurs first. For more information on tariffs, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Tariffs.”

 

According to Decree No. 1020/20, and ENRE Resolutions 16/2021 and 17/2021, the procedure for the transitional electricity rate schedules has been initiated.

 

On December 27, 2019, the ENRE instructed us to not apply the electricity rate schedules from January 1, 2020, resulting from the provisions of the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement as of September 19, 2019, as such agreement had lost enforceability due to the electricity rate emergency provided in the aforementioned law, and the electricity rate schedule that had been approved by ENRE Resolution No. 104/19 dated April 30, 2019 remained in effect.

 

Decree No. 260 dated March 12, 2020, extended the public emergency in health matters established by Law No. 27,541, as a consequence of the Pandemic declared by the WHO in respect of the COVID-19 virus.

 

On March 30, 2021, the ENRE called a public hearing, with the main goal of determining a transitional rate schedule for electricity distribution until the next RTI. As a result of such process, the ENRE approved a 20,9% of CPD (which resulted in a final 9% tariff´s increase).

 

On February 17, 2022, the ENRE called another public hearing, with the main goal of determining a transitional rate schedule for electricity distribution until the next RTI. Our Busines Control Manager, Federico Mendez, explained the need of an additional Ps. 56,800 million of funds required to maintain and continue the improvement in the company’s invent plan and the quality of electricity services. Additionally, he explained the financial situation of the Company, the investments that had been made to satisfy demand and the improvement in the provision of the services, and he proposed a rate schedule structure that allows for better control by customers.

 

In spite of the presentations made stating the need for an additional cash flow of Ps. 283 million, as of February 26, 2022, the ENRE granted an additional 8% in CPD only, which -after being offset against the increase in the potentially applicable penalty computations- resulted in a net increase of 4%.

 

On March 22, 2022, the Company filed an administrative appeal (recurso de reconsideración) against ENRE´s Resolution No. 76/2022 since, there has been an increase in the value of the average tariff, it still did not reflect the increase in operating costs and the amounts projected for the investments necessary in the electrical network. The Company is expecting the publication of the new RTI before the end of 2022.

 

The adjustment indicated above represents an increase in our income for the year 2022 of Ps. 2,915 million, which is insufficient to cover the requirement of Ps. 56,800 million requested by us as necessary to deal with the deficit for the period, affecting our ability to operate and meet its obligations.

 

Later, under Decree No. 1020/2020 dated December 16, 2020, and by Resolutions of the ENRE No. 16 and No. 17 dated January 19, 2021, the procedure for the transitory adjustment of the tariffs of the public distribution and transportation services, respectively, was initiated with the purpose of establishing a Transitional Tariff Regime until a Definitive Renegotiation Agreement is reached.

 

Then, by Resolutions No. 41 of 2022, the ENRE set the new average tariffs applicable to us as from February 2022, and on which the subsidy to be provided by the national government will be calculated. And by Resolution No. 25 of 2022, the ENRE convened a public hearing to be held on February 17, 2022, in order to inform and hear opinions regarding: (i) the treatment of the establishment of the seasonal reference prices of Power, Stabilized Energy in the WEM, as well as the Stabilized Price of Transportation (PET) and for the Wholesale Electric Market of the Tierrra del Fuego System (Mercado Eléctrico Mayorista del Sistema Tierra del Fuego or “MEMSTDF”); (ii) the proposals of the concessionaires of the public electric power transmission and distribution service, aimed at obtaining a transitory adjustment of tariffs, within the ITR renegotiation process and prior to defining the tariffs to be applied by the concessionaires.

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In said hearing, Edenor and Edesur presented the investments made in 2021, highlighted their losses and asked for $100 billion more in revenues this year to guarantee the service they provide, which could be met through tariff increases, subsidies or a combination of both. However, this request was rejected. Therefore, even though there is an increase in the value of the average tariff, it still does not reflect the increase in operating costs, which may result in a negative impact on us.

 

Notwithstanding the measures recently adopted, there is uncertainty as to what measures the Argentine Government may adopt in connection with tariffs, whether tariffs will be updated from time to time to reflect an increase in operating costs, and their impact on the Argentine economy. However, since the privatization in 1992, this rate update process was never properly implemented.

 

Electricity distributors were severely affected by the emergency measures adopted during the economic crisis, many of which remain in effect

 

Distribution tariffs include a regulated margin that is intended to cover the costs of distribution and provide an adequate return over the distributor’s asset base. Under the Convertibility Regime, which established a fixed exchange rate of one Peso per U.S. Dollar, distribution tariffs were calculated in U.S. Dollars and distribution margins were adjusted periodically to reflect variations in U.S. inflation indexes. However, the Public Emergency Law, which came into effect in January 2002, froze all distribution margins, revoked all margin adjustments provisions in distribution concession agreements and converted distribution tariffs into Pesos at a rate of Ps.1.00 per U.S.$1.00. These measures, coupled with the effect of high inflation and the depreciation of the Peso, led to a decline in distribution revenues and an increase of distribution costs in real terms, which could no longer be recovered through adjustments to the distribution margin. This situation, in turn, led many public utility companies, including us and other important distribution companies, to suspend payments on their commercial debt (which continued to be denominated in U.S. Dollars despite the pesification of revenues), effectively preventing these companies from obtaining further financing in the domestic or international credit markets and making additional investments.

In the past, the Argentine Government granted temporary and partial relief to some distribution companies, including limited increases in distribution margins, a temporary cost adjustment mechanism which was not fully implemented and the ability to apply certain additional charges to users.

On December 21, 2019, the Argentine Congress adopted the Productive Reactivation Law, which included the declaration of the public emergency in tariffs and energy matters (among others) and the delegation to the Federal Executive Power of certain powers normally reserved to Congress or otherwise not within the purview of the Federal Executive Power (including the ability to make determinations in the renegotiation of public tariffs). The effects of this law were extended until March 31, 2021, postponing the update of the electricity rate schedule.

As part of the measures adopted within the framework of the declaration of public emergency, the ENRE, through Resolution No. 58, instructed the Company to refrain from pursuing the collection of debts originated during the validity of the ASPO and DISPO regimes, ordering it to reflect them separately in its invoices to users. We cannot foresee what other measures may be enacted in the future and, in turn, affect the Company’s capacity to generate current income.

 

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Any measures that may be taken as a result of the enactment of the Productive Reactivation Law and the declaration of public emergency, coupled with the economic crisis, may have an adverse impact on the Company. Our inability to cover the costs or to receive an adequate return on our asset base may further adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Electricity demand may be affected by tariff increases, which could lead distribution companies, such as us, to record lower revenues

 

From 2013 through 2021, electricity demand in Argentina increased by 7%, which in part reflects the relative low cost, in real terms, of electricity to users due to the freezing of tariffs and therefore the distribution margins, the establishment of subsidies in the purchase price of energy and the elimination of the inflation adjustment provisions in distribution concessions, coupled with the depreciation of the Peso and inflation through 2021.

In 2021, the Company’s electricity demand amounted to 26,373 GWh, which represented a 5% increase compared to 2020, while the WEM demand amounted to 133,872 GWh (+5.2% year-on-year). The variation in the Company’s demand was mainly due to temperature, elasticity, price and the level of economic activity.

We cannot make any assurance that any future increases in the cost of electricity will not have a material adverse effect on electricity demand or result in a decline in collections from users. In this respect, we cannot assure you that these measures or any future measure will not lead electricity companies, like us, to record lower revenues and results of operations, which may, in turn, have a material adverse effect on the market value of our ADSs.

Energy shortages may act as a brake on growing demand for electricity and disrupt distribution companies’ ability to deliver electricity to their customers, which could result in customer claims and material penalties imposed on these companies

 

In recent years, the condition of the Argentine electricity market has provided little incentive to generators to further invest in increasing their generation capacity, which would require material long-term financial commitments. As a result, Argentine electricity generators are currently operating at near full capacity and could be required to ration supply in order to meet a national energy demand that exceeds the current generation capacity. In addition, the economic crisis and the resulting emergency measures have had and continue to have a material adverse effect on other energy sectors, including oil and gas companies, which has led to a significant reduction in natural gas supplies to generation companies that use this commodity in their generation activities. In addition, Argentina needs to import energy or gas during the winter season or peak demand, and the energy, oil and gas prices have risen recently. As a result, electricity generators may not to be able to guarantee the supply of electricity to distribution companies, which, in turn, could prevent these companies, including us, from experiencing continued growth in their businesses and could lead to failures to provide electricity to customers. Under Argentine law, distribution companies are responsible to their customers for any disruption in the supply of electricity. As a result, distribution companies may face customer claims and fines and penalties for disruptions caused by energy shortages unless the relevant Argentine authorities determine that energy shortages constitute force majeure. To date, the Argentine authorities have not been called upon to decide under which conditions energy shortages may constitute force majeure. In the past, however, the Argentine authorities have recognized the existence of force majeure only in limited circumstances, such as internal malfunctions at the customer’s facilities, extraordinary meteorological events (such as major storms) and third-party work in public thoroughfares. We cannot make assurances that we will not experience a lack of energy supply that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as our ability to repay our debts.

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If the demand for energy is increased suddenly, the difficulty in increasing the capacity of distribution companies in a short or medium term, could adversely affect the Company, which in turn could result in customer complaints and substantial fines for any interruptions

In recent years, the increase in electricity demand was greater than the structural increase in electricity distribution capacities, which led to power shortages and disruptions, in certain occasions. A sustained increase in electricity demand could generate future shortages. In addition, the condition of the Argentine electricity market has provided little incentive to generators and distributors to further invest in increasing their generation and distribution capacity, respectively, which would require material long-term financial commitments. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, the increase in the capacity of our own facilities resulting from the investment process was higher than the increase in demand, and the service quality indicators have continued improving. Regarding the coming years, there is uncertainty about the availability of resources to continue with this process. With respect to generation, depending on the availability of water and fuels, supply could be affected. For these cases, we are exempted from liability according to Resolution ENRE No. 63/2017.

Additionally, according to Argentine law, distribution companies, such as us, are responsible to their users for any disruption in the supply of electricity. Consequently, customers can direct their claims to the distribution companies. Also, distribution companies are subject to fines and penalties for service disruptions caused by energy shortages, unless the respective Argentine authorities determine that energy shortages constitute force majeure events. As a result, we could face user claims and fines and penalties for service disruptions caused by energy shortages unless the relevant Argentine authorities determine that energy shortages constitute force majeure.

We cannot assure that we will not experience a lack in the supply of energy or that such claims, fines, penalties or government intervention will not have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and cause the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares to decline.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We operate our business pursuant to our Concession Agreement granted by the Argentine Government, the revocation or termination of which would have a material adverse effect on our business

We conduct our business pursuant to our concession agreement dated August 5, 1992 (“Concession Agreement”) granted by the Argentine Government. Such agreement contains several requirements regarding the operation of our business and compliance with laws and regulations. Compliance with our obligations under our Concession Agreement is secured by a pledge of our Class A common shares in favor of the Argentine Government. Accordingly, upon the occurrence of specified events of default under our Concession Agreement, the Argentine Government would be entitled to foreclose on its pledge on our Class A common shares, which would have a severe negative impact on our ability to operate a material portion of our business, and as a result, our results of operations would be materially adversely affected. Finally, our Concession Agreement also generally provides for termination in the case of our insolvency or bankruptcy. If our Concession Agreement is terminated or if the Argentine Government forecloses its pledge over Class A common shares, we may not be able to continue to operate as a going concern, and in turn our consolidated results of operations would be materially adversely affected and the market value of our Class B common shares and ADSs could decline.

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Downgrades in our credit ratings could have negative effects on our funding costs and business operations

Credit ratings are assigned to the Company. The credit ratings are based on information furnished by us or obtained by the credit rating agencies from independent sources and are also influenced by the credit ratings of Argentine Government bonds and general views regarding the Argentine financial system as a whole. The credit ratings are subject to revision, suspension or withdrawal by the credit rating agencies at any time. A downgrade, suspension or withdrawal in our credit ratings could result in, among others, the following: (i) increased funding costs and other difficulties in raising funds; (ii) the need to provide additional collateral in connection with financial market transactions; and (iii) the termination or cancellation of existing agreements. As a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Our business is subject to risks arising from natural disasters, catastrophic accidents and terrorist attacks. Additionally, our businesses are subject to the risk of mechanical or electrical failures and any resulting unavailability may affect our ability to fulfil our demand and thus adversely affect our business and financial performance

The electric power distribution infrastructure that we rely on, may be damaged by flooding, hurricanes, strong windstorms, fires, earthquakes and other catastrophic disasters arising from natural or accidental or intentional human causes. We could experience severe business disruptions, significant decreases in revenues based on lower demand arising from catastrophic events, or significant additional costs to us not otherwise covered by insurance policies. There may be an important time lag between a major accident, catastrophic event or terrorist attack and our definitive recovery from our insurance policies, which typically carry non-recoverable deductible amounts. In addition, any of these events could cause adverse effects on the energy demand of some of our customers and of consumers generally in the affected market. Some of these considerations, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and our result of operations.

Additionally, our assets are subject to the risk of mechanical or electrical failures and may experience periods of unavailability affecting our ability to fulfil our energy demand. Any unplanned unavailability of our energy demand, so we could be subject to fines and penalties. For example, in June 2019, Argentina suffered a general blackout which hindered the distribution of energy in our concession area. Although our facilities did not suffer any damage, we cannot assure that any other event in the Argentine network will not affect our facilities and consequently their availability to fulfil our energy demand and our operational results.

Between January 10, 2022 and January 16, 2022, our facilities and networks have been affected by a meteorological phenomenon known as “heat wave”. This event is characterized by the persistence of very high minimum and maximum temperatures for several consecutive days (minimum temperatures above 30°C and maximum temperatures above 41°C). A heat wave with extraordinary temperatures for the summer season due to the direct incidence of the La Niña phenomenon took place in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires where our whole concession area is located, as it was duly recognized and published by the National Meteorological Service and by the Federal Executive Power through Decree No. 16/2022. The characteristics of said meteorological phenomenon were verified consecutively and without interruption from January 10, 2022 to January 16, 2022.During 2021, there was a considerable increase in the demand for electricity generated by the sustained economic reactivation in various sectors of the national economy, which has been recognized by the Federal Executive Power in the above-mentioned decree. The increase in demand has had a direct and definitive effect on our facilities during the period from January 10, 2022 to January 16, 2022, when they were subjected to thermal overload that affected their dissipation conditions, adding as a factor of utmost importance, the high consumption sustained during that period by users. The energy demand of Edenor’s area on January 14, 2022 was 107,186 MWh, far exceeding the maximum of the previous year’s summer period, which had reached 103,384 MWh (value recorded on January 25, 2021). As for the maximum power, on January 14, 2022 at 2:00 PM, 5,382 MW were registered, a historical maximum for the summer.

 

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In anticipation of the impact that the heat wave could have on the installations, we have decided:

·

all Edenor’s and contractors’ operating personnel to attend eventual needs of the network;

·

all activities not related to repairs and network management were suspended as a preventive measure in order to have all resources available to meet possible contingencies;

·

the guards of all auxiliary services were reinforced to keep the operation running permanently (warehouses, fleet maintenance, etc.);

·

the diagrams of the technical personnel were adapted to operate with extended working hours, to increase the capacity to respond to the possible operational needs of the areas;

·

the time required to deal with any faults that might occur was shortened, thus favoring the operation of the network in its normal state;

·

these measures also contribute to making up for the loss of operational personnel caused by the contagions and isolation protocols required by COVID-19; and

·

to increase our capacity to respond to potential failures, we extended our contracts with suppliers of generator sets and troubleshooting laboratories.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the situation of the staff of employees affected by the COVID during the week of the heat wave, in which, out of the total of 92 positive cases of the whole Company, 84% of the positive cases belonged to the operations personnel.

Regarding the supply interruptions caused by the heat wave, on February 24, 2022, the ENRE was requested to exclude them from the calculation of the service quality indicators.

Our operations could cause environmental risks and any change in environmental laws, climate change legislation or regulations restricting emissions of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) and legal frameworks promoting an increase in the participation of energies from renewable sources could significantly impact our business and result in increased operating costs.

In December 1993, Argentina approved the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (“UNFCCC”) through Law No. 24,295. The UNFCCC, which entered into force on March 21, 1994, deals with the stabilization of the GHGs concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

On February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC (“Protocol”) entered into force. This Protocol, which deals with the reduction of certain GHGs (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) in the atmosphere, was in force until 2020 as a consequence of the ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Protocol.

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Argentina approved the Protocol through Law No. 25,438 on June 20, 2001, and the Doha Amendment through Law No. 27,137 on April 29, 2015.

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference adopted by consensus the Paris Agreement, which is known to be the successor of the Protocol. The agreement deals with GHG emission reduction measures, targets to limit global temperature increases and requires countries to review and “represent a progression” in their intended nationally determined contributions. Countries agreed they will aim to achieve the long term goal to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and pursue efforts to further limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. On October 5, 2016, the threshold for entry into force of the Paris Agreement was achieved. International treaties together with increased public awareness related to climate change may result in increased regulation to reduce or mitigate GHG emissions. Under Federal Law No. 27,270, dated September 1, 2016, Argentina approved the Paris Agreement.

Furthermore, Argentine Law No. 26,190, as amended and complemented by Law No. 27,191 and its implementing decrees, established a legal framework which promotes an increase in the participation of energies from renewable sources in Argentina’s electricity market.

Under Law No. 27,191, by December 31, 2017, 8% of the electric energy consumed must come from renewable sources, reaching 20% by December 31, 2025. It sets five stages to achieve the final goal: (i) 8% by December 31, 2017; (ii) 12% by December 31, 2019; (iii) 16% by December 31, 2021; (iv) 18% by December 31, 2023; and (v) 20% by December 31, 2025. It is within this framework that the Argentine government launched the RenovAr programs. As of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, electric energy originated from renewable sources represented 4.6%, 8.2% and 9.7% of the total demand, respectively, according to the data released by the Argentine Government.

Compliance with legal and regulatory changes relating to climate change, including those resulting from the implementation of international treaties, may in the future increase our costs to operate and maintain our facilities, install new emission controls on our facilities and administer and manage any GHG emissions program. More stringent environmental regulations can result in the imposition of costs associated with GHG emissions, either through environmental agency requirements relating to mitigation initiatives or through other regulatory measures such as GHG emissions taxation and market creation of limitations on GHG emissions that have the potential to increase our operating costs. Revenue generation and strategic growth opportunities may also be adversely affected. Any long-term material adverse effect on the telecommunications industry could adversely affect the financial and operational aspects of our business, which we cannot predict with certainty as of the date of annual report.

Some of our operations are subject to environmental risks that could arise unexpectedly and cause material adverse effects on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the occurrence of any of these risks could lead to personal injury, loss of life, environmental damage, repair and expenses, equipment damage and liability in civil and administrative proceedings. We cannot assure you that we will not incur additional costs related to environmental issues in the future, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we cannot ensure that our insurance coverage is sufficient to cover the losses that could potentially arise from these environmental risks.

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In addition, we are subject to a broad range of environmental legislation, both in Argentina. Local, provincial and national authorities in Argentina may implement new environmental laws and regulations and may require us to incur higher costs to comply with new standards. The imposition of more stringent regulatory and permit requirements in relation to our operators in Argentina could significantly increase the costs of our activity.

We cannot predict the general effects of the implementation of any new environmental laws and regulations on our financial condition and results of operations.

Failure or delay to negotiate further improvements to our tariff structure, including increases in our distribution margin, and/or to have our tariffs adjusted to reflect increases in our distribution costs in a timely manner or at all, affected and may continue to affect our capacity to perform our commercial obligations and could also have a material adverse effect on our ability to perform our financial obligations

Since the execution of the agreement entered into between us and the Argentine Government on February 13, 2006, relating to the adjustment and renegotiation of the terms of our Concession Agreement (Acta Acuerdo sobre la Adecuación del Contrato de Concesión del Servicio Público de Distribución y Comercialización de Energía Eléctrica or the “Adjustment Agreement”) and as required by the Argentine Government, we were engaged in an RTI with the ENRE through February 1, 2017.

The Adjustment Agreement contemplated a cost adjustment mechanism for the transitional period during which an RTI process was being conducted. This mechanism, known as the Cost Monitoring Mechanism (“CMM”), required the ENRE to review our actual distribution costs every six months (in May and November of each year) and adjust our distribution margins to reflect variations of 5% or more in our distribution cost base. We could also request that the ENRE apply the CMM at any time that the variation in our distribution cost base was at least 10% or more. Any adjustments, however, were subject to the ENRE’s assessment of variations in our costs, and the ENRE’s approval of adjustments were not sufficient to cover our actual incremental costs in a timely manner. During such time, even when the ENRE approved adjustments to our tariffs, there was a lag between the time when we actually experienced increases in our distribution costs and the time when we received increased income following the corresponding adjustments to our distribution margins pursuant to the CMM.

In this context and in light of the situation that affected the electricity sector, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 347/12 in November 2012, which established the application of fixed and variable charges that allowed the Company to obtain additional revenue as from November 2012 through 2016. However, changes made by Resolution No. 250/13 and Notes No. 6,852/13, No. 4,012/14, No. 486/14 and No. 1,136/14 of the SE and additional revenue obtained through Resolution No. 347/12 were insufficient to make up for our operating deficit in 2014, due to the constant increase in operating costs.

In March 2015, Resolution No. 32/15 of the former SE granted us a temporary increase in income through funds provided by CAMMESA applicable retroactively as from February 1, 2015 through February 1, 2016, to cover costs and investments associated with the regular provision of the public service of distribution of energy on account of an RTI.

In January 2016, the ME&M issued Resolution No. 7/16, pursuant to which the ENRE implemented a VAD adjustment to the tariff schedule on account of the future RTI in effect as of February 1, 2016.

In addition, such resolution: (i) abrogated the Energy Rational Use Program (Programa de Uso Racional de la Energía Eléctrica or “PUREE”); (ii) repealed Resolution No. 32/15 as from the date the ENRE resolution implementing the new tariff schedule becomes effective; (iii) discontinued the application of mechanisms that imply the transfer of funds from CAMMESA in the form of loan agreements with CAMMESA; (iv) ordered the implementation of the actions required to terminate the trusts created pursuant to Resolution No. 347/12 of the ENRE and (v) prohibited the distribution of dividends in accordance with Section 7.04 of the Adjustment Agreement.

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However, pursuant to Resolution No. 7/16, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 1/16 establishing a new tariff structure, which remained in force (with certain suspensions as a result of injunctions, which are no longer in effect) until February 2017, when an RTI process was completed.

Prior to the completion of such RTI process, several regulatory mechanisms, programs or changes were implemented from time to time by the ENRE to adjust our tariffs to reflect increased costs. Any requested adjustments were usually subject to the ENRE’s assessment of variations in our costs, and not sufficient to cover our actual incremental costs in a timely manner.

On April 1, 2016, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 55/16, which approved the program for the review of the distribution tariff scheme, establishing the criteria and methodologies for completing an RTI process.

On September 5, 2016, pursuant to Resolution No. 55/16, we submitted our rate schedule proposal for the following five-year period. On October 28, 2016, a public hearing was held to provide information and listen to the public opinion on an RTI.

Such RTI was completed on February 1, 2017, on which date the ENRE issued Resolution No. 63/17, through which it approved a new tariff scheme that established our new Value-Added for Distribution (“VAD”) for the following five-year period (For more information, see “Item 5—Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Tariffs —Integral Tariff Revision”). On January 31, 2018, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 33/18 approving the new distribution cost for Edenor applicable as from February 1, 2018 and the new tariff scheme applicable to the Company. On July 31, 2018, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 208/18, pursuant to which it approved the CPD for January-June 2018 period of which 7.93% was applied as of August 1, 2018, and 6.51% in six consecutive monthly installments as of February 1, 2019. The CPD amounted to 15.85%.

Within the framework of the aforementioned Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement, in 2020, the Company made different presentations to the ENRE with the estimates of the electricity rate schedules that were to be applied during 2020, according to the terms of the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement entered between the Company and the Federal Government. However, the ENRE has instructed the Company to not apply the rates, in accordance with the Productive Reactivation Law. As mentioned above, the freeze on electricity rates was extended until March 31, 2021, or until the new transitional electricity rate schedules resulting from the Transitional Tariff System come into effect, whichever occurs first.

On May 10, 2019, the Company and the SE, on behalf of the Argentine Government, entered into the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations. By virtue of this agreement, the Company (i) undertook to pay users certain penalty and compensation amounts relating to the 2006-2016 period; and (ii) agreed to make investments, in addition to those agreed upon in the RTI, to contribute to improve the reliability and safety of the service. In return, the Argentine Government partially recognized the claim duly made by the Company, by fully offsetting pending obligations and cancelling penalties payable to the National Treasury. Furthermore, the Company waived any rights to which it may be entitled and abandoned any actions against the Federal Government.

On March 30, 2021, the ENRE called a public hearing, with the main goal of determining a transitional rate schedule for electricity distribution until the next RTI. As a result of such process, the ENRE approved a 20,9% of own distribution costs (“CPD”) (which resulted in a final 9% tariff´s increase). Later on April 30, 2021, Edenor obtained an additional 8% increase on CPD.

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On February 17, 2022, the ENRE called another public hearing, with the main goal of determining a transitional rate schedule for electricity distribution until the next RTI. Our Busines Control Manager, Federico Mendez, explained the need of an additional Ps. 56,800 million required to maintain and continue the improvement in the quality of electricity services. Additionally, he explained our financial situation, the investments that have been made to satisfy demand and the improvement in the provision of the services, and he proposed a rate schedule structure that allows better control by customers.

Finally, on February 26, 2022, the ENRE granted an additional 8% in CPD. However, it also enacted an increase of the penalty rate applicable to the energy sector, which resulted in a net increase of 4%. (For more information on tariffs, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Tariffs.”)

However, if we are not able to recover all future cost increases and have them reflected in our tariffs, and/or if there is a significant lag of time between when we incur the incremental costs and when we receive increased income we may be unable to comply with our financial obligations, we may suffer liquidity shortfalls and we may need to restructure our debt to ease our financial condition, any of which, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations and may cause the value of our ADSs and Class B common shares to decline.

We may not be able to adjust our tariffs to reflect increases in our distribution costs in a timely manner, or at all, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations

The Adjustment Agreement currently contemplates a cost adjustment mechanism for the transition period during which an RTI is being conducted. This mechanism, known as the Cost Monitoring Mechanism (CMM), requires the ENRE to review our actual distribution costs every six months (in May and November of each year) and adjust our distribution margins to reflect variations of 5% or more in our distribution cost base. We may also request that the ENRE apply the CMM at any time that the variation in our distribution cost base is at least 10% or more. Any adjustments, however, are subject to the ENRE’s assessment of variations in our costs, and we cannot guarantee that the ENRE will approve adjustments that are sufficient to cover our actual incremental costs. In the past, even when the ENRE has approved adjustments to our tariffs, there has been a lag between when we actually experience increases in our distribution costs and when we receive increased revenues following the corresponding adjustments to our distribution margins pursuant to the CMM.

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Despite the adjustment we were granted under the CMM in October 2007 and July 2008, we cannot make assurances that we will receive similar adjustments in the future. As of the date of this annual report, we have requested four increases under the CMM beginning in May 2008 that are still being reviewed by the ENRE. Under the terms of the Adjustment Agreement, these five increases should have been approved in May 2008, November 2008, May 2009, November 2009 and May 2010. If we are not able to recover all of these incremental costs and all such future cost increases or there is a significant lag time between when we incur the incremental costs and when we receive increased revenues, we may experience a material decline in our results of operations, which could adversely affect our ability to repay the notes.

Our distribution tariffs may be subject to challenges by Argentine consumer and other groups

In the recent years, our tariffs have been challenged by Argentine consumer associations, such as two actions brought against us in December 2009 and February 2022, by an Argentine consumer association (Unión de Usuarios y Consumidores) seeking to annul certain retroactive tariff increases and return of penalties to consumers (which were acknowledged and agreed among the Argentine Government and the Province of Buenos Aires under the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations). See “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal and Administrative Proceedings—Legal Proceedings”.

We have been, and may continue to be, subject to fines and penalties that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations

We operate in a highly regulated environment and have been, and in the future may continue to be, subject to significant fines and penalties imposed by regulatory authorities, including for reasons outside our control, such as service disruptions attributable to problems at generation facilities or in the transmission network that result in a lack of electricity supply. Since 2001, the amount of fines and penalties imposed on our Company has increased significantly. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, our accrued fines and penalties totaled Ps.12,927 million, Ps.13,656 million and Ps.15,032 million, respectively (taking into account adjustments made to fines and penalties following the ratification of the Adjustment Agreement and recent regulation). See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Fines and Penalties.”

On October 19, 2016, pursuant to Note No. 123,091 the ENRE established the average rate values (Ps./KWh) to be applied as from December 2012, for calculating the penalties payable to the Argentine Government. In accordance with the terms of the Concession Agreement, such values should correspond to the average sale price of energy charged to users. Since the amounts set forth in the note were not consistent with the principle contained in our Concession Agreement, on November 1, 2016, the Company submitted a claim to the ENRE requesting that the amounts in Note No. 123,091 be modified to reflect the amounts contained in the Concession Agreement. As of the date of this annual report, we have received the response from the ENRE (Note No. 129,061), which clarified that the increases or adjustments are not applicable, and only the values paid by the users should be considered.

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On February 1, 2017, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 63/17, through which it approved new parameters related to the quality standards, with the purpose of achieving an acceptable quality level by the end of the 2017-2021 period. In this regard, the ENRE established a penalty regime to be applied in the event of non-compliance with the requisite quality rates.

On March 29, 2017, through Note No. 125,248 the ENRE established a new methodology for the calculation of fines and penalties, determining that they must be valued according to the KWh values in effect as of the first day of the six-month period during which the event giving rise to the penalty occurred or the KWh values in effect as of the date of the occurrence of the event in the case of penalties arising from specific events.

On January 17, 2022, by Resolution No. 7, the ENRE initiated a summary proceeding and filed charges against the Company, since it allegedly failed to report the power outages that took place on January 11, 14 and 15, 2022. The Company has already filed an answer. To date, the ENRE has not issued a decision on the matter.

On March 5, 2021, through Resolution No. 58, the ENRE instructed us to issue invoices only with the amounts corresponding to the consumption for the period and, separately, report the debts that have originated or increased during the effectiveness of the ASPO and DISPO regimes, without contemplating interest. The balances owed will be paid to the concessionaires in accordance with the guidelines established by the ENRE. As of September 2021, we began to implement the aforementioned resolution. Likewise, we were instructed to refrain from pursuing the collection of accumulated consumption from the ASPO until February 28, 2021, without -said body- having established the guidelines for payment of such amounts by users to date.

 

We cannot assure you what may be the outcome of this procedure, nor that we will not incur significant fines in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, our results of operations and the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares.

The increase in the illegal settlements within the Great Buenos Aires area may affect the Company’s ability to distribute energy to its customers, as well as produce an increase in public safety risks.

Within the second and third regions of the Greater Buenos Aires area, the number of illegal settlements has increased over the years, and the existing ones have grown larger in terms of the number of people living in them as well as in terms of the size and complexity of the constructions built to foster its inhabitants. These fenomena is particularly present in the third ring of the Great Buenos Aires area, where energy theft represents the main cause of the company´s energy lost. Furthermore, such illegal conections to the electricity grid are performed in land over which Edenor has governmental permits to install high and medium voltage networks. The growth of such constructions on such land increases the risk of physical contact with such networks which may cause service interruption and even provoke accidents.

Edenor continuously reports to the community, the governmental authorities, and the ENRE about these situations and also files criminal proceedings in connection therewith. However, Edenor does not have the legal authority to remove such illegal constructions, and Edenor cannot assure that those contruction will continue to grow and affect the electric system in general.

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If we are unable to control our energy losses, especially the theft of energy, our results of operations could be adversely affected

Our concession does not allow us to pass through to our users the cost of additional energy purchased to cover any energy losses that exceed the loss factor contemplated by our concession, which is, on average, 10%. As a result, if we experience energy losses in excess of those contemplated by our concession, we may record lower operating profits than we anticipate. Prior to the 2001 and 2002 economic crisis in Argentina, we were able to reduce the high level of energy losses experienced at the time of the privatization down to the levels contemplated (and reimbursed) under our concession. However, during the last years, our level of energy losses, particularly our non-technical losses, started to grow again, in part as a result of the increase in poverty levels and, in turn, in the number of delinquent accounts and fraud. In the regions in which new settlements of vulnerable neighbourhoods continue to be made, which are added to the growth of the already existing ones, mainly in the third region of the Greater Buenos Aires area, energy theft represents one of the main factors in the increase in total losses of the Company. Although we continue to make investments to reduce energy losses, these losses continue to exceed the average 10% loss factor contemplated by the concession and, based on the current tariff schedule and the economic turmoil, we do not expect these losses to decrease in the near term. Our energy losses amounted to 17.6% in 2021, 19.6% in 2020 and 19.9% in 2019. We cannot assure you that our energy losses will not continue to increase in future periods, which may lead to lower margins and could adversely affect our financial condition, our results of operations and the market value of our Class B common shares, ADSs and our Senior Notes due 2022.

Under the Concession Agreement, the Argentine Government could foreclose on its pledge over our Class A common shares under certain circumstances, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition

Pursuant to our Concession Agreement and the provisions of the Adjustment Agreement, the Argentine Government has the right to foreclose on its pledge over our Class A common shares and sell these shares to a third-party buyer if:

·

the fines and penalties incurred in any given year exceed 20% of our gross energy sales, net of taxes, which corresponds to our energy sales;

·

we repeatedly and materially breach the terms of our concession and do not remedy these breaches upon the request of the ENRE;

·

our controlling shareholder creates any lien or encumbrance over our Class A common shares (other than the existing pledge in favor of the Argentine Government);

·

we or our controlling shareholder obstructs the sale of Class A common shares at the end of any management period under our concession;

·

our controlling shareholder fails to obtain the ENRE’s approval in connection with the disposition of our Class A common shares;

·

our shareholders amend our articles of incorporation or voting rights in a way that modifies the voting rights of the Class A common shares without the ENRE’s approval; or

 

On February 1, 2017, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 63/17 establishing the new tariff scheme resulting from the completion of an RTI process, for the following five-year period. In accordance with the provisions of the Adjustment Agreement, Electricidad Argentina S.A. (“EASA”) (currently merged into Pampa Energía S.A.) and EDF International S.A. (“EDFI”) withdrew their ICSID claim, and on March 28, 2017, the ICSID acknowledged the discontinuance of the procedure.

In 2021, our fines and penalties remained below 20% of our gross energy sales. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business overview—Edenor Concession—Fines and Penalties.”

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If the Argentine Government were to foreclose on its pledge of our Class A common shares, pending the sale of those shares, the Argentine Government would also have the right to exercise the voting rights associated with such shares. In addition, the potential foreclosure by the Argentine Government on its pledge over our Class A common shares could be deemed to constitute a change of control under the terms of our Senior Notes due 2022. If the Argentine Government forecloses on the pledge of our Class A common shares, our results of operations and financial condition could be significantly affected and the market value of our Class B common shares and ADSs could also be affected.

Default by the Argentine Government could lead to termination of our concession, and have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition

If the Argentine Government breaches its obligations in such a way that we cannot comply with our obligations under our Concession Agreement or in such a way that our service is materially affected, we may request the termination of our concession, after giving the Argentine Government a 90 days’ prior notice, in writing. Upon termination of our concession, all our assets used to provide the electricity distribution service would be transferred to a new state-owned company to be created by the Argentine Government, whose shares would be sold in an international public bidding procedure. The amount obtained in such bidding would be paid to us, net of the payment of any debt owed by us to the Argentine Government, plus an additional compensation established as a percentage of the bidding price, ranging from 10% to 30%, depending on the management period in which the sale occurs. Any such default could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

The expiration of the management period could result in the sale of the Company’s controlling interest.

Our concession is currently set to expire on August 31, 2087, after a term of 95 years, and may be extended for one additional 10-year period if Edenor requests the extension at least 18 months before expiration. The term of the concession is divided into management periods. On February 25, 2021, through resolution 65, the ENRE established that the first management period will be considered fulfilled at the end of the term established for the renegotiation of an RTI, according to Decree No. 1,020 dated December 16, 2020.

Six months before the end of each management period, the regulatory authority shall call to Concurso Público Internacional on the Class “A” shares sale representing 51% of the share capital of Edenor, currently held by Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. (“Edelcos”). However, if Edelcos matches the highest bid or its bid represents the highest bid received, it will continue to hold the Class “A” shares, and no further disbursements will be necessary. On the contrary, if Edelcos’s offer is not the highest, the Class “A” shares shall be awarded to the bidder who made the highest bid and the proceeds from the sale shall be payable by Grantor Government to Edelcos, net of any payments owed to the Argentine Government. The before mentioned price shall be delivered within the term of 30 days once the Grantor Control received it. The first management period commenced on September 1, 1992, and was extended by the regulatory authority through Resolution 467/2007.

We may be unable to import certain equipment to meet growing demand for electricity, which could lead to a breach of our Concession Agreement and could have a material adverse effect on the operations and financial position

Certain exchange controls established by the Argentine Government and future restrictions on imports that may be adopted in the future could limit or delay our ability to purchase capital goods that are necessary for our operations (including carrying out specific projects). Under our concession, we are obligated to satisfy all of the demand for electricity originated in our concession area, maintaining at all times certain service quality standards that have been established for our concession. If we are not able to purchase significant capital goods to satisfy all of the demand or suffer unexpected delays in the import process, we could face fines and penalties which may, in turn, adversely affect our activity, financial position, results of operations and/or the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares. For more information on exchange controls, see “Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls”.

We employ a largely unionized labor force and could be subject to an organized labor action, including work stoppages that could have a material effect on our business

As of December 31, 2021, approximately 81% of our employees were union members. Although our relations with unions are currently stable and we have had an agreement in place with the two unions representing our employees since 1995, we cannot assure you that we will not experience work disruptions or stoppages in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and revenues. We cannot assure you that we will be able to negotiate salary agreements or labor conditions on the same terms as those currently in effect, or that we will not be subject to strikes or work stoppages before or during the negotiation process. If we are unable to negotiate salary agreements or if we are subject to demonstrations or work stoppages, our results of operations, financial conditions and the market value of our ADSs, Class B common shares and our Senior Notes due 2022 could be materially adversely affected.

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We could incur material labor liabilities in connection with our outsourcing that could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations

We outsource a number of activities related to our business to third-party contractors in order to maintain a flexible cost base. As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately 5,877 third-party employees related to third party´s contracts. Although we have very strict policies regarding compliance with labor and social security obligations by contractors, we are not in a position to ensure that contractors will not initiate legal actions to seek indemnification from us based upon a number of judicial rulings issued by labor courts in Argentina which have recognized joint and several liability between the contractor and the entity to which it is supplying services under certain circumstances. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, termination claims amounted to Ps.1,702.5 million, Ps.1,315.2 million and Ps.1,843.3 million, respectively.

Our performance is largely dependent on recruiting and retaining key personnel

Our current and future performance and the operation of our business are dependent upon the contributions of our senior management and our skilled team of engineers and other employees. We depend on our ability to attract, train, motivate and retain key management and specialized personnel with the necessary skills and experience. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in retaining and attracting key personnel and the replacement of any key personnel who were to leave could be difficult and time consuming. The loss of the experience and services of key personnel or the inability to recruit suitable replacements and additional staff could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and antitrust laws and regulations in Argentina. Any violation thereunder could have a material adversed effect on our reputation and the results of our operation

We are subject to national and international anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and antitrust laws and regulations. Likewise, we are subject to certain restrictions and our relationship with certain non-cooperative countries. Edenor has internal processes and an Ethic and Compliance Code that are mandatory for all its personnel and suppliers. However, no assurance can be given that such policies and processes are sufficient to prevent or detect frauds, violation of the law or inappropriate behaviour from our employees, directors, officers, shareholders, agents and suppliers.

We are involved in various legal proceedings which could result in unfavorable decisions for us, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations

We are party to a number of legal proceedings, some of which have been pending for several years. We cannot be certain that these claims will be resolved in our favor and responding to the demands of litigation may divert our management’s time and attention and our financial resources and unfavorable decisions may have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations. See “Item 8. Financial Information—Legal and Administrative Proceedings—Legal Proceedings.”

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In the event of an accident or other event not covered by our insurance, we could face significant losses that could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations

As of December 31, 2021, our physical assets were insured for up to U.S.$1,797 million. However, we do not carry insurance coverage for losses caused by our network or business interruption, including for loss of our concession. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Insurance.” Although we believe our insurance coverage is commensurate with standards for the distribution industry, no assurance can be given of the existence or sufficiency of risk coverage for any particular risk or loss. If an accident or other event occurs that is not covered by our current insurance policies, we may experience material losses or have to disburse significant amounts from our own funds, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and the market value of our Class B common shares and ADSs.

We currently are not able to effectively hedge our currency risk in full and, as a result, a devaluation of the Peso may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition

Our revenues are collected in Pesos pursuant to tariffs that are not indexed to the U.S. Dollar, while a significant portion of our existing financial indebtedness is denominated in U.S. Dollars, which exposes us to the risk of loss from devaluation of the Peso. We currently seek to hedge this risk in part by converting a portion of our excess cash denominated in Pesos into local U.S. dollar-denominated instruments such as local government bonds, but we continue to have substantial exposure to the U.S. Dollar. The Argentine Government does not allow companies, including us, to access the the market to acquire U.S. Dollars to hedge our financial position. If we continue to be unable to effectively hedge all or a significant portion of our currency risk exposure, a devaluation of the Peso may significantly increase our debt service burden, which, in turn, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our ability to repay our debts.

A substantial number of our assets are not subject to attachment or foreclosure and the enforcement of judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may be substantially limited

A substantial number of our assets are essential to the public service we provide. Under Argentine law, as interpreted by the Argentine courts, assets which are essential to the provision of a public service are not subject to attachment or foreclosure, whether as a guarantee for an ongoing legal action or in aid of enforcement of a court judgment. Accordingly, the enforcement of judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may be substantially limited to the extent our shareholders seek to attach those assets to obtain payment on their judgment.

The loss of the exclusivity of electricity distribution in our service area may be adversely affected by technological or other changes in the energy distribution industry, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Although our concession grants us the exclusive right to distribute electric energy within our service area, this exclusivity may be revoked in whole or in part if technological developments make it possible for energy distribution to evolve from its current condition of natural monopoly to a competitive business. In no event does the total or partial revocation of our exclusive distribution rights entitle us to claim or obtain reimbursement or indemnification. Although, to our knowledge, there are no current projects to introduce new technologies in the medium or long term that could reasonably modify the composition of the electricity distribution business, we cannot assure you that future developments will not allow competition in our sector that would adversely affect the exclusivity right granted to us under our concession. Any total or partial loss of our exclusive right to distribute electricity within our service area would likely lead to increased competition and result in lower revenues, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, our results of operations and the market value of our Class B shares and our ADSs.

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A potential nationalization or expropriation of 51% of our capital stock, represented by Class A shares, may limit the ability of Class B shares to participate in the Board of Directors.

As of the date of this annual report, ANSES owned shares representing 26.8% of our capital stock and jointly appointed five Class B and five Class C directors at our last shareholders’ meeting. The remaining directors were appointed by Class A shares.

If the Argentine Government was to expropriate 51% of our capital stock, represented by our Class A shares, the Argentine Government would be the sole holder of the Class A shares and ANSES would hold the majority of the Class B shares. Certain strategic transactions require the approval of the holders of the Class A shares. Accordingly, the Argentine Government and ANSES could determine substantially all matters requiring the approval of a majority of our stockholders, including the election of a majority of our directors, and could direct our operations.

If the Argentine Government nationalizes or expropriates 51% of our capital stock, as represented by the Class A shares, our results and financial condition could be adversely affected and this could cause the market value of our ADSs and Class B shares to decline.

We may not be able to raise the funds necessary to repay our commercial debt with CAMMESA, our major supplier

Pending obligations with the WEM for electrical energy purchases until 2019 were fully compensated. However, as a result of (i) the enactment of the Productive Reactivation Law (in the framework of the public emergency), (ii) the subsequent instruction to the Company to refrain from applying, as from January 1, 2020, the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement entered into between the Company and the Argentine Executive Power on September 19, 2019 (the “Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement”) and (iii) the prevailing macroeconomic situation, aggravated by the recent effects of COVID-19 outbreak (See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Factors Relating to Argentina—Developments relating to the coronavirus may have a material adverse impact on our business operations, financial condition or results of operations”), the Company partially postponed payments to CAMMESA regarding maturities taking place in March 2020. We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to repay our commercial debt with CAMMESA.

 

Section 87 of Law No. 27,591 of the General Budget of the National Administration for the Year 2021 established the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations” that the distributors maintain with CAMMESA, under the conditions established by the SE.

 

On February 22, 2022, by means of Executive Order No. 88/2022, the Executive Power extended until December 31, 2022 the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations”.

 

Should no agreement be reached with the Argentine Government to cover our debt with CAMMESA (pursuant to such rules and regulations), no assurance can be given that we may have the ability to raise the necessary funds to pay all our commercial debt with CAMMESA, unless to the extent that a proper RTI is not completed during the 2022.

 

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The Argentine Government could enforce our our debt with CAMMESA and without any tariff relief, constrain the Company financially further compromising our ability to meet our obligations.

 

We may not have the ability to collect the amounts corresponding to the discounts of the Social Rate, the ceilings of the Social Rate and the bonuses for neighbourhood clubs, that must be financed by the Province of Buenos Aires and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

 

If we are not able to recover the revenue corresponding to the discounts applied pursuant to the Social Rate regime, the ceilings of the Social Rate and the bonuses for neighborhood clubs, and/or if there is a significant lag of time between when we incur the incremental costs and when we receive the amounts related to these concepts, we may suffer liquidity shortfalls, any of which, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

All of our outstanding financial indebtedness contains bankruptcy, reorganization proceedings and expropriation events of default, and we may be required to repay all of our outstanding debt upon occurrence of any such events

 

As of the date of this annual report, U.S.$98 million of our financial debt was represented by our Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Senior Notes due 2022”). Under the indenture for the Senior Notes due 2022, certain expropriation and condemnation events with respect to us may constitute an event of default, which, if declared, could trigger the acceleration of our obligations under the notes and require us to immediately repay all such accelerated debt. In addition, all of our outstanding financial indebtedness contains certain events of default related to bankruptcy and voluntary reorganization proceeding. If we are not able to comply with certain payment obligations as a result of our current financial situation and if the requirements set forth in the Argentine Bankruptcy Law No. 24,522 are met, any creditor, or even us, could file for our bankruptcy, or we could file for a voluntary reorganization proceeding. In addition, all of our outstanding financial indebtedness also contains cross-default provisions or cross-acceleration provisions that could cause all of our debt to be accelerated if the debt containing expropriation or bankruptcy and/or reorganization proceeding events of default goes into default or is accelerated. In such a case, we would expect to actively pursue formal waivers from the corresponding financial creditors to avoid such potential situation, but in case those waivers are not timely obtained and immediate repayment is required, we could face short-term liquidity problems, which could adversely affect our results of operations and cause the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares to decline.

Our management, considering Central Bank Communication “A” 2422 and their related regulations, is working to propose a debt restructuring considering the requirements of Section 3.17 that requests to refinance at least 60% of the actual debt with a duration larger than two years, in order to access the MLC. The strategy involves to make the offer and exchange, in advance of the maturity of the Senior Notes due 2022. The offer will include an option to exchange the Senior Notes due 2022 with new notes with similar covenants and characteristics or a second option which will include a cash payment according to Central bank regulation limits and the difference with the new notes.

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance a change of control offering as required by our Senior Notes due 2022

As of the date of this annual report, our Senior Notes due 2022 represent US$ 98 million of our financial debt. Under the terms of our Senior Notes due 2022, in the event of a change of control, we must offer to repurchase any and all outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and additional amounts, if any, through the date of purchase. We may not have sufficient funds to make the required repurchases of our Senior Notes due 2022 in the event of a change of control. If we fail to make the change of control offer, that could constitute an event of default under the terms and conditions of issuance, which in turn could trigger cross-default provisions under the terms of issuance of other debt instruments from time to time outstanding, whereby the results of operations could be adversely affected and the market value of our ADSs and Class B common stock could decline.

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The New York Stock Exchange and/or the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange may suspend trading and/or delist our ADSs and Class B common shares, upon the occurrence of certain events relating to our financial situation

The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and/or the Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos S.A. (“BYMA”) may suspend and/or cancel the listing of our ADSs and Class B common shares, respectively, in certain circumstances, including upon the occurrence of certain events relating to our financial situation. For example, the NYSE may decide such suspension or cancellation if our shareholders’ equity becomes negative.

The NYSE may in its sole discretion determine on an individual basis the suitability for continued listing of an issue in the light of all pertinent facts. Some of the factors mentioned in the NYSE Listed Company Manual, which may subject a company to suspension and delisting procedures, include: “unsatisfactory financial conditions and/or operating results”, “inability to meet current debt obligations or to adequately finance operations,” and “any other event or condition which may exist or occur that makes further dealings or listing of the securities on the NYSE inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of NYSE.”

The BYMA may cancel the listing of our Class B common shares if it determines that our shareholders’ equity and our financial and economic situation do not justify our access to the stock market or if the NYSE cancels the listing of our ADSs.

We cannot assure you that the NYSE and/or the BYMA will not commence any suspension or delisting procedures in light of our financial situation, including if our shareholders’ equity becomes negative. A delisting or suspension of trading of our ADSs or Class B common shares by the NYSE and/or the BYMA, respectively, could adversely affect our results of operations and financial conditions and cause the market value of our ADSs and Class B common shares to decline.

Changes in weather conditions or the occurrence of severe weather (whether or not caused by climate change or natural disasters), could adversely affect our operations and financial performance

Weather conditions have influenced and in the future may influence the demand for electricity, our ability to provide it and the costs of providing it. In particular, severe weather may adversely affect our results of operations by causing significant demand increases, which we may be unable to meet without a significant increase in operating costs. This could strongly impact the continuity of our services and our quality indicators. For example, the exceptional thunderstorms that occurred in April and December of 2013 and a heat wave that occurred in December of 2013 affected the continuity of our services, both in the low voltage and medium voltage networks. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Quality Standards—Edenor Concession”. Furthermore, any such disruptions in the provision of our services could expose us to fines and orders to compensate those users affected by any such power cuts, as has occurred in the past (see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Quality Standards—Fines and Penalties”). Our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could therefore be negatively affected by increased operating costs, litigation or decreases in revenue relating to changes in weather conditions and severe weather.

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Cybersecurity events, such as interruptions or failures in our information technology systems as well as cyber-attacks, could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows

We depend on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of internet-based data processing communication and information exchange platforms and networks, including administrative and business-related systems (such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (“SCADA”) and DCS Software, Inc. (“DCS”)). Cybersecurity risks have generally increased in recent years as a result of the proliferation of new technologies and the increased sophistication and activities of cyber-attacks. Through part of our grid and other initiatives, we have increasingly connected equipment and systems to the internet. Due to the critical nature of our infrastructure and the increased accessibility enabled through connection to the internet, we may face a heightened risk of cybersecurity incidents such as computer break-ins, phishing, identity theft and other disruptions that could negatively affect the security of information stored in and transmitted through our computer systems and network infrastructure. In the event of a failure of any of our information technology systems or a cyber-attack, we could have our business operations disrupted, property damaged and user information stolen; experience substantial loss of revenues, response costs and other financial loss; and be subject to increased regulation, litigation and damage to our reputation. It should be mentioned that contingency plans in place may not be sufficient to cover liabilities associated with any such events and therefore, applicable insurance coverage may be deemed inadequate, preventing us from receiving full compensation for the losses sustained as a result of such a disruption. Although we intend to continue to implement security technology devices and establish operational procedures (such as, our Disaster Recovery Plan, which aims to respond and recover business’ core applications in the event of serious incidents) to prevent disruption resulting from, and counteract the negative effects of cybersecurity incidents within the next three years, it is possible that not all of our current and future systems are or will be entirely free from vulnerability and these security measures will not be successful. Accordingly, cybersecurity is a material risk for us and a cyber-attack could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. For more information see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Information Technology and Telecommunications—Cybersecurity”.

The Company’s operations and business could be affected by the adoption of restrictions on the import of products or the technical conditions applicable thereto.

In February 2011, the then Ministry of Industry issued Resolution No. 45/11 by means of which, among other issues, it resolved to extend the application of the non-automatic licensing system with respect to the import of products that the Ministry of Industry considers to be luxury or that compete unfairly with local production on the understanding that such national production was capable of satisfying domestic demand. On January 25, 2013 and by means of Decree No. 11/13, the Ministry of Economy repealed Resolution No. 45/11 putting an end to the mechanism that required importers to process an authorization certificate to enter certain products into the country. On January 8, 2020, the Secretariat of Industry, Knowledge Economy and External Trade Management of the Ministry of Productive Development issued Resolution (SIECGCE) No. 1/20, which (i) incorporated new tariff items that shall process non-automatic licenses (“LNA”), (ii) modified the forms for the import license application, (iii) decreased the tolerance in the FOB unit value of goods subject to the processing of LNA, (iv) decreased the term of validity of the LNA from 180 to 90 days as from its approval in the SIMI, (v) extended the scope of imports of goods to the territory of the Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego (except for products coming from the continental territory), and (vi) established the Undersecretariat of Trade Policy and Management of the Secretariat of Industry, Knowledge Economy and External Trade Management as the enforcement authority.

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In addition, through Resolution of the Secretariat of Domestic Trade No. 247/2019 and successive extensions, it has been established that before December 31, 2021, electric meters must comply with certain characteristics that none of the suppliers based in Argentina had, which lead to increased imports and, therefore, subject to the restrictions on import that exist.

As of the date of this annual report, we cannot guarantee that in the future, measures similar to those adopted through the date of this annual report will not be adopted that may have an impact on the goods used by the Company as inputs, causing the Company an adverse effect on its economic, financial or other situation, its results of operations, business or its ability to comply with its obligations in general.

Risks relating to our ADSs and Class B common shares

Restrictions on the movement of capital out of Argentina may impair the ability of holders of ADSs to receive dividends and distributions on, and the proceeds of any sale of, the Class B common shares underlying the ADSs, which could affect the market value of the ADSs

The Argentine Government has re-established restrictions on the conversion of Argentine currency into foreign currencies and on the remittance to foreign investors of proceeds from their investments in Argentina. Conversion of dividends, distributions, or the proceeds from any sale of shares from Pesos into U.S. Dollars, as well as the transfer of those funds abroad is strongly limited. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls”. Future restrictions on foreign exchange market access, other than those already imposed, may affect even more the conversion of dividends, distributions, or the proceeds from any sale of shares, as the case may be, from Pesos into U.S. Dollars and the remittance of such U.S. Dollars abroad. Also, certain of our indebtedness includes covenants limiting the payment of dividends. We cannot assure you that the Argentine Government will not take new measures or deepen those already established in the future. The depositary for the ADSs may hold the Pesos it cannot otherwise convert for the account of the ADS holders who have not been paid. Any future adoption by the Argentine Government of constraints on the movement of capital out of Argentina may deepen the restrictions on the ability of our foreign shareholders and holders of ADSs to obtain the full value of their shares and ADSs, and may adversely affect the market value of our Class B common shares and ADSs.

Our shareholders’ ability to receive cash dividends may be limited

According to current regulations, transfer of funds abroad in order to pay dividends does not require Central Bank approval, to the extent such dividend payments are made in compliance with the requirements set forth under Central Bank (see “Item 10—Additional Information—Exchange Controls”). Our shareholders’ ability to receive cash dividends may be limited by the ability of the depositary to convert cash dividends paid in Pesos into U.S. Dollars. Under the terms of our deposit agreement with the depositary for the ADSs, the depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the common shares underlying the ADSs into U.S. Dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. Dollars to the United States. If this conversion is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to whom it is possible to do so. If the exchange rate fluctuates significantly during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, shareholders may lose some or all of the value of the dividend distribution. Additionally, any payment of dividends may need to be approved by ENRE. We cannot assure you that your ability to receive dividends, as an ADSs holder, will not be affected due to current or future regulations, and that the Argentine Government will not adopt new measures or deepen those already implemented, which could result in more restrictions on the access to the foreign exchange market.

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Under Argentine law, shareholder rights may be fewer or less well-defined than in other jurisdictions

Our corporate affairs are governed by our by-laws and by Argentine corporate law, which differ from the legal principles that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States. Although insider trading and price manipulation are illegal under Argentine law, the Argentine securities markets are not as highly regulated or supervised as the U.S. securities markets or markets in some other jurisdictions. In addition, rules and policies against self-dealing and regarding the preservation of shareholder interests may be less well-defined and enforced in Argentina than in the United States, putting holders of our Class B common shares and ADSs at a potential disadvantage.

Holders of ADSs may be unable to exercise voting rights with respect to the Class B common shares underlying the ADSs at our shareholders’ meetings

Shares underlying the ADSs are held by the depositary in the name of the holder of the ADS. As such, we will not treat holders of ADSs as one of our shareholders and, therefore, holders of ADSs will not have shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the Class B common shares underlying the ADSs and holders may exercise voting rights with respect to the Class B common shares represented by the ADSs only in accordance with the deposit agreement relating to the ADSs. There are no provisions under Argentine law or under our by-laws that limit the exercise by ADS holders of their voting rights through the depositary with respect to the underlying Class B common shares. However, there are practical limitations on the ability of ADS holders to exercise their voting rights due to the additional procedural steps involved in communicating with these holders. For example, holders of our Class B common shares will receive notice of shareholders’ meetings through publication of a notice in an official gazette in Argentina, an Argentine newspaper of general circulation and the daily bulletin of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange (“BASE”), and will be able to exercise their voting rights by either attending the meeting in person or voting by proxy. ADS holders, by comparison, do not receive notice directly from us. Instead, in accordance with the deposit agreement, we provide the notice to the depositary. If we ask it to do so, the depositary will mail to holders of ADSs the notice of the meeting and a statement as to the manner in which instructions may be given by holders. To exercise their voting rights, ADS holders must then instruct the depositary as to voting the Class B common shares represented by their ADSs. Due to these procedural steps involving the depositary, the process for exercising voting rights may take longer for ADS holders than for holders of Class B common shares and Class B common shares represented by ADSs may not be voted as the holders of ADSs desire. Class B common shares represented by ADSs for which the depositary fails to receive timely voting instructions may, if requested by us, be voted at the corresponding meeting either in favor of the proposal of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such a proposal, in accordance with the majority.

Our shareholders may be subject to liability for certain votes of their securities

Because we are a limited liability corporation, our shareholders are not liable for our obligations. Shareholders are generally liable only for the payment of the shares they subscribe. However, shareholders who have a conflict of interest with us and who do not abstain from voting at the respective shareholders’ meeting may be liable for damages to us, but only if the transaction would not have been approved without such shareholders’ votes. Furthermore, shareholders who wilfully or negligently vote in favor of a resolution that is subsequently declared void by a court as contrary to the law or our by-laws may be held jointly and severally liable for damages to us or to other third parties, including other shareholders.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud and investor confidence and the market price of our shares and ADSs may be adversely impacted.

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the control objectives. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. In addition, any testing by us conducted in connection with Section 404 (a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or any eventual testing that may be required by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to Section 404 (b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, if and when required if our status as a non-accelerated filer changes, may reveal additional deficiencies in our internal controls over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses or that may require prospective or retroactive changes to our consolidated financial statements or identify other areas for further attention or improvement. If in the future we identify new material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, if we are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or, if and when applicable, our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our ordinary shares could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are then listed, the SEC, or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the market price of our shares and ADSs.

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Provisions of Argentine securities laws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the price of our shares and ADSs

Argentine securities law No. 26.831contain provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of our Company, such as the requirement, upon the acquisition of a controlling interest in of our capital stock, to launch a mandatory tender offer to acquire all our voting stock and any securities convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to subscribe for or acquire, any voting shares in our capital stock. These provisions may adversely affect the market value of our shares and ADSs.

Item 4.

Information on the Company

Recent Developments in Argentina – Health situation

While the year 2020 was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 disease, generating a high social, economic and financial impact, 2021 was a year of economic recovery thanks to the rapid distribution and application of vaccines throughout the world, including Argentina, which allowed activity to recover to a certain extent.

During 2021, the National Government carried out an important vaccination campaign over the population in order to control the pandemic, which allowed the strong rebound in economic activity during the year.

History and Development of the Company

Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Distribution and Marketing Company of the North S.A.), or Edenor, is a public service company incorporated as a sociedad anónima (stock corporation) under the laws of Argentina. Our principal executive offices are located at Avenida del Libertador 6363, 11° floor, City of Buenos Aires, C1428ARG, Argentina, and our general telephone number at this location is [phone].

We were incorporated on July 21, 1992, under the name Empresa Distribuidora Norte Sociedad Anónima, as part of the privatization of the Argentine state-owned electricity utility, Servicios Eléctricos del Gran Buenos Aires S.A. (SEGBA). The Company’s term of duration is 95 years. In anticipation of its privatization, SEGBA was divided into three electricity distribution companies, including our company, and four electricity generation companies, and on May 14, 1992, the Argentine Ministry of Economy and Public Works and Utilities approved the public sale of all of our company’s Class A common shares, representing 51% of the capital stock of our company.

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On September 1, 1992, EASA acquired our Class A common shares and became our controlling shareholder. On August 24, 2018, as a result of a merger process, Pampa Energía became the direct controlling company of Edenor.

Change of control

On December 28, 2020, Pampa Energía, the former holder of 100% of Edenor’s Class A shares, representing 51% of Edenor‘s share capital, entered into a share purchase and sale agreement, as the seller, Edelcos dated December 28, 2020 (the “SPA”).

By virtue of such agreement, Pampa Energía agreed, subject to certain conditions precedent such as the approval of both its shareholders’ meeting and the ENRE, to sell its controlling interest in Edenor by transferring all the Class A Shares and votes to Edelcos (the “Acquisition”).

Accordingly, on February 17, 2021, the shareholders’ meeting of Pampa Energía approved the referred to Acquisition.

On June 23, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 207/2021, the ENRE authorized Pampa Energía to transfer 100% of Edenor’s Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes, to Edelcos in accordance with the SPA. The transfer of 100% of Edenor’s Class A shares closed shortly thereafter, on June 30, 2021.

Also, on July 7, 2021, Edelcos notified the National Commission for Competition Defense (Comisión Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia or “CNDC”), pursuant to the terms of Article 8 of Law 25,156, of the existence of the SPA for the Acquisition, requesting the approval of such commission. As of the date of this annual report, the CNCD has not issued any decision in this regard.

Following the change of control, the Class A directors tendered their resignations. To fill the vacancies, the Company’s Supervisory Committee appointed Messrs. Neil A. Bleasdale (Chairman), Esteban Macek (Vice-Chairman); Nicolás Mallo Huergo, Eduardo Vila, Edgardo Volosin, Federico Zin and Mariano C. Lucero as directors, and Messrs. Hugo Quevedo, Mariano C. Libarona, Daniel O. Seppacuercia, Diego Hernán Pino, Sebastián Álvarez and María Teresa Grieco as alternate directors.

As required by the regulations in effect and within the time periods set forth therein, Edelcos carried out a mandatory tender offer in Argentina and a tender offer in the United States in respect of the Class B and Class C common shares issued by the Company, including those represented by ADSs. Once the period for receiving tenders expired, and not having received any tenders, the offeror declared it void.

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Business Overview

We believe we are the largest electricity distribution company in Argentina and one of the largest in Latin America in terms of number of users and electricity sold (both in GWh and in Pesos) in 2021. We hold a concession to distribute electricity on an exclusive basis to the northwestern part of the greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area and in the northern part of the City of Buenos Aires, comprising an area of 4,637 square kilometers and a population of approximately 9 million people. As of December 31, 2021, Edenor served 3.2 million users.

The following table shows the percentage of the electricity produced and sold by generating companies that was purchased by us in the periods indicated:

Year		Electricity demand in Gwh(1)		Edenor demand in Gwh(2)		Edenor’s demand as % of total demand
2019		128,880		24,960		19.4%
2020		127,306		25,124		19.7%
2021		133,872		26,373		19.7%

 

Source: CAMMESA

(1)

Demand in the Mercado Eléctrico Mayorista Sistema Patagónico (Patagonia wholesale electricity market, or MEMSP).

(2)

Calculated as electricity purchased by us and our wheeling system users.

 

Edenor Concession

Edenor’s concession is currently set to expire on August 31, 2087, after a term of 95 years, and may be extended for one additional 10-year period if Edenor requests such extension at least 18 months before expiration. The term of the concession is divided into management periods: a first period of 15 years and subsequent periods of 10 years each. Six months before the end of each management period, the regulatory authority shall launch an international public bidding procedure in respect of the Class “A” shares representing 51% of the share capital of Edenor, currently held by Edelcos. If Edelcos matches the highest bidor its bid represents the highest bid received, it will continue to hold the Class “A” shares, and no further disbursements will be necessary. On the contrary, if Edelcos’s offer is not the highest, the Class “A” shares shall be awarded to the bidder who made the highest bid and the proceeds from the sale shall be payable by Grantor Government to Edelcos, net of any payments owed to the Argentine Government. The beforementioned price shall be delivered within the term of 30 days once the Grantor Control received it. The first management period commenced on September 1, 1992, and was extended by the regulatory authority through Resolution 467/2007.

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No specific fee must be paid by the Company under the Concession Agreement during the term of the concession.

The Company is subject to the terms of its Concession Agreement and the provisions of the regulatory framework comprised by Laws No. 14,772, 15,336 and 24,065, resolutions and regulatory and supplementary standards issued by certain authorities. Thus, the Company is responsible for the distribution and sale of electricity as a public service with a satisfactory quality level pursuant to the requirements set forth in the aforementioned Concession Agreement and regulatory framework.

Geographic Exclusivity

Our concession gives us the exclusive right to distribute electricity within our concession area during the term of our concession. Under our concession, neither the national nor the provincial or local Governments may grant further concessions to operate electricity distribution services within our concession area. In that respect, we are obligated to satisfy all of the demand for electricity originated in our concession area, maintaining at all times a service quality standard that has been established in our Concession Agreement. This geographic exclusivity may be terminated in whole or in part by the Argentine Government if technological changes make it possible for the energy distribution industry to evolve from its present condition as a natural monopoly into a competitive business. However, the Argentine or the Provincial Government may only exercise their right to alter or terminate our geographical exclusivity at the end of each management period under our concession, by prior written notice at least six months before the expiration of the corresponding management period.

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The electricity distribution and sale service is provided exclusively to all the users connected to the network within the area comprised of the following:

Region I City of Buenos Aires: the area encompassing Dock “D”, “unnamed street”, path of the Autopista Costera (coastline highway), extension of Pueyrredón Ave., Córdoba Ave., Ferrocarril San Martín railway tracks, General San Martín Ave., Zamudio, Tinogasta, General Paz Ave. and Río de La Plata river, and Province of Buenos Aires: the districts of San Martín, Tres de Febrero, San Isidro and Vicente López.

Region II Province of Buenos Aires: the districts of Morón, Ituzaingó, Hurlingham, Merlo, Marcos Paz, Las Heras and La Matanza.

Region III Province of Buenos Aires: the districts of San Fernando, Tigre, Escobar, Malvinas Argentinas, San Miguel, José C. Paz, Pilar, Moreno and General Rodríguez.

Our Obligations

We are obligated to supply electricity upon demand by the owner or occupant of any property in our concession area. We are entitled to charge for the electricity supplied rates that are established by tariffs set with the prior approval of the ENRE under applicable regulations. Pursuant to our concession, we must also meet specified service quality standards relating to:

·

the time required to connect new users;

·

voltage fluctuations;

·

interruptions or reductions in service; and

·

the supply of electricity for public lighting and to certain municipalities.

Our concession requires us to make the necessary investments to establish and maintain the applicable service quality standards and to comply with the stringent minimum public safety standards as specified for our concession. We are also required to furnish the ENRE all information requested by it and must obtain the ENRE’s prior consent for the disposition of assets that are assigned to the provision of our electricity distribution services. The ENRE also requires us to compile and submit various types of reports regarding the quality of our service and other technical and commercial data, which we must periodically report to the ENRE.

Pursuant to Law No. 27,467, which enacted the 2019 Federal Budget of Expenditures and Resources Law, the Argentine Executive Power was instructed to promote the transfer of Edenor’s jurisdiction to the jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires as from January 1, 2019 and the creation of a new oversight body.

On May 9, 2019, the Federal Government, the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires entered into the Agreement on the Implementation of the Transfer of Jurisdiction (the “Transfer Agreement”), which became effective on October 2, 2019, after obtaining the approval of the legislature of the City of Buenos Aires and the Provincial Executive Branch, pursuant to which the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires jointly assumed, as from the date of effectiveness, the regulation, control and the capacity as grantors over the distribution service granted to Edenor under the Concession Agreement.

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Furthermore, in the context of the change of jurisdiction and as a condition for the transfer, on May 10, 2019, the Company and the Energy Government Secretariat, on behalf of the Federal Government, entered into the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations, putting an end to the mutual pending claims originated in the 2006-2016 Transitional Tariff Period.

 

On December 21, 2019 the Argentine Congress passed the Productive Reactivation Law which, among other things, suspended the transfer of Edenor’s jurisdiction to the jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires, reassuming the ENRE the jurisdiction over the public service of electricity distribution provided by Edenor and Edesur.

 

On January 19, 2021, the Company subscribed to the Agreement on the Joint Exercise of the Regulation and Control of the Public Service of Electricity Distribution (“Acuerdo sobre el Ejercicio Conjunto de la Regulación y Control del Servicio Público de Distribución de Energía Eléctrica”) entered into among the Federal Government, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires. The Agreement acknowledged that the Federal Government currently retains the ownership and concession of the public electricity distribution service in the Company's concession area. It was also agreed that a series of instruments related to the transfer of the aforementioned service to local jurisdictions would be rendered ineffective and that a tripartite body would be created to regulate and control the activity. On February 23, 2021, this agreement was ratified by the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of the Company.

 

We are obligated to allow certain third parties (namely, other agents and large users) to access any available transportation capacity within our distribution system upon payment of a wheeling fee. Consequently, we must render the distribution service on an uninterrupted basis to satisfy any reasonable demand. We are prohibited from engaging in practices that limit competition or result in monopolistic abuses.

Under our concession, we may also be required to continue rendering services after the termination of the Concession Agreement’s term upon the request of the Argentine Government, but for a period not to exceed 12 months.

In accordance with our concession, our controlling shareholder, Edelcos, has pledged its 51% stake in the Company to the Argentine Government to secure obligations under our concession. The Adjustment Agreement required that the pledge be extended to secure our obligations under such agreement. The Argentine Government may foreclose on its pledge over the Class A shares and sell them in an international public bidding procedure if certain situations occur. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Foreclosure on the Pledge of Our Class A common shares or Revocation of Our Concession”.

Quality Standards

Service quality

Pursuant to our concession, we are required to meet certain levels of technical quality of the product delivered (voltage level and waveform) and the service provided (frequency and duration of interruptions). With the adoption of the new Sub-Annex IV which has been in force since March 2017 and the start of the RTI’s five-year period (2017-2022) (the “RTI Five-Year Period”), which are in force for the year 2022, the admissible disruptions gaps in the voltage level may not exceed the following percentages:

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High voltage	-5.0% to +5.0%
Overhead network (medium or low voltage)	-8.0% to +8.0%
Buried network (medium or low voltage)	-8.0% to +8.0%
Rural	-8.0% to +8.0%

 

The concession granted to Edenor stipulates that fines will be applied when registered stress sets exceed the preceding limits for more than 3% of the total measurement time (5% for the case of measurements of perturbations to the waveform). The penalty rate for each KWh delivered in poor conditions depends on the magnitude of the setback with respect to the rated voltage and follows a quality path that increases that rate over the RTI Five-Year Period. For the particular case of voltage set-offs in selected points, regulation provides for an increase in the bonuses to be credited to the customer in case the set-off outside the tension limits persists over time. Fines are credited to the invoice of the affected user.

The technical service quality levels set out in Edenor’s concession refer to the frequency and duration of interruptions. It will be sufficient for one of the limits to be exceeded for the penalized time of said interruption and the rest computable interruptions to be included in the calculation of the bonuses. During the RTI Five-Year Period, the quality requirement is also increased by the percentage of the cost of unsupplied energy corresponding to the customer’s tariff based on the semester of the five-year period and the penalized duration of the interruption. In the event of an extraordinary impact on the provision of the service (i.e., 70,000 or more affected customers for five or more days in a row), a special compensation is provided to the T1R customers affected during those periods for more than the time limit applicable to the corresponding semester of the five-year period.

The ninth and penultimate six-month period of the 2017-2022 five-year period, which is governed by the new Sub-Appendix IV to the Concession Agreement established by the RTI, began in March 2021.

In addition to incorporating district and commune-based service quality controls, a quality improvement path with increasing requirements was implemented, regarding not only interruption frequency limits and admissible interruption duration but also the cost of non-delivered energy. Additionally, an automatic penalty mechanism was implemented so that the discounts applied on account of deviations from the established limits may be credited to customers within a term of 60 days as from the end of the controlled six-month period. As for the values of the definitive penalties, the decision of the ENRE concerning the information submitted for each six-month period is required.

Additionally, through Resolution No. 198/2018, the ENRE established additional penalties of 300 or 600 KWh per user depending on the Feeder Six-Month Track Factor (Factor de Sendero Semestral del Alimentador, or “FSSA”) and the Consumer Six-Month Track Factor (Factor de Sendero Semestral de Usuario, or “FSSU”) as from the fourth six-month period of the RTI Five-Year Period, which commenced in September 2018. The penalties that may eventually be applied must be calculated and reported to the ENRE within 120 calendar days from the end of the six-month control period and deposited in an escrow account.

The following table indicates the stipulated levels for the frequency and duration of interruptions per customer during the first semester of the RTI Five-Year Period:

Category of user		Frequency of interruptions (maximum number of interruptions per six month period)	Duration of interruption (maximum amount of time per interruption) (1)
High voltage		6	4 hours
Medium voltage		8	6 hours
Low voltage: (small and medium demand)		12	20 hours
Large demand		12	12 hours

_______________________

(1)

Interruptions of less than three minutes are not recorded.

 

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The values for the final semester of the RTI Five-Year Period, which are in force for the year 2022, are as follows:

 

User category	Frequency of interruptions (maximum number of interruptions per semester)	Interrupt duration (maximum amount of Time per interruption)(1)
High Voltage	3	2 hours
Medium Voltage	4	3 hours
Low Voltage: (Small and Medium Demands)	6	10 hours
Big Demands	6	6 hours

(1) Interruptions of less than or equal to three minutes are not recorded

 

The convergence of the permissible frequency and time limits between the initial semester and the final semester of the RTI Five-Year Period follows the quality path set out in the new Sub-Annex IV of the concession (pursuant to ENRE Resolution No. 63/2017 and amendments).

 

The regulation for the RTI Five-Year Period also sets quality levels for the System Average Interruption Frecuency Index (“SAIFI”) and the System Average Interruption Duration Index (“SAIDI”) indicators per district/commune (City of Buenos Aires). These limits also vary across the aforementioned quality path. The setting-off of these limits, results, approximately, in a semi-annual factor per district or commune that increases or decreases the individual bonuses of customers belonging to the same district or commune.

 

Interruptions of less than or equal to three minutes and those attributable to force majeure events are not counted against individual time or frequency limits. The regulation for the RTI Five-Year Period also provides that interruptions linked to Medium Voltage/Low Voltage (“MV” and “LV”, respectively) service improvement works or particular weather events affecting between 100,000 and 400,000 users in 24 hours may be excluded from the calculation of individual bonuses. However, such interruptions cannot be excluded from the calculation of SAIFI/SAIDI indicators per district/commune (City of Buenos Aires).

 

It is also expected that during the RTI Five-Year Period both the cost of unsupplied energy (quality of service) and the cost of energy delivered in poor conditions (product quality) will be updated each time changes in the VAD occur, taking into account the adjustments granted and earned accumulated as of the first day of the corresponding control period. During each control period, the two energy cost values described above will remain constant.

The following table sets forth the average of frequency and duration (SAIDI and SAIFI) of interruptions to our service in the periods indicated:

		Year ended December 31,
Per customers		2021		2020		2019		2018
Average frequency of interruptions (times)		4.12		4.64		6.15		6.94
Average duration of interruption (hours)		10.67		12.23		15.94		22.65

The trend towards improvement of the interruption frequency indicator as compared to the previous year continued, which was reflected in a similar proportion in the total interruption duration indicator, with a slight improvement in average interruption duration. Investment actions in distribution networks, and their ripening over time, often lead in the first place to a decrease in the frequency indicator.

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In addition, to meet required quality levels, we must comply with certain operational requirements related to the quality of our commercial services, safety in public streets, data gathering and processing (including through reports that must be submitted to the ENRE for supervision and control) and other contractual requirements related to our environmental management plan and the claims filed with the ENRE by users which have been resolved after the established period.

Product quality

With regard to product quality, the regulations that established a quality path for the RTI Five-Year Period (2017-2022) continue to be in effect, setting voltage deviation limits for MV and LV supplies at a unified value of 8%, 5% exclusively for HV, and the cost of energy delivered in poor condition at incremental values throughout the path for both voltage levels and disturbances.

Voltage and disturbances measuring campaigns that had been suspended by the end of March 2020, by virtue of the measures adopted to address the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, were resumed as from March 2021 per instruction of the ENRE.

Fines and Penalties

Under the terms of our concession, the ENRE may impose fines and penalties if we fail to comply with our obligations.

Fines relating to our failure to meet any of the quality and delivery standards described above are payable by granting credits or bonuses to our users to offset a portion of their electricity charges. Since 1996, we have operated a central information system that allows us to directly credit users who are affected by these quality or delivery deficiencies in the amount of the applicable fines.

Fines and penalties that are not directly related to services rendered to our users are owed to the ENRE, including fines imposed on us by the ENRE for any network installations found to create a safety or security hazard in a public space, such as streets and sidewalks. In addition, the ENRE may fine us for furnishing it inconsistent required technical information. Fines paid to the ENRE are deposited in the Third-Party Reserve Fund of the ENRE (Reserva de Fondos de Terceros del ENRE) in an account held with Banco Nación. Payments accumulate in the account until the amount deposited reaches Ps.5.6 million at which point, with the ENRE’s authorization, the amount is proportionally distributed among our users.

The following table shows the adjustments to Edenor’s standalone accruals for ENRE fines and penalties, including current fines and penalties and adjustments to past fines due to increases in our tariffs pursuant to the Adjustment Agreement, for the periods specified:

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	Year ended December 31,
	(in millions of Pesos)
	2021		2020		2019
Accruals at beginning of year	13,656		15,032		21,899
ENRE Fines and Penalties	5,566		3,968		2,533
Quality of Technical Service	897		35		(6,262)
Quality of Technical Product	43		20		(1,471)
Quality of Commercial Service	652		495		1,939
Public Safety	399		353		(1,842)
Transport Technical Function	-		-		(9)
Reporting Violations	239		269		(993)
Non-compliance with the investment plan	-		-		-
Others	22		14		-
Agreement on the Regularization of obligations	3,314		2,782		11,171
Payments of the year	(867)		(1,316)		(1,841)
Quality of Technical Service	(462)		(445)		(616)
Quality of Technical Product	(20)		(23)		(139)
Quality of Commercial Service	(79)		(424)		(579)
Public Safety	(275)		(424)		(507)
Others	(31)
Result from exposure to inflation for the year	(5,428)		(4,028)		(7,559)
Accruals at year-end	12,927		13,656		15,032

Note: The facts or events that generated the amounts charged in each period may have occurred in prior periods and not necessarily in the period in which the charge is made.

 

Fines and penalties imposed on us by the ENRE amounted to Ps.5,566 million and Ps.3,968 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2021, total accrued fines and penalties imposed on us amounted to Ps.12,927 million, of which Ps.12,779 million (including accrued interest) corresponded to penalties accrued but not yet imposed on us and Ps.148 million (including accrued interest) correspond to penalties imposed on us but not yet paid.

Additionally, pursuant to Note No. 125,248 dated March 29, 2017, the ENRE set the applicable penalty determination and adjustment mechanisms in relation to the control procedures, the service quality assessment methodologies, and the penalty system applicable as from February 1, 2017 for the 2017 – 2022 period established by ENRE Resolution No. 63/17.

In accordance with the provisions of Sub-Appendix XVI to such Resolution, the Company is required to submit within a term of 60 calendar days, the calculation of global indicators, interruptions for which force majeure has been alleged, the calculation of individual indicators, and shall determine the related discounts, crediting the amounts thereof within 10 business days. In turn, the ENRE will examine the information submitted by the Company, and in the event that the crediting of such discounts is not verified, it will impose a fine, payable to the Federal Government, for an amount equivalent to twice the value of the original amount that should have been recorded.

In this regard, the ENRE has implemented an automatic penalty mechanism so that the discounts on account of deviations may be credited to customers within a term of 60 days as from the end of the relevant six-month period.

The penalty system provides that penalties are updated in accordance with the variation of distributor’s CPD or by the energy tariff average price as the case may be. Subsequently, through different resolutions concerning penalties relating to the commercial service and the safety on streets and public spaces, the ENRE provided for the application of increases and adjustments, applying for such purpose a criterion different from the one applied by the Company.

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Additionally, and following the completion of a RTI process, the ENRE issued new penalty procedures, such as:

Ø

ENRE Resolution No. 118/18: Regulating the compensation for extraordinary service provision interruptions.

Ø

ENRE Resolution No. 170/18: Regulating the Penalty System for Deviations from the Investment Plan, whereby real investments are compared to the annual investment plan submitted by the Company, and the investment plan carried out for the five-year period is assessed against the five-year plan proposed in the RTI.

Ø

ENRE Resolution No. 198/18: Adopting a new Supplementary Penalty Procedure of Technical Service Quality, which penalizes deviations from quality parameters at feeder level.

Ø

ENRE Resolution No. 91/18: Stating that, through the filing of charges, the ENRE informs Edenor about the penalty procedure to be applied for failure to comply with meter-reading and billing time periods.

Ø

ENRE Resolution No. 5/19: Stating that, through the filing of charges, the ENRE notifies Edenor about the penalty system to be applied for failure to comply with customer service timing requirements in commercial offices (Intelligent Routing and Customer Service System – Sistema Inteligente de Direccionamiento y Atención de Usuarios (SIDyAA)).

Ø

ENRE Resolution No. 42/2020: Approving the new plan for crediting and distributing the penalties payable to all of active users and the methodology for crediting the penalties payable to Edenor’s non-active users, as well as the manner in which distribution companies must produce certain information and submit it to the ENRE.

Ø

ENRE Resolution No. 15/2021: Approving a new methodology for crediting and distributing the penalties payable to all active users and the methodology for crediting penalties to the Solidarity Account for Users in Vulnerable Situations, as well as the manner in which Edenor must produce certain information and submit it to the ENRE.

 

The effects of the resolutions detailed above have been quantified by the Company and recognized as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, which does not imply the Company consents to the criteria applied.

 

On May 10, 2019, the Company and the SE, on behalf of the Federal Government, entered into the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations. By virtue of this agreement, the Company (i) undertook to pay users certain penalty and compensation amounts relating to the 2006-2016 period; and (ii) agreed to make investments, in addition to those agreed upon in the RTI, to contribute to improve the reliability and safety of the service. In return, the Federal Government partially recognized the claim duly made by the Company, by fully offsetting pending obligations and cancelling penalties payable to the National Treasury. Furthermore, the Company waived any rights to which it may be entitled and abandoned any actions against the Federal Government.

However, on January 19, 2021, the Argentine Government, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires entered into a new agreement according to which the Argentine Government retained the capacity as grantor of the concession in connection with our Concession Agreement (Executive Order No. 292/2021 and SE Resolution No. 16/2021).

On September 21, 2021, the Argentine Ministry of Economy issued ME Resolution No. 590/2021 declaring such agreement contrary to the public interest, thus paving the way for the filing of a legal action to declare it null and void. It also provided for the suspension of the administrative procedures relating to the fulfilment of the obligations arising from such agreement.

 

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Nevertheless, based on the terms of the second clause of the aforementioned agreement, the Company recorded, as of December 31, 2021, an update to the amounts related to “penalties to be used for investments” for a total of Ps.3,060 million, amounting to a total liability (pending of application) of Ps.9,284 million at nominal values, which was allocated as financial interest.

Foreclosure on the Pledge of Our Class A common shares or Revocation of Our Concession

Under the terms of our concession, the Argentine Government has the right to revoke our concession if we enter into bankruptcy and the Argentine Government decides that we may not continue rendering services, in which case all of our assets will be transferred to a new state-owned company that will be sold in an international public bidding procedure. At the conclusion of such bidding process, the purchase price would be delivered to the bankruptcy court in favor of our creditors, net of any debt owed by us to the Argentine Government. Any residual proceeds would be distributed among our shareholders.

Periodic bidding for control of Edenor

Before the end of each management period under our concession, the regulatory authority shall launch an international public bidding procedure in respect of the Class “A” common shares representing 51% of the share capital of Edenor, currently held by Edelcos. If Edelcos matches the highest bid or its bid represents the highest bid received, it will continue to hold the Class “A” shares, and no further disbursements will be necessary. On the contrary, if Edelcos’s offer is not the highest, the Class “A” shares shall be awarded to the bidder who made the highest bid and the proceeds from the sale shall be payable by Grantor Government to Edelcos, net of any payments owed to the Argentine Government. The beforementioned price shall be delivered within the term of 30 days once the Grantor Control received it. The first management period commenced on September 1, 1992, and was extended by the regulatory authority through Resolution 467/2007.

Default of the Argentine Government

If the Argentine Government breaches its obligations in such a way that we cannot comply with our obligations under our concession or in such a way that our distribution service is materially affected, we may request the termination of our concession, after giving the Argentine Government a 90-day prior notice. Upon termination of our concession, all our assets used to provide electricity distribution service will be transferred to a new state-owned company to be created by the Argentine Government, which shares will be sold in an international public bidding procedure. The amount obtained in such bidding will be paid to us, net of any payment owed by us to the Argentine Government, plus certain compensation established as a percentage of the bidding price, ranging from 10% to 30% depending on the management period in which the sale occurs.

Edenor Network

As of December 31, 2021, the system through which the Company supplies electricity comprises 80 HV/HV, HV/HV/MV and HV/MV transformer substations, which represents 19,439 MVA of installed power and 1,553 kilometers of 220 kV, 132 kV and 27.5 kV high-voltage networks. The MV/LV and MV/MV distribution system comprises 18,607 MV/LV transformers, which represents 9,274 MVA of installed power, 11,784 kilometers of 33 and 13.2 kV medium-voltage lines, and 27,754 kilometers of 380/220 V low-voltage lines.

The table below shows the most significant data related to the transmission and distribution system for the last five years:

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Electricity is conveyed from points of interconnection with the Argentine Interconnection System (“SADI”), 500 kV-220 kV Rodríguez Substation, 220 kV Ezeiza Substation, and from the local power plants, mainly Puerto and Costanera. In turn, the transmission network links these nodes with Casanova, Colegiales, Malaver, Matheu, Morón, Rodríguez, Talar and Zappalorto 220 kV head substations, and with Matanza, Ramos Mejía, Agronomía, Puerto Nuevo, Edison, Pilar, and Malvinas 132 kV head substations. Additionally, other local thermal-generation power plants are linked to Pilar, Zappalorto and Matheu Substations.

The transmission and distribution system, together with Edesur’s and Edelap S.A. (“Edelap”)’s systems, form the Greater Buenos Aires system that is operated by SACME, a company jointly controlled by the Company and Edesur S.A. SACME is responsible for the management of the high-voltage regional distribution network in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, coordinating, controlling and supervising the operation of the generation, transmission and distribution network in the City of Buenos Aires and the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, including coordination with the SADI in the Company’s and Edesur’s concession areas.

The Company distributes energy from the high/medium voltage substations through the primary 13.2kV and 33kV system to a secondary 380/220 V low-voltage system, distributing the electricity to final users with varied voltage levels depending on their requirements. In exceptional cases, certain users are supplied with power at higher voltages.

The following main works were performed in 2021:

 

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Transmission structure:

Our HV transmission network takes energy mainly from the Argentine Interconnected System through the Rodríguez and Ezeiza Substations, and the Puerto Nuevo, Nuevo Puerto, Costanera, Matheu II, Matheu III, Parque Pilar and Zappalorto local thermal power plants; additionally it exchanges energy with other companies at transmission, distribution and distributed generation levels.

With the aim of improving the quality of the service and meeting the growth in demand, in 2021, we made significant investments in the HV network, among which the following are worth mentioning:

§

Replacement of a 6.74 km-long section of a 132 kV oil-paper cable with an XLPE-type dry cable in the power line that links Puerto Nuevo and Austria Substations.

§

Putting into service of the second stage of the works to link José C. Paz Substation through 132 kV power lines for a total of 12.2 km between Morón and Matheu Substations.

§

Carrying out of works to link the 5x1.4 MW San Martín NIIID Power Plant with Suárez Substation.

Subtransmission Structure

Our substransmission network is the link between HV (HV/HV) head substations and the substations where voltage is transformed from high to medium (HV/MV), adopting generally the 132 kV voltage level. The overhead network (double radial deviation or double loop deviation) and the underground network (in “simple circuit” loops or double loop deviation) are considered as the basic structure of the subtransmission network.

In 2021, some of the main works performed were:

§

Completion of the new 132/13.2 kV 2x80 MVA ARA San Juan Substation with its 132 kV power lines that link this substation to Morón and José C. Paz Substations;

§

Replacement of two 132/13.2 kV - 40 MVA transformers in Nordelta Substation with two 132/13.2 kV - 80 MVA transformers;

§

Putting into service of:

- four 13.2 kV, 6 MVAr each, power compensation capacitor banks in José C. Paz Substation;

- two 13.2 kV, 6 MVAr each, power compensation capacitor banks in Aeroclub Substation;

- two 13.2 kV, 6 MVAr each, power compensation capacitor banks in Libertad Substation; and

- two 13.2 kV, 6 MVAr each, power compensation capacitor banks in Victoria Substation.

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The works related to the new 132/13.2 kV 2x40 MVA Oro Verde Substation continue and are expected to be put into service in 2022.

 

Distribution Structure:

The distribution network comprises all the equipment, medium voltage (13.2 and 33 kV) lines and cables that link subtransmission substations with medium and medium/low-voltage transformer centers. The network’s basic structure consists of open normal operation feeders forming rings with other feeders of another busbar of the same substation or with neighboring substations.

In 2021, the following works were performed, among others:

§

Installation of 60 new feeders in new and existing Substations;

§

Closure between MV feeders of Substations and installation of 328 new MV/LV transformer centers and 471 power increases, which resulted in a net increase of installed capacity of 246 MVA.

 

Network improvement

The improvements made to the networks in 2021 comprised all voltage levels. The most significant improvements are:

 

§

HV network: replacement of bushings in 500/220 kV, 220/132 kV and 132/MV kV transformers. Continuation of the adjustment plan of power transformers and of the replacement of medium-voltage transformers. Replacement of 132 kV and 220 kV circuit breakers/disconnectors, and of 132 and 220 kV line protection switchboards.

§

MV network: replacement of disconnectors in substations and installation of internal arc protections in switchboards. Significant replacement of old technology underground network, change of medium and low-voltage transformers, and change of pieces of equipment in transformer centers.

§

LV network: replacement of underground and overhead network. Reinforcement of network with product quality problems.

 

Distribution Technical Management

In 2021, we were able to improve the quality of the service while continuing with the plans and projects implemented in prior years. The results obtained represented a significant improvement in SAIFI and SAIDI service quality indicators.

Among the main operation and maintenance-related activities carried out throughout the year, the following are worth mentioning:

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Distribution

§

Special Maintenance plans: change and adjustments of line poles.

-

3,500 MV line poles, 23% of which were replaced by reinforced concrete columns.

-

59,000 LV line poles.

§

Pruning plan in MV network.

§

Consolidation of the procedure consisting of three inspections per year with the related adjustments, which contributed to reducing faults created by vegetation contact with power lines.

§

In the year, 172,617 trees were pruned or trimmed.

§

Inspections in distribution networks.

-

4,483 Km of MV networks.

-

21,361 Km of LV networks.

-

5,856 inspections of Transformer Centers.

-

2,466 thermographic inspections.

-

Complete census of “Not Measured” equipment installations (public lighting, traffic lights, cable television equipment, etc.).

§

Leveraging MV planned installation procedures: when a facility is put out of service on a scheduled basis, a complete examination is made along with the necessary adjustments to take advantage of the power cut. Through this procedure, more than 4,300 tasks, which include 1,190 replacements of MV line poles, were carried out in the year.

§

Tasks performed by distribution mobile teams:

-

60,997 grouped LV interruptions;

-

343,316 responses to individual LV claims;

-

49,226 installations of new electricity supplies;

-

464,432 energy recovery-related inspections in T1 customers;

-

28,171 energy recovery-related inspections in T2 and T3 customers;

-

254,327 switching operations in the MV network during planned works;

-

71,119 switching operations in the MV network during forced events;

-

2,969 LV underground splices; and

-

2,736 MV underground splices.

§

Operational adjustments due to the pandemic: compliance with maintenance and investment plans, maintaining the operational capacity despite the restrictions and limitations caused by the pandemic.

§

Implementation of the new SCADA: in 2021, the replacement of the SCADA system was completed. This brought a solution to the impossibility of expanding the real-time database, allowing us to add new remote control points, most of which relate to MV distributed equipment. This new situation allows us to design more distributed automation functions that will make it possible to reduce service restoration times.

§

Diagnosis center. Analysis of the location, and whether it agrees with the technical documentation, of all the customers who are dependent on electricity for medical reasons, and vaccination centers. In this regard, steps similar to those followed with respect to customers who are medically dependent on electricity, were taken for low-voltage Tariff 3 customers, contacting them and prioritizing their normalization.

§

Response to claims/outages reported at night: increase of operational capacity at nighttime hours during low and high temperature seasons to minimize response times to specific claims of our customers.

§

Vehicles managed by the mobile teams themselves: increased use of the Company’s self-managed vehicles by the operational staff, reducing readiness and transfer times from their domiciles to places of work on streets and public spaces.

§

Energy theft

-

240,314 MIDE meters were enabled; and

-

Continuation of specific control operations in some residential neighborhoods and gated communities.

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Remote control and remote supervision

In 2021, the remote control plan continued to be carried out and the substations’ remote control equipment was improved. With regard to the latter, as in the case of the SCADA, we are implementing a next-generation remote control equipment model.

§

409 new remote control operational points in the MV distribution network, achieving a total of 2,703 over the existing 1,670 MV feeders.

§

Incorporation of 181 remote supervision points in the MV network.

§

Continuation of the inspection of protections in the MV distribution network (outside substations), which enabled the planning of adjustments for 2022.

§

With the remote control implementation achieved both in substations and the MV distribution network, one out of three switching operations was performed from a distance by remote controls.

§

Extension of the application of IT Security concepts to the remote control networks of three HV/HV, HV/MV and MV/MV substations. At present, 47 remote control pieces of equipment in substations are protected against cyber-attacks.

§

Putting into service of the first remote control installation under IEC-61850 standard.

§

Technology renewal of the remote control equipment in four substations.

 

Transmission

§

Compliance with the Preventive Maintenance Plan of HV facilities and substations in accordance with regulations.

§

Further extension of LLW (live line working) capacity. Six (6) new LLW light teams, comprised of two members, were added in order to avoid interrupting the electricity supply due to maintenance tasks in the MV network. It is expected that in 2022 twelve more teams will be added, increasing LLW capacity.

§

Use of the “Section isolation” technique in MV lines for the carrying out of works without cutting off the supply of electricity to customers.

§

Carrying out of tests to design the replacement technique of line poles and/or columns using LLW techniques.

§

Commencement of activities to develop LLW in 132 Kv and 220 Kv HV substations jointly with Transba S.A. (“Transba”) and Transener S.A. (“Transener”). Training activities will be conducted in 2022 in the Morón Substation.

§

Commencement of the thermography plan in MV overhead line with LLW. Inspection of a 750 km-long section in order to detect hot spots in network equipment and carry out preventive adjustments.

§

Moving of the LLW Insulation Testing Laboratory (ITL) to the Moreno Alcorta building. The lab once again received ISO 17025 accreditation as the country’s only insulation equipment laboratory after the audit conducted by the OAA (Argentine Accreditation Agency).

§

Maintenance of the interdisciplinary working group for the “Follow-up of status and identification of fault patterns in HV metering transformers” with the aim of routing maintenance and replacement tasks based on results. This group, jointly with Transener’s technical staff, incorporated under its control the risk matrix of HV transformers’ bushing insulators.

§

Replacement of 87 HV metering transformers, surpassing the goal set for 2021 by approximately 45%.

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§

Replacement of the totality of bushings in seventeen (17) transformers (5 in ≥300 MVA transformers and 12 in 40 to 124 MVA transformers), being worth mentioning the work performed in the TR4 of Rodríguez Substation (800 MVA – 500 kV Bank).

§

Replacement of 50 MV disconnectors, in line with the objective of completely removing PVA technology from our facilities.

§

Replacement of 45 48Vdc battery banks. The replacement of 48V batteries is crucial to ensure power supply to remote control and communications equipment. Priority was given to the substations that serve as “communications nodes”, inasmuch as any failure in these nodes implies the loss of communication and remote control of a group of substations.

 

Information Technology and Telecommunications

The Company operates in a dynamic industry with many business challenges. To address these challenges, the Company has continued to make progress through the strategic transformation of its Information Technology and Telecommunications function.

 

In 2021, progress was made towards the area’s goal of being a strategic pillar of the Company’s transformation by accelerating changes in technology, processes and the culture of work triggered by the “New Normal”.

 

Furthermore, digital capabilities were developed and progress was made towards the consolidation of a flexible and robust technology architecture with a “cross-company” vision of processes, taking into consideration a new era for the Company that creates opportunities and poses a challenge to development in order to continue providing quality and efficient service.

 

Digital architecture, innovation and processes

 

Throughout the recent years, the Computer Technology and Telecommunications Department has been developing and implementing a new data management strategy. In that path, in 2021, data management and governance tools began to be implemented. These tools make it possible to solve certain existing issues and support the process of making consolidated decisions at all of the Company’s levels through consistent processes and tools. We expect to apply this methodology to Asset Base and Regulatory Capital-related aspects.

 

Additionally, new operational and commercial circuits continued to be migrated to the Red Hat technology, which allows us to unify integration services, interface reingeneering and interface reuse.

 

At the same time, we began to design an agile architecture of online services in a single platform, which not only makes it possible to accelerate the development of digital channels but will also provide greater speed for the business, requiring a new working approach geared towards agility and operational scalability and security.

 

Innovation, processes and integrated management system

 

In 2021, the practice of Management by Processes was further strengthened with the implementation of 16 analysis and redesign projects, among which the following stand out: New Supplies phase II, Supply Management, Meter Management, Collection Management phase II, and Remote Management. All of them were accompanied by the required technology components and by role and organization adjustments.

 

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Furthermore, the Company was successfully certified under the ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System) standards, as well as under the ISO 45001:2018, Occupational Health and Safety standard, which replaced OSHAS 18001:2007.

 

With regard to process automation, new transactional robots (RPA) continued to be added for the management of recoveries, readings, billing, collections, delinquent payment and customer service.

 

Moreover, the “Café en red” (Online Café) program, which brings technology closer to our employees to put it to best use, continued to be developed. In 2021, 20 meetings were held with the participation of 1,800 employees.

 

As we are convinced that collaborative and multidisciplinary methods accelerate the production of “value deliverables”, we launched three projects based on agile methodologies.

 

Finally, in order to increase the interaction with users, a chatbot was incorporated into the “Edenor Soluciones” portal, a space of interaction that allows technology users to channel and follow up on their requirements and services.

 

Commercial Processes

 

In 2021, our commercial system was adapted due to the different regulatory regulations issued.

 

Additionally, the implementation of a concentration – reconciliation system of the Company’s collections was consolidated, incorporating best market practices to the process and making it possible to speed up payment traceability from the moment a payment is made to the recording thereof.

 

Furthermore, the delinquent payment management process was optimized by means of a “Flex” system that allows for the integral management of delinquent payment at the different stages of the process. This system allows for the integration of the different actions performed to control delinquent payments, such as campaigns, collection actions with external agencies and out-of-court actions.

 

Finally, a technology development project was launched to improve the meter reading process, which includes the updating of the reading data portal and the devices used in the field, the incorporation of Bluetooth communication technology and an image capture module.

 

Technical, operating and support processes

 

Our smart electricity grid is one of the pillars of the Company’s Digital Transformation. In this regard, we continued to carry out the technology replacement plan of smart meters with more than 4,800 meters having been installed in the medium and large customer segments, using components of the current smart metering architecture.

 

Among the other smart technology applications, the following customers allow us to extend the advantages of the smart grid to other customer segments: 286 customers who are dependent on electricity for medical reasons, 1,700 residential customers, and 199 distributed generation customers.

 

During 2021, we carried out internal remote metering, including 380 measurements in HV/MV Substations, 182 measurements of internal boundaries, 190 measurements of low-voltage energy balance, among others.

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Furthermore, in December 2021, we acquired a new Metering Laboratory, which was put into service. The Company decided to set up this laboratory because we understand that such meter special type of facility is essential to any electricity distribution company that seeks to be at the forefront of Smart Grid technologies. Among the lab’s main functions, we can mention the following: centralized management of meter testing and meter programming, fraud analysis, verification of new metering equipment, as well as facilitation of controlled environment testing of different smart devices.

 

The Lab is located in the Azcuénaga building and is equipped with:

 

·

A test bench with rack for 10 single/three phase meters and its electronically controlled current and voltage generation module. The energy pattern has been certified by the National Metrology Institute INTI;

·

A voltage and current generator for meter testing, with a rack for five single/three phase meters; and

·

Additional instruments for verification tasks of Smart Grid devices and meters: portable grid analyzer, digital oscilloscope, function generator, direct current power supply, VARIAC transformers, phantom loads, among others.

 

Additionally, we implemented both the energy purchase system in order to reduce process times, minimizing errors and storing information in centralized databases, and the FAE module in the GELEC System, which facilitates the management of alternative energy sources for customers who are dependent on electricity for medical reasons.

 

In order to help reduce energy losses, we implemented a tag register, thus taking advantage of the technical visits to detect potential cases of fraud.

 

In 2021, we also began to implement a tool aimed at bringing the latest technology innovation to the field service management process. In fact, the incorporation of Geocall, one of the market’s leading tools, is expected to make it possible to count with an updated system with better performance in terms of response times, stability and speed of responses to customers’ claims. The tool’s release is planned for 2022.

 

Data

 

Moving forward in our strategy of being a data-driven company, in 2021 we began the implementation of the new Big Data & Analytics architecture, which includes additional components that will allow us to meet the different data processing and usage needs. Such architecture seeks to ensure the generation of timely and adequate information and allows us to take advantage of the benefits of advanced analytics, self-service data and data democratization.

 

Furthermore, the Data Lab -a multidisciplinary team that seeks to answer business questions working on different use cases- continued to consolidate, applying new data discovery as well as predictive and prescriptive analytics methodologies.

 

In this regard, the ETR (Estimated time to restoration) based on machine learning techniques was implemented for MV and LV outages. The same technique was used for making demand projections and collectibility rate estimates, which is currently at a testing stage.

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Descriptive analytics were also used to generate different dashboards concerning training, purchases, reworks, supply follow-up, among others.

 

Cybersecurity

 

In 2021, the stage 2 of the cybersecurity response program was completed. At such stage, the detection of security events was improved by increasing logging capabilities of the security event manager. Work was carried out to regularize enveloping and/or safeguarding of high-privileged accounts. Different surveys were also conducted to improve the strategy and design of the recovery plan in the event of disasters.

 

In addition to the improvements made in the physical and logical security of the OT network, and as part of the new Scada-IDMS solution implementation, a network segmentation process was carried out with the aim of reducing the probability of attacks on such network.

 

Furthermore, a new cybersecurity control process for third parties was implemented, which provides greater visibility in the management of information owned by Edenor and used by critical suppliers. Additionally, we have a new digital certificates control process in place that makes it possible to minimize service interruptions generated by the certificates’ expiration, achieving proactive control 30 days prior to their expiration dates.

 

Moreover, key performance indicators were developed for information systems’s access management, reducing the processing time of access requests made by internal customers, as well as the number of cancelled orders, from 12% to 5%.

 

In addition, the Raising Cybersecurity Awareness annual program continued to be implemented. Phishing drills, newsletter and interactive modules were used for raising employee awareness about different topics concerning information security and safeguarding.

 

On march 9, 2022 at dawn, Edenor was the object of a security event that provoked the unavailability of the systems. That same day, most of the corporate systems were operational and available for use. To date we have no evidence that there has been a leak of information and there has been no loss of sensitive data. We are taking strict measures to prevent further incidents.

 

Infrastructure

 

A new infrastructure platform was implemented under the cybersecurity standards issued by the NIST, in which the new Scada-IDMS solution was deployed along with the other OT systems. This new infrastructure and the systems are all monitored, which allows for the real-time measurement of performance and availability of the Company’s critical systems. To support such implementation, an exclusively dedicated specialist team was formed, providing 24x7 coverage.

 

While adapting ourselves to the new hybrid work modality (remote and on-site), we continued to equip the Company with more video conference rooms, which not only permits a better interaction among our employees but also considerably increases the quality of communications, allowing them to come up with the best ideas, adopt the best decisions and find the best solutions. We also equipped more than 1,500 employees with state-of-the-art notebooks to contribute to the better performance of their activities.

 

Furthermore, the ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) processes for IT&T management, which impact the management of Edenor’s technology assets, continued to be enhanced.

 

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Users

The following graph shows the evolution of our user base over the last four years:

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, Edenor served 3,229,000 users. We define a “user” as one meter.

 

Edenor Tariff Categories

Edenor classifies its users pursuant to the following tariff categories:

·

Residential (T1-R1 to T1-R9): residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10kW. In 2021, this category accounted for approximately 46% of our electricity sales.

·

Small commercial (T1-G1 to T1-G3): commercial users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10kW. In 2021, this category accounted for approximately 8% of our electricity sales.

·

Medium commercial (T2): commercial users whose peak capacity demand is equal to or greater than 10kW but less than 50kW. In 2021, this category accounted for approximately 7% of our electricity sales.

·

Industrial (T3): industrial users whose peak capacity demand is equal to or greater than 50kW. This category is applied to high-demand users according to the voltage at which each user is connected. The voltage ranges included in this category are the following: (i) Low Voltage (LV): voltage less than or equal to 1 kV; (ii) Medium Voltage (MV): voltage greater than 1kV but less than 66 kV; and (iii) High Voltage (HV): voltage equal to or greater than 66kV. In 2021, this category accounted for approximately 16% of our electricity sales. This category does not include users who purchase their electricity directly through the WEM under the wheeling system.

·

Wheeling System: large users who purchase their electricity directly from generation or broker companies through the WEM. These tariffs follow the same structure as those applied under the Industrial category described above. As of December 31, 2021, the total number of such large users was 686, and this category represented approximately 17% of our electricity sales.

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·

Others: public lighting (T1-PL) and shantytown users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10kW. In 2021 this category accounted for approximately 6% of our electricity sales. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Framework Agreement (Shantytowns)”.

We aim to maintain an accurate categorization of our users to charge the appropriate tariff to each user. In particular, we focus on our residential tariff categorizations to both minimize the number of commercial and industrial users who are classified as residential users and identify residential users whose peak capacity demand exceeds 10 kW and therefore do not qualify as residential users.

We rely on the following measures to detect incorrectly categorized users:

·

reporting carried out by our employees tasked with reading meter information to identify observed commercial activities which are being performed by residential users,

·

conducting internet surveys to identify advertisements for commercial services (such as medical or other professional services) that are linked to a residential user’s address, and

·

analyzing user demand to determine whether we should further evaluate the peak capacity demand of a given user whose use might exceed 10kW.

 

Reading, Billing and Collecting

The Company bills its users based on their tariff categories. Residential users and small business users are billed a fixed monthly charge and a variable charge based on each unit of energy consumed.

On January 29, 2016, pursuant to Resolution No. 1/16, the ENRE established a monthly billing scheme providing for bimonthly consumption reading. On February 1, 2017, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 63/17, which established a new tariff scheme that maintains the billing methodology of Resolution No. 1/16.

In 2017, the implementation of the remote meter reading system for the tariff 3 (high demand) and tariff 2 (medium demand) user segments gradually began.

As part of the measures aimed at the restructuring of the electricity sector after the RTI became effective, a system was implemented for the monthly billing of the consumption measured every two months, dividing for such purpose the bimonthly consumption into two similar monthly periods with a view to providing T1 (small demand) users with more timely information regarding their consumption and facilitating payment.

Additionally, to measure the amount of actual readings for which service is billed, limits of estimated readings have been established in order to maximize user billing on actual readings. The Concession Agreement initially stipulated that the maximum limit of estimates was 8% of the total bills issued. As from the effective date of the RTI, a maximum of 2% of estimated bills over the total number of bills issued for each electricity rate category has been set as a global indicator.

Due to the temporary lockdown ordered by the government in 2020 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a two-month period during which the consumption of all customers was estimated. However, the Company was able to minimize the impact using historical consumption formulas and making adjustments in the cases with significant changes in customer behavior. For instance, of the 3 million total customers whose consumption was estimated, less than 0.7% of them filed claims, which were timely and properly resolved.

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Technology adaptations, such as remote meter readings, changes made in procedures, and the opening of new contact channels to coordinate meter readings notably reduced the number of cases that could not be billed in first instance, avoiding estimated consumption. Therefore, the subsequent processes of the commercial cycle have a regular flow; bill distribution tasks are more organized, due dates become more predictable and cash flows predictability is improved.

In 2021, approximately 18 million readings of electricity meters were conducted. The indicators showed that, despite the difficulties affecting the process, only 0.2% of such readings were estimated.

In this regard, the meter reading application, which was gradually implemented in December 2021, was streamlined, making it possible to geo-reference the reading process, capture images associated with field observations and manage a more portable application based on an Android platform.

In 2021, in the billing area, we reviewed and reorganized processes and teams so that the Company could adapt to the ENRE’s new regulations, which impacted the unrecorded energy billing recovery process.

Furthermore, we developed an intensive campaign to promote sign-ups for the digital bill, which resulted in more than 468 thousand Tariff 1 customers signing up for the digital billing and more than 14 thousand Tariffs 2 and 3 customers receiving their bills by e-mail on a monthly basis.

Our residential and small commercial users are divided into subcategories based on their consumption, as follows:

Residential (Tariff 1-R or T1-R):

·

Tariff 1-R1: monthly energy consumption less than or equal to 300 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-R2: monthly energy consumption greater than 301 KWh and less than or equal to 650 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-R3: monthly energy consumption greater than 651 KWh and less than or equal to 800 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-R4: monthly energy consumption greater than 801 KWh and less than or equal to 900 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-R5: monthly energy consumption greater than 901 KWh and less than or equal to 1000 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-R6: monthly energy consumption greater than 1001 KWh and less than or equal to 1200 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-R7: monthly energy consumption greater than 1201 KWh and less than or equal to 1400 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-R8: monthly energy consumption greater than 1401 KWh and less than or equal to 2800 KWh; and

·

Tariff 1-R9: monthly energy consumption greater than 2800 KWh.

Social Tariff

The social tariff applies to the same subcategories of residential rates, for which there is no variable charge for the first 150 KWh of monthly consumption until November 2017.

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To qualify for the social tariff, users must comply with one of the following characteristics:

·

retirees or pensioners who receive two gross minimum wages or less;

·

workers in employment relationships that earn two gross minimum wages or less;

·

self-employed individuals falling in categories that correspond to annual income which monthly break out reaches two minimum gross wages or less;

·

grantees of social programs;

·

registered in the self-employed (monotributista) social category;

·

grantees of non-contributory pensions with gross income equal to or less than two minimum wages;

·

grantees of unemployment insurance;

·

domestic service incorporated into the relevant special social security scheme;

·

holders of the Lifetime Pension for Veterans of the South Atlantic War;

·

persons with a disability certificate issued by a competent authority; and

·

persons suffering or living with another person suffering from an illness whose treatment involves electrodependence (in this case, the variable charge for the first 600 KWh monthly consumption is free).

 In 2021, the Province of Buenos Aires and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires have assumed the social tariffs discounts and the ceilings (scheme of maximum percentages that the beneficiary would pay, with respect to what residential users of the same consumption before taxes pay), and the bonuses for neighborhood clubs, in accordance with the provisions of the 2019 Federal Budget of Expenditures and Resources Law.

Small commercial (Tariff 1-G):

·

Tariff 1-G1: bimonthly energy demand less than or equal to 1600 KWh;

·

Tariff 1-G2: bimonthly energy demand greater than 1600 KWh but less than or equal to 4000 KWh; and

·

Tariff 1-G3: bimonthly energy demand greater than 4000 KWh.

Medium Commercial (Tariff 2):

Medium commercial users (demand greater than 10 kW but less than 50 kW - Tariff T2) are billed on a monthly basis, as follows: (1) a fixed charge per invoiced issued; (2) a fixed charge per each “scope of supply” of kW capacity agreed; (3) a fixed charge based on a maximum kW capacity (applicable to the maximum capacity registered during the billing period); (4) a variable charge based on each unit of energy consumed, without hour discrimination; and, (5) if applicable, a cos phi surcharge.

Industrial (Tariff 3):

Industrial users (demand equal or greater than 50 kW - Tariff T3) are billed on a monthly basis, as follows: (1) a fixed charge per invoice issued; (2) a fixed charge per each “scope of supply” of kW capacity agreed for low, medium or high voltage, with or without electricity consumption; (3) a fixed charge based on a maximum kW capacity registered, in low, medium or high voltage, applicable to the maximum capacity registered during the billing period; (4) a charge resulting from the electricity supplied in the voltage corresponding to the provision, in accordance with the consumption registered in each of the tariff timetables: “peak”, “night-time” and “remaining hours”; (5) if the supply is carried out in continuous current, a surcharge equivalent to a percentage of the price of the rectified electricity; and (6), if it is applicable, a cos phi surcharge.

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Public Lighting (AP):

Public lighting users are billed a monthly variable energy charge based on each unit of energy consumed.

The table below shows the number of our users per tariff category as of December 31, for the years 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively:

		As of December 31,
		2021		2020		2019
T1R		2,852,029		2,785,165		2,757,794
T1G		338,832		327,923		322,255
T2		30,837		30,980		31,045
T3		6,924		6,881		6,888
Wheeling system		686		687		675
Other*		567		661		576
Total		3,229,875		3,152,297		3,119,233

* Represents public lighting and shantytown users.

 

All of the meters are read with portable meter-reading terminals, either with manual access or optical reading (in the case of electronic meters for T2, T3 and certain T1 users). The systems validate the readings, and any inconsistent reading is checked and/or corrected before billing. Estimates of user usage were significantly reduced as a result of this billing system. Once the invoices are printed, independent contractors in each operating area, that are subject to strict controls, distribute them.

Slow-Paying Accounts and Past Due Receivables

Pursuant to the Concession Agreement, certain procedures were established to reduce delinquency and enhance collection, which are followed with strict observance by the Commercial Department.

Municipal accounts make up a significant number of our accounts in arrears. The methods of collection on such arrears vary in each municipality. One method of collection is to withhold from the municipalities certain taxes collected from the public by us on behalf of the municipalities and using such taxes to offset any past due amounts owed to us by such municipalities. Another method of collection is to enter into refinancing agreements with the municipalities. Such methods significantly reduce the number of accounts in arrears.

Our past due receivables decreased to Ps.9,621.8 million as of December 31, 2021 from Ps.12,124.7 million as of December 31, 2020 due to the economic recovery after the first wave of the pandemic. Past due receivables were measured as an equivalent of billing days - according to this measure, an increase from 26.7 to 28.09 days was observed.

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Through collection agencies, we were able to maintian constant communication with delinquent customers through different channels with the aim of informing them about their outstanding balances and the authorized payment locations. Additionally, a new collection agency was added, totaling five agencies for the management of Tariff 1 accounts.

With regard to Large Accounts, Tariff 1 multi-accounts, Tariff 2, Tariff 3 private and governmental segments, our e-mail marketing proactive campaigns addressed to customers with early delinquent payment continued, implementing as well e-mail campaigns with debt notices between the first and second due dates of the bill. The communication channels adopted for these campaigns were WhatsApp, SMS, electronic mail, IVR calls, and delinquent customer recovery specialized agents.

Furthermore, as from the month of March 2021 delinquent payment-related campaigns addressed to new customers and customers with no debt prior to February 28, 2021 were launched with suspension notices and suspension of supplies. In this regard, after the publication of ENRE note No. 1080/2021, the debt generated in the ASPO and DISPO periods by all the inactive customers began to be managed with the usual treatment.

Additionally, our e-mail marketing proactive campaigns addressed to customers with early delinquent payments continued. Such campaigns were redesigned by incorporating new payment options and a tutorial on how to make payment from home through our digital platform. With regard to Large Accounts, more than 57 thousand personalized calls were made, which prompted payment by thousands of customers of this segment.

Moreover, taking into consideration our customers’ economic situation as a consequence of the pandemic, we offered more flexible methods of payment and extended debt financing possibilities.

The following graph shows Edenor’s delinquent balances as of December 31, of each year:

 

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We also supply energy to low-income areas pursuant to the framework agreement with the Argentine Government and the Province of Buenos Aires, for which certain payments are still owed to us. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Framework Agreement (Shantytowns).”

Energy Losses

Energy losses are equivalent to the difference between energy purchased and energy sold, and may be classified as technical and non-technical losses. Technical losses represent the energy that is lost during transmission and network distribution as a consequence of natural heating of the transformers and conductors that transmit the electricity from the generating plants to the users. The non-technical energy losses represent the remainder of our energy losses mainly due to the illegal use of its services and administrative and technical errors.

Energy losses require us to purchase additional energy to satisfy apparent demand, thereby increasing costs. Furthermore, illegally tied-in users typically consume more electricity than the average level of consumption for their category. We are unable to recover from users the cost of electricity purchased beyond the average loss factor set at 10% pursuant to our concession. Therefore, the reduction of energy losses reduces the amount of energy we have to purchase to satisfy apparent demand but cannot invoice, and increases the amount of electricity actually sold.

At the time of the privatization of the electricity sector in 1992, our total energy losses were approximately 26.54%. At that time, our non-technical losses were estimated at 17%, of the energy purchased; with over half of that amount due to fraud and illegal use of our service. In response to the high level of losses, we implemented a loss reduction plan in 1992, which emphasized accurate measurement of energy consumption through periodic inspections, reduction of administrative errors, regularization of shantytowns, reduction of illegal direct connections, provision of services to shantytowns and reduction of technical losses. However, from time to time, the Company has experienced an increase in non-technical losses as economic crises have impaired the ability of its users to pay their bills, and an increase in technical losses relative to the increase in the volume of energy that the Company supplied during such periods.

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Our goal is to maintain our energy losses at an optimal level, while also considering the cost of reducing such losses and the level at which we are reimbursed for the cost of these losses under our concession. Our procedures for maintaining an optimal level of losses are focused on improving collections to ensure that users pay for all the energy that they consume and making investments in our network to control technical losses. To reduce the theft of electricity we have implemented vigilance and special technologies, such as networks that cannot be reached using normal ladders, shields close to the electricity posts, concentric cables, shielded meters and suspension of electricity service, among other remedies.

In 2021, the plan launched in previous years continued to be implemented, substantially increasing the installation of self-managed meters (MIDEs). We aimed at normalizing clandestine consumers, inactive customers and chronic delinquent customers. In 2021, 42,449 MIDEs were installed, 41,381 which are currently operative. As of December 31, 2021, 240,324 meters were enabled.

 

In Regions II and III, new shantytowns were formed while existing shantytowns continued to grow. In the third region of Greater Buenos Aires, energy theft represents the main factor in the increase in total losses.

 

The installation of the new type of multiple concentric network (MLCON), which had begun by the end of 2018, continued leveraging MIDE’s functionalities and increasing invulnerability (by adding security to the meter system) in neighborhoods with a high fraud rate.

 

During 2021, approximately 465,000 inspections were carried out on Tariff 1 users, with 49.3% effectiveness. In the last five years, more than 300,000 situations of irregular connections have been normalized, although a significant rate of recidivism in fraud has been observed.

 

The following table illustrates our estimates of the approximate disruption between technical and non-technical energy losses experienced in our concession area for the periods indicated:

	Year ended December 31,
	2021	2020		2019
Technical losses	9.4%	9.1%		9.6%
Non technical losses	8.2%	10.5%		10.3%
Total losses	17.6%	19.6%		19.9%

Framework Agreement (Shantytowns)

On January 10, 1994, the Company, Edesur, the Argentine Government and the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires entered into a Framework Agreement, whose purpose was to establish the guidelines under which the Company was to supply electricity to low-income areas and shantytowns (the “Framework Agreement”).

In accordance with the terms of our concession and given the nature of public service that the law grants for the distribution of electricity, the Company is required to supply electricity to all users within the concession area, including low-income areas and shantytowns located within our concession area. In October 2003, Edenor, Edesur and Edelap entered into a framework agreement with the Argentine Government and the Province of Buenos Aires (the “2003 Framework Agreement”) to regulate the supply of electricity to low-income areas and shantytowns. Under the 2003 Framework Agreement, the Company had the right to receive compensation for the services provided to shantytowns from funds collected from residents of each relevant shantytown, the Municipality in which it is located and, if there is a shortfall, by a special fund supported by the Argentine Government and the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires. The Argentine Government and the Province of Buenos Aires contribute an amount equal to 21% and 15.5% of such compensation, respectively, net of taxes, paid on behalf of those users with payment problems and meter irregularities, which are transferred to distributors such as Edenor as compensation. On June 23, 2008, Edenor entered into an amendment to the 2003 Framework Agreement (the “Amended 2003 Framework Agreement”) with the Argentine Government, the Province of Buenos Aires and the other national electric distributors extending the terms of the 2003 Framework Agreement. The Amended 2003 Framework Agreement expired on December 31, 2010.

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On July 22, 2011, the Company, together with Edesur and Edelap, entered into an addendum (the “Addendum”) with the Argentine Government and the Government of the Province of Buenos Aires, to extend the Amended 2003 Framework Agreement for an additional term of four years (from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2014). Such extension was approved on September 21, 2012 by Resolution No. 248/12 issued by the ENRE and ratified by the Ministry of Planning pursuant to Resolution No. 247/12. On December 31, 2014 the Amended 2003 Framework Agreement expired.

On August 3, 2017, an extension to the Framework Agreement until September 30, 2018 was signed, which represents the recognition of revenue relating to the distribution of electricity to low-income areas and shantytowns for the January 1, 2015 - September 30, 2018 period for an amount of Ps.764.5 million.

On May 10, 2019, the Company and the Federal Government entered into an additional addenda to the Framework Agreement, extending the term thereof until May 31, 2019. Additionally, such addenda provided for the following:

·

The Federal Government’s commitment to settle the amounts of its economic contribution for the supply of electricity to shantytowns, after deducting the energy associated with the social tariff;

 

·

That the Company may assign the receivable amounts recognized by this extension to Edesur. In this regard, the relevant agreement on the assignment of receivables was signed, whereby Edesur, in consideration for the assigned receivables, paid Ps.167.8 million to Edenor.

 

Consequently, as of December 31, 2019, the Company recognized revenue from the sale of electricity under the Framework Agreement until December 31, 2018 for Ps.470.8 million, which stated in constant values amounted to Ps.1,487.7 million, and for the first five months of 2019 for Ps.205.5 million, which stated in constant values amounted to Ps.422.1 million, both related to the Federal Government’s participation in the Framework Agreement.

 

On December 16, 2020, the “Agreement on the Development of the Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Work Plan for the Electricity Distribution Network of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area” (the “Work Plan”) was signed with the Federal Government and the province of Buenos Aires, to guarantee the electricity supply to vulnerable neighborhoods of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area.

 

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As of December 31, 2020, the debt for the electricity supplied in the October 2017 – July 2020 period to low-income areas and shantytowns in Edenor’s concession area amounted to Ps.2,126 million.

 

All of these amounts will be applied to the Work Plan so that the necessary investment and preventive and corrective maintenance works can be carried out in the networks in charge of distribution companies and related to vulnerable neighborhoods and other areas of the concession area, with the aim of improving the service therein provided and meeting the contingencies and any peak demand that often occurs in the summer season. The Company may use the funds only after the ENRE has certified compliance with both the degree of completion of the works included in the referred plan and the related financial milestones.

 

On January 14, 2021, the Company received a first disbursement for Ps.1,500 million, which was placed into low-risk money market funds, which accrued holding results throughout the fiscal year. As of December 31, 2021, negotiations were underway between the Company and the ENRE concerning the other disbursements stipulated in the Work Plan, which total an additional Ps.1,000 million relating to the second and third disbursements, plus a fourth disbursement in accordance with which the ENRE will validate and inform about the vulnerable neighborhoods’ total consumption between August and December 2020.

 

As of the date of this annual report, the Company has used a total of Ps.1,794.1 million (which at the purchasing power of the currency at December 31, 2021 amounts to Ps. 2,059.8 million), Ps. 294.1 million of which have not yet been credited, relating to reports on the progress of the works performed.

 

Insurance

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Company is insured for partial and total property loss and damage, including those due to floods, fires and acts of nature, up to approximately U.S.$1,797 million, with the following deductibles:

 

§

transformers, between U.S.$175,000 and U.S.$850,000 (depending on their power level);

§

equipment of sub-stations (not including transformers), U.S.$75,000;

§

commercial offices, U.S.$1,500 for each office;

§

deposits and other properties, U.S.$25,000; and

§

terrorism risk, U.S.$50,000, being the maximum insured amount of U.S.$7,000,000.

 

We are also insured against theft of safe-deposit boxes, and cash/valuables in commercial offices and cash/valuables-in-transit for a maximum amount of U.S.$250,000 and U.S.$5,000, respectively, with a deductible of U.S.$250.

 

In addition, we maintain the following insurance policies, subject to customary deductibles and the conditions established for each coverage:

 

§

Directors and Officers Liability (D&O);

§

General Liability;

§

Vehicles;

§

Environmental insurance (requested by governmental authorities);

§

Surety insurance (requested by governmental authorities);

§

Electronic equipment insurance;

§

Mandatory life insurance for all our employees which is maintained in accordance with Argentine law; and

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§

Optional life insurances for all our employees.

 

The Company has been analyzing cybersecurity coverages offered by different insurance companies, which cover the following risks:

 

§

Responsibility for data privacy (personal / corporate / contracted companies);

§

Responsibility for network security;

§

Responsibility for electronic content;

§

Cyber extortion;

§

Loss of digital assets (theft / damage / destruction / data contamination); and

§

Business interruption.

 

After a bidding process, none of the insurance company participants has offered a business-interruption coverage. Although, we consider our insurance coverage to be adequate and in accordance with the prevailing standards for the industry, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—In the event of an accident or other event not covered by our insurance, we could face significant losses that could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.”

Environmental Management

In Argentina, the Argentine Government, the provincial Governments and the Government of the City of Buenos Aires are empowered to legislate on natural resources and environmental protection issues. The 1994 Constitution reaffirms this principle, assigning to the Argentine Government the establishment of broad environmental guidelines and to the provincial Governments and the Government of the City of Buenos Aires the duty to implement the necessary legislation to attain national environmental goals. The environmental policy for the electricity market was formulated by the former SE and implemented by the ENRE. Areas regulated by the ENRE include the tolerance level for electromagnetic fields, radio interference, voltage of contact and pass, liquid spills, disposal and handling of solid wastes, noise and vibration admissible levels and use, and the transport and storage of hazardous waste, including polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), a viscous substance which was historically used to lubricate electrical transformers. The Argentine Environmental Law required that we eliminate the use of PCB in our transformers before January 1, 2011.

Over the course of 2009, we completed the removal of PCBs from all our transformers with contaminated coolant oils exceeding 50 ppm (parts per million), the limit established by National Law No. 25,670.

As part of our investment plan, we made important improvements to our network and implemented technological innovations which reduced the impact of these improvements on the environment. We are required to apply for licenses from the ENRE for all our business activities, which include certain requirements related to environmental protection. To the best of our knowledge, we are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable environmental standards, rules and regulations established by the ENRE, the former SE and other federal, provincial and municipal authorities. We have implemented environmental management programs to evaluate environmental impact and to take corrective actions when necessary. In addition, we have in place an environmental emergency plan designed to reduce potential adverse consequences should an environment contingency occur. Finally, as part of our environmental actions, we improved and deepened the program of rational uses of energy in our buildings and in our user equipment.

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Regarding the addition of new installations and related construction works, all of the studies corresponding to the environmental impact evaluation required by law are being performed. These analyses are presented to local environmental authorities and submitted to consideration of the local communities in public audiences held as required by applicable regulations for the issuance of an environmental aptitude certificate.

On October 19, 1999, the Argentine Institute of Normalization (Instituto Argentino de Normalización) certified that we have an environmental management system that is in accordance with the requirements of the standards set by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) as specified in its release, ISO 14001/15, which relates specifically to environmental management systems. This certification is reaffirmed on an annual basis, most recently in July 2021.

Section 22 of Law No. 25,675 requires that all persons whose activities maintain an Environmental Complexity Level (ECL) that implies a risk of damage to the environment, such as any activity of the Company, obtain environmental insurance for a certain minimum coverage.

Seasonality

Demand for our services fluctuates on a seasonal basis. For a discussion of this seasonality of demand, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Demand—Seasonality of Demand”.

Sustainability

In 2021, the Company continued with the goal of being a modern company, with an emphasis on technology, innovation, and user service quality, as well as portray the Company as a model public utility company, with a focus on two pillars: efficiency and proximity.

The principal actions were:

Sustainability report: in 2021, the Company issued the seventh sustainability report, which covers the 2019-2020 biennium. The report details the actions, challenges and goals in economic development, environmental care, customer management and employee development-related topics. All of them aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the United Nations. The Company’s Management is preparing the 2021 Sustainability Report, which is expected to begin to be published on an annual basis.

Industrial safety: in 2020 the Company satisfactorily passed the ISO 45001 STANDARD certification audit conducted by the IRAM, reaffirming the Company’s commitment to Occupational Risk Prevention. In order to comply with these guidelines related to Occupational Health and Safety, the Company performed several activities, resulting in improved accident indicators from 2016 to 2021.

Public safety: in 2021 the Company successfully passed the annual audit conducted by the IRAM on the Public Safety System (PSS) according to ENRE Resolution No. 421/11, thus maintaining the related certification.

Quality: the Company successfully passed the external maintenance audit of the Integrated Management System (IMS), which was conducted in July 2020. The certifying entity IRAM highlighted as strengths the use of an application that not only allows for the digital recording of the inspections carried out but also, based on the information directly entered into the device, makes it possible to generate inspection reports, including photographic records, thus enabling fast access to online information, avoiding the use of paper.

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Environmental management: in 2021, the Company received the Environmental Clearance Certificate granted by the Provincial Agency for Sustainable Development of the Province of Buenos Aires for certain works projects. Furthermore, the “Power line linking Puerto Nuevo – Colegiales - Melo substations” and the “Expansion of Newbery Substation” projects were granted the Environmental Clearance Certificate by the Environmental Protection Agency of the City of Buenos Aires. Additionally, with the guiding principle of contributing to the quality of life of our customers, the Special Authorization Certificates were obtained for each of the Company’s warehouses, ensuring proper management in the handling and final disposal of hazardous waste.

Community actions: in 2021, the Company continued with the programs that we have implemented for the last few years, including: Electricity access and smart consumption, that seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy; Quality Education, which promotes equality of opportunities for young people and their employability by means of professionalizing practices and workshops on first employment, in addition to scholarships and tutoring in technical schools and universities; Gender Equality; Responsible Production and Consumption and Alliances to achieve the goals set. In this regard, the following plans and programs were developed: Comprehensive relationship building plan with educational institutions; Scholarship and mentoring program; Soft Skills Program; Electricity access and smart consumption program; “edenorchicos” educational program; Volunteering program. Finally, the Company carried out the “Women with Energy” initiative, whose aim is to achieve greater gender equality and encourage women to pursue careers in technical fields.

Sustainable energy: in 2021, the plan launched in previous years, which consisted of the installation of 250,000 MIDE self-managed meters, continued to be implemented. The plan aims to increase electricity access by normalizing clandestine consumers, inactive customers and chronic delinquent customers, in order to allow for the safe and efficient use of the network, and with a differentiated service to this customer segment. In 2021, 42,449 MIDEs were installed, 240,314 self-managed meters are currently enabled.

 

The Argentine Electricity Industry

Historical Background

Electricity was first made available in Argentina in 1887 with the first public street lighting in Buenos Aires. The Argentine Government’s involvement in the electricity sector began in 1946 with the creation of the Dirección General de Centrales Eléctricas del Estado (General Directorate of Electric Power Plants of the State) to construct and operate electricity generation plants. In 1947, the Argentine Government created Agua y Energía Eléctrica S.A. (Water and Electricity, or AyEE) to develop a system of hydroelectric generation, transmission and distribution for Argentina.

In 1961, the Argentine Government granted a concession to the Compañía Italo Argentina de Electricidad (Italian-Argentine Electricity Company, or CIADE) for the distribution of electricity in a part of the City of Buenos Aires. In 1962, the Argentine Government granted a concession formerly held by the Compañía Argentina de Electricidad (Argentine Electricity Company, or CADE) to Servicios Eléctricos del Gran Buenos Aires (Electricity Services of Greater Buenos Aires, or SEGBA), our predecessor, for the generation and distribution of electricity to parts of Buenos Aires. In 1967, the Argentine Government granted a concession to Hidroeléctrica Norpatagónica S.A. (Hidronor) to build and operate a series of hydroelectric generation facilities. In 1978, CIADE transferred all of its assets to the Argentine Government, following which CIADE’s business became Government-owned and operated.

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By 1990, virtually all of the electricity supply in Argentina was controlled by the public sector (97% of total generation). The Argentine Government had assumed responsibility for the regulation of the industry at the national level and controlled all of the national electricity companies, AyEE, SEGBA and Hidronor. The Argentine Government also represented Argentine interests in generation facilities developed or operated jointly with Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. In addition, several of the Argentine provinces operated their own electricity companies. Inefficient management and inadequate capital spending, which prevailed under national and provincial Government control, were in large measure responsible for the deterioration of physical equipment, decline in quality of service and proliferation of financial losses that occurred during this period.

In 1991, as part of the economic plan adopted by former President Carlos Menem, the Argentine Government undertook an extensive privatization program of all major state-owned industries, including within the electricity generation, transmission and distribution sectors. In January 1992, the Argentine Congress adopted Law No. 24,065 (the “Regulatory Framework Law”), which established guidelines for the restructuring and privatization of the electricity sector. The Regulatory Framework Law, which continues to provide the framework for regulation of the electricity sector since the privatization of this sector, divided generation, transmission and distribution of electricity into separate businesses and subjected each to appropriate regulation.

The ultimate objective of the privatization process was to achieve a reduction in tariffs paid by users and improve quality of service through competition. The privatization process commenced in February 1992 with the sale of several large thermal generation facilities formerly operated by SEGBA, and continued with the sale of transmission and distribution facilities (including those currently operated by our company) and additional thermoelectric and hydroelectric generation facilities.

Regulatory and Legal Framework

 

Role of the Government

The Argentine Government has restricted its participation in the electricity market to regulatory oversight and policy-making activities. These activities were assigned to agencies that have a close working relationship with one another and occasionally even overlap in their responsibilities. The Argentine Government has limited its holding in the commercial sector to the operation of international hydropower projects and nuclear power plants. Provincial authorities followed the Argentine Government by divesting themselves of commercial interests and creating separate policy-making and regulatory entities for the provincial electricity sector.

Limits and Restrictions

To preserve competition in the electricity market, participants in the electricity sector are subject to vertical and horizontal restrictions, depending on the market segment in which they operate.

Vertical Restrictions

The vertical restrictions apply to companies that intend to participate simultaneously in different sub-sectors of the electricity market. These vertical restrictions were imposed by Law No. 24,065, and apply differently depending on each sub-sector as follows:

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Generators

·

Under Section 31 of Law No. 24,065, neither a generation company, nor any of its controlled companies or its controlling company, can be the owner or a majority shareholder of a transmitter company or the controlling entity of a transmitter company; and

·

Under Section 9 of Decree No. 1398/92, since a distribution company cannot own generation units, a holder of generation units cannot own distribution concessions. However, the shareholders of the electricity generator may own an entity that holds distribution units, either as shareholders of the generator or through any other entity created with the purpose of owning or controlling distribution units.

Transmitters

·

Under Section 31 of Law No. 24,065, neither a transmission company nor any of its controlled companies or its controlling entity can be the owner or majority shareholder or the controlling company of a generation company;

·

Under Section 31 of Law No. 24,065, neither a transmission company, any company controlled by a transmission company nor any company controlling a transmission company can own or be the majority shareholder or the controlling company of a distribution company; and

·

Under Section 30 of Law No. 24,065, transmission companies cannot buy or sell electricity.

Distributors

·

Under Section 31 of Law No. 24,065, neither a distribution company, nor any of its controlled companies or its controlling company, can be the owner or majority shareholder or the controlling company of a transmission company; and

·

Under Section 9 of Decree No. 1398/92, a distribution company cannot own generation units. However, the shareholders of the electricity distributor may own generation units, either directly or through any other entity created with the purpose of owning or controlling generation units.

Definition of Control

The term “control” referred to in Section 31 of the Regulatory Framework Law (which establishes vertical restrictions) is not defined in such law. Section 33 of the Argentine Corporations Law states that “companies are considered as controlled by others when the holding company, either directly or through another company: (1) holds an interest, under any circumstance, that grants the necessary votes to control the corporate will in board meetings or ordinary shareholders meetings; or (2) exercises a dominant influence as a consequence of holding shares, quotas or equity interest or due to special linkage between the companies.” We cannot assure you, however, that the electricity regulators will apply this standard of control in implementing the restrictions described above.

Horizontal Restrictions

In addition to the vertical restrictions described above, distribution and transmission companies are subject to horizontal restrictions, as described below.

Transmitters

·

According to Section 32 of Law No. 24,065, two or more transmission companies can merge or be part of the same economic group only if they obtain an express approval from the ENRE. Such approval is also necessary when a transmission company intends to acquire shares of another electricity transmission company;

·

Pursuant to the concession agreements that govern the services rendered by private companies operating transmission lines above 132 kW and below 140 kW, the service is rendered by the concessionaire on an exclusive basis over certain areas indicated in the concession agreement; and

·

Pursuant to the concession agreements that govern the services rendered by the private company operating the high-tension transmission services equal to or higher than 220 KW, the Company must render the service on an exclusive basis and is entitled to render the service throughout Argentina, without territorial limitations.

Distributors

·

Two or more distribution companies can merge or be part of the same economic group only if they obtain an express approval from the ENRE. Such approval is necessary when a distribution company intends to acquire shares of another electricity transmission or distribution company; and

·

Pursuant to the concession agreements that govern the services rendered by private companies operating distribution networks, the service is rendered by the concessionaire on an exclusive basis over certain areas indicated in the concession agreement.

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Regulatory Authorities

The principal regulatory authorities responsible for the Argentine electricity industry are:

(1)

the Ministry of Economy, through the Secretaría de Energía (the “SE”);

(2)

the ENRE; and

(3)

CAMMESA.

The Ministry of Economy is the main governmental authority responsible for the Argentine electricity sector at the federal level. The role of the Ministry of Economy is mainly defined in the Law of Ministries No. 22,520 (as amended, and in particular, those included by Decree No. 706/2020).

The Ministry of Economy is in charge, among other matters, of preparing, proposing and executing the national energy policy, and its powers include the following:

·

execution of plans, programs and projects in the area of its competence prepared in accordance with the directives issued by the Argentine Executive Power;

·

participation in preparation, application and supervision of the tax and customs regime;

·

participation in negotiations and modifications of contracts for public works and services, within the scope of its competence;

·

participation in the administration of majority or minority shareholdings held by the Argentine Government in companies or enterprises within its scope;

·

participation in the development of government-owned companies, autarkic entities, decentralized or deconcentrated agencies, and special accounts and funds, whatever their denomination or legal nature, corresponding to its orbit, both with respect to action plans and budgets and with respect to their intervention, closure, liquidation, privatization, merger, dissolution or centralization, and to intervene in those that do not belong to its jurisdiction, according to the guidelines decided by the Argentine Chief of Cabinet of Ministers with the supervision of the Argentine Executive Power;

·

participation in the preparation and supervision of the fuel regime and supervion of fuel prices, when appropriate, in accordance with the respective guidelines;

·

supervision of the authority of application of the laws that regulate the activities in energy matters;

·

participation in (i) the elaboration of policies and standards for the regulation of public services in the area of its competence, (ii) the supervision of the agencies and entities that control the concessionaires of public works or services within the jurisdiction, and (iii) the elaboration of standards for the regulation of public service licenses under federal regimes; and

·

supervision of energy production markets, intervening through the areas of its competence, in order to promote and encourage the normal development of the economy in accordance with the objectives of national development with equity.

The SE advises the Argentine Government on matters related to the electricity sector and is responsible for the application of the policies concerning the Argentine electricity industry. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Failure or delay to negotiate further improvements to our tariff structure, including increases in our distribution margin, and/or to have our tariff adjusted to reflect increases in our distribution costs in a timely manner or at all, has affected our capacity to perform our commercial obligations and could also have a material adverse effect on our capacity to perform our financial obligations.”

The SE was first established under the purview of the Ministry of Productive Development, and subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Economy, through Decree No.732/2020, published in the Official Gazette on September 7, 2020.

The ENRE is an autonomous agency created by the Regulatory Framework Law. The ENRE has a variety of regulatory and jurisdictional powers, including, among others:

·

enforcement of the Regulatory Framework Law and related regulations;

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·

control of the delivery of electric services and enforcement of the terms of concessions;

·

adoption of rules applicable to generators, transmitters, distributors, electricity users and other related parties concerning safety, technical procedures, measurement and billing of electricity consumption, interruption and reconnection of supplies, third-party access to real estate used in the electricity industry and quality of services offered;

·

prevention of anticompetitive, monopolistic and discriminatory conduct between participants in the electricity industry;

·

imposition of penalties for violations of concessions or other related regulations; and

·

arbitration of conflicts between electricity sector participants.

Under Law No. 24,065, the ENRE is managed by a five-member Board of Directors appointed by the Argentine Executive Power of the Argentine Government. Two of these five members are nominated by the Consejo Federal de la Energía Eléctrica (Federal Council on Electricity, or “CFEE”). The CFEE is funded with a percentage of revenues collected by CAMMESA for each MWh sold in the market. Sixty percent of the funds received by the CFEE are reserved for the Fondo Subsidiario para Compensaciones Regionales de Tarifas a Usuarios Finales (Regional Tariff Subsidy Fund for End Users), from which the CFEE makes distributions to provinces that have met certain specified tariff provisions. The remaining forty percent is used for investments related to the development of electrical services in the Argentine provinces.

By means of the Productive Reactivation Law, the Argentine Executive Power was entitled to assume the administrative control of the ENRE and the ENARGAS until December 31, 2020, which effectively occurred on March 16, 2020, according to Decree No. 277/2020. Said intervention was extended on December 17, 2020 by means of Decree No. 1020/20, until December 31, 2021, or until the tariff review process is concluded, whichever occurs first. Through Decree No. 871/2021, the intervention of the ENRE was extended until December 31, 2022.

On December 22, 2015, through Decree No 231/15, the ME&M was created with the objective of elaborating, proposing and executing the national energy policy. On March 5, 2018, through Decree No 174/18, the structure of the ME&M was modified, amongst other offices of the Argentine Government. The former structure of the ME&M comprised four secretaries and fourteen undersecretaries, whilst the new structure was reduced to three secretaries and ten undersecretaries. However, on September 6, 2018, through Decree No. 801/18, the Argentine Government strategically reorganized the ministries, dissolving the ME&M and transforming it into the SE, which remains within the orbit of control of the Ministry of Finance. On December 19, 2019, the Argentine Executive Power issued Decree No. 50/19 by means of which it approved the new organizational chart of the national government. On October 2020, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 804/20, modifying the organizational chart of the national government. According to this Decree, the SE, which is in charge of elaborating, proposing and executing the national energy policy, is currently part of the Ministry of Economy.

Although CAMMESA is not a state-owned company, it usually receives funds from the Argentine Government, has a public purpose and makes decisions pursuant to SE instructions.

CAMMESA is responsible for:

·

managing the SADI to the Regulatory Framework Law and related regulations, which includes:

·

determining technical and economic dispatch of electricity (i.e., schedule of production for all generating units on a power system to match production with demand) in the SADI;

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·

maximizing the system’s security and the quality of electricity supplied;

·

minimizing wholesale prices in the spot market;

·

planning energy capacity needs and optimizing energy use pursuant to the rules from time to time established by the SE,

·

monitoring the operation of the term market and administering the technical dispatch of electricity pursuant to any agreements entered into in such market;

·

acting as agent of the various WEM participants;

·

purchasing or selling electricity from or to other countries by performing the relevant import/export operations;

·

providing consulting and other services related to these activities;

·

supplying fuel pursuant to Resolution No. 95/13 of the former SE, which includes the management, acquisition, nationalization, control, reception, storage and distribution of liquid fuels to Generation Centrals through marine, river and land transportation;

·

administrating the expansion of gas pipelines associated to natural gas supply to the new thermal centrals under construction;

·

managing the availability of the generation system, formalizing, controlling and supervising the works involved with supply commitment contracts. Implementation of the maintenance plans for the thermal system;

·

implementing the increase in capacity of the central storage;

·

incorporating Biodiesel to the electricity generation matrix; and

·

developing related activities pursuant to the execution of new generation infrastructure and transport, managing the trust contracts for the new thermal and nuclear centrals, especially for non-conventional sources of energy or those works within the National Hydraulic Works Program.

The operating costs of CAMMESA are covered by mandatory contributions made by WEM participants. CAMMESA’s annual budget is subject to a mandatory cap equivalent to 0.85% of the aggregate amount of transactions in the WEM projected for that year.

Pursuant to Law No. 27,467, which enacted the 2019 Federal Budget of Expenditures and Resources Law, the Argentine Executive Power was instructed to promote such actions as may be necessary in order for the electricity distribution companies Edenor and Edesur to become subject to the joint jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires on January 1, 2019.

On February 28, 2019, the Federal Government, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires entered into an agreement to initiate the process of transferring the public service of electricity distribution, duly awarded under the Concession Agreement by the Federal Government to Edenor, from the jurisdiction of the Argentine Government to the joint jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires, with the latter two jointly assuming the capacity as grantors of the concession of the service. The Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires agreed to set up a new bipartite agency in charge of the regulation and control of the distribution service, and the Federal Government agreed to take the necessary steps and carry out the necessary administrative procedures to provide a solution to the pending claims with both distribution companies.

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In the framework of such agreement, on May 9, 2019, the Federal Government, the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires entered into the Transfer Agreement, pursuant to which the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires jointly assume, as from the date of effectiveness, the regulation, control and the capacity as grantor over the distribution service granted to Edenor under the Concession Agreement. Furthermore, it is provided that (i) the Concession Agreement and also the national regulations issued by both the SE and the ENRE will remain in full force and effect until the effective date of the transfer occurs pursuant to the applicable regulatory framework; and (ii) that the pledge of the Class “A” shares, duly pledged as collateral to secure the performance of the obligations assumed by the holder of the concession and/or the majority shareholders under the Concession Agreement, is assigned on an undivided basis by the Federal Government to the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires.

The Company was notified of and assented to the arrangement made by the Federal Government and the new grantors of the concession with respect to the Transfer Agreement and undertook both to indemnify them against any claims and to obtain the agreement of the majority of its shareholders. The Transfer Agreement was ratified by the Provincial Executive Power and the City of Buenos Aires Legislative Power.

Further, with the enactment of the Productive Reactivation Law and the suspension of the transfer of the jurisdiction, the ENRE retained its jurisdiction over the public service of electricity distribution during the term of the emergency as set forth in such law.

The Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM)

Overview

The former SE established the WEM in August 1991 to allow electricity generators, distributors and other agents to buy and sell electricity in spot transactions or under long-term supply contracts at prices determined by the forces of supply and demand.

The WEM consists of:

·

a term market in which generators, distributors and large users enter into long-term agreements on quantities, prices and conditions. Since March 2013, pursuant to Resolution No. 95/13 of the former SE, all large users have to buy their backup energy from CAMMESA seasonally;

·

a spot market, in which prices are established on an hourly basis as a function of economic production costs, represented by the short-term marginal cost of production and demand; and

·

a stabilization fund, managed by CAMMESA, which absorbs the differences between purchases by distributors at seasonal prices and payments to generators for energy sales at the spot price.

Operation of the WEM

The operation of the WEM is administered by CAMMESA, which was created in July 1992 by the Argentine Government who currently owns 20% of CAMMESA’s capital stock. The remaining 80% is owned by various associations that represent WEM participants, including generators, transmitters, distributors and large users.

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CAMMESA is a non-profit corporation that is responsible, since its creation, for the technical operation of the electricity system and the management of WEM transactions, in accordance with the electricity regulatory framework and related regulations, which include, among other responsibilities, the following:

§

determining the technical and economic dispatch of electricity in the national interconnection system (production schedule of all power generation plants of the power system to meet the demand);

§

planning energy capacity needs and optimizing energy use pursuant to the regulations periodically issued by the SE;

§

acting as agent of the different WEM participants;

§

purchasing from or selling electricity to other countries by performing the respective import/export operations;

§

managing the availability of the generation system;

§

supervising the operation of the term market and managing the technical dispatch of electricity in conformity with the agreements entered into in that market; and

§

managing the supply and trust agreements for the new thermal and nuclear power plants, especially for non-conventional sources of energy or those works within the National Hydroelectric Works Program.

The WEM’s costs managed by CAMMESA are covered by mandatory contributions made by all WEM participants. In the last few years, due to the imbalance between production costs disbursed and the amount collected from the agents for their demand through prices that do not cover said costs, the WEM lost its economic self-sustainability. The operating deficit of the WEM’s power and energy compensation funds and accounts was financed by the Argentine Government through non-refundable contributions from the Unified Fund managed by the SE to the Sustainability Fund managed by CAMMESA.

The following chart shows the relationships among the various actors in the WEM:

WEM Participants

The main participants in the WEM are generation, transmission and distribution companies. Large users and traders also participate in the WEM, to a lesser extent.

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Generators

According to a recent report issued by CAMMESA, as of December 31, 2021, Argentina’s installed power capacity was 42,849 MW, 58.9% of which derived from thermal generation, 25.3% from hydraulic generation, 4.1% from nuclear generation and 11.7% from non-conventional sources of energy. Private generators participate in CAMMESA through the Asociación de Generadores de Energía Eléctrica de la República Argentina (Argentine Association of Electric Power Generators, or AGEERA), which is entitled to appoint two acting and two alternate directors of CAMMESA.

On December 27, 2017, Law No. 27,424 was enacted in relation to the generation of electric power from renewable energy sources. Such law provides the legal and contractual conditions for the generation of renewable energy by the users of the distribution network for self-consumption and eventual injection of excess electricity into the grid. Additionally, the law created a public fiduciary fund, called Fund for the Distributed Generation of Renewable Energy (“FODIS”), which aims to finance the implementation of distributed generation systems of renewable energy. Also, the law created the promotion regime for the National Manufacturing Systems, Equipment and Supplies for the Distributed Generation of Renewable Energy (“FANSIGED”), whose main activities comprise research, design, development, investment in capital goods, production, certification and installation services for the distributed generation of energy from renewable sources.

Transmitters

 

Electricity is transmitted from power generation plants to distribution companies through the high voltage electricity transmission system. Transmission companies do not engage in purchases or sales of electricity, their service is governed by the Electricity Regulatory Framework and related regulations issued by the competent authority. The majority of the system is owned by Transener. Regional transmission companies own the remaining portion of the sub-transmission.

 

In Argentina, transmission is carried out at 500 kV, 300 kV, 220 kV and 132 kV through the SADI. The SADI consists mainly of overhead lines and transformer stations (i.e., equipment through which electricity distributed by transmission circuits passes and is converted to voltage for use by end users) covering approximately 90% of the country. Most of the SADI, including practically all the 500 kV transmission lines, was privatized and is owned by Transener. The regional transmission companies, most of which were privatized, own the remaining part of the SADI. The supply points connect the SADI with the distribution systems, and there are also interconnections between the transmission systems of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay that allow the import and export of electricity from one system to another.

 

The electric power transmission companies also participate in CAMMESA by appointing two directors and two alternate directors through the Argentine Association of Electric Energy Transporters (Asociación de Transportistas de Energía Eléctrica de la República Argentina or “ATEERA”).

 

In 2017, the SE issued Resolution No. 1,085/17, whereby it significantly modified the cost allocation of HV and extra HV systems. The changes implemented, applicable as of December 1, 2017, are as follows: (1) WEM generators no longer pay for the use of the transmission system, except for connection equipment entirely allocated by each generator; and (2) the total cost of each transporter is distributed among the users in its network, in proportion to their energy demand, no longer applying the calculation methodology based on the use of equipment.

 

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Distributors

 

Each distribution company supplies electricity to customers and operates the related distribution network in a specific geographic area pursuant to a concession agreement, which provides, among other things, for the concession area, the quality of service required, the electricity rates to be paid by customers for the distribution service and the obligation to satisfy the demand. The ENRE monitors compliance by distribution companies, edenor and Edesur S.A. with the provisions of the respective concession agreements and with the Regulatory Framework Law No. 24,065. In addition, the provincial regulatory agencies supervise the compliance of local distributors with their respective concessions and local regulatory frameworks.

 

The distributors participate in CAMMESA by appointing two directors and two alternate directors through the Argentine Association of Electric Energy Distributors (Asociación de Distribuidoras de Energía Eléctrica de la República Argentina or “ADEERA”). As of the date of this annual report, one of those positions is held by our director of legal and regulatory affairs, Dr. María Jose Van Morlegan.

 

The Company and Edesur are the main distribution companies and, together with Edelap, originally formed SEGBA, which was divided into three distribution companies at the time of its privatization in 1992.

 

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Large Users

 

The WEM classifies Large Users of energy into three categories: Major Large Users (GUMA), Minor Large Users (GUME) and Particular Large Users (GUPA). At present, each of these customer categories purchases its energy demand directly from CAMMESA. Agreements between parties (Generator and Large User) are only limited to the Energy Plus segment with respect to the demand exceeding the base demand, i.e. the amount of energy the customer consumed back in 2005.

Each of these categories of users is subject to different requirements with respect to the purchase of their respective energy demands. For example, GUMAs must purchase 50% of their demand through supply contracts and the rest in the spot market, while GUMEs and GUPAs must purchase all of their demand through supply contracts.

In 2017, by means of Resolution No. 281-E/17, the former Ministry of Energy and Mining laid down the Regulations for the Renewable Energy Term Market, which establish the commercialization and administration charges payable by Large Users who opt for the joint purchase of renewable energy managed by CAMMESA. The Large Users who choose to meet their renewable energy consumption quota directly through a generator, are allowed to enter into a supply contract without having to incur the expenses of the joint purchases system.

Large users participate in CAMMESA by appointing two directors and two alternate directors through the Argentine Association of Large Electric Energy Users (Asociación de Grandes Usuarios de Energía Eléctrica de la República Argentina or “AGUEERA”).

Spot Market

Spot Prices

The emergency regulations enacted after the Argentine crisis in 2001 and 2002 had a significant impact on energy prices. Among the measures implemented pursuant to the emergency regulations were the pesification of prices in the WEM, and the requirement that all spot prices be calculated based on the price of natural gas, even in circumstances where alternative fuel such as diesel is purchased to meet demand due to the lack of supply of natural gas.

Prior to the crisis, energy prices in the spot market were set by CAMMESA, which determined the price charged by generators for energy sold in the spot market of the WEM on an hourly basis. The spot price reflected supply and demand in the WEM at any given time, which CAMMESA determined using different supply and demand scenarios that dispatched the optimum amount of available supply, taking into account the restrictions of the transmission grid, in such a way as to meet demand requirements while seeking to minimize the production cost and the cost associated with reducing risk of system failure.

The spot price set by CAMMESA compensated generators according to the cost of the last unit to be dispatched for the next unit as measured at the Ezeiza 500 kV substation, which is the system’s load center and is in close proximity of the City of Buenos Aires. Dispatch order was determined by plant efficiency and the marginal cost of providing energy. In determining the spot price, CAMMESA also would consider the different costs incurred by generators not in the vicinity of Buenos Aires.

In addition to energy payments for actual output at the prevailing spot market prices, generators would receive compensation for capacity placed at the disposal of the spot market, including stand-by capacity, additional stand-by capacity (for system capacity shortages) and ancillary services (such as frequency regulation and voltage control). Capacity payments were originally established and set in U.S. Dollars to allow generators to cover their foreign-denominated costs that were not covered by the spot price. However, in 2002, the Argentine Government set capacity payments in reference to the Peso thereby limiting the purpose for which capacity payments were established.

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Seasonal Prices

The emergency regulations also made significant changes to the seasonal prices charged to distributors in the WEM, including the implementation of a pricing ladder organized by level of user consumption (which varies depending on the category of users) charged by CAMMESA to distributors at a price significantly below the spot price charged by generators.

Prior to the implementation of the emergency regulations, seasonal prices were determined by CAMMESA based on an estimate of the weighted average spot price that would be paid by the next generator that would come on-line to satisfy a theoretical increase in demand (marginal cost), as well as the costs associated with the failure of the system and several other factors. CAMMESA would use a seasonal database and optimization models in determining the seasonal prices and would consider both anticipated energy supplies and demand, including, expected availability of generating capacity, committed imports and exports of electricity and the requirements of distributors and large users.

In November 2012, according to Resolution No. 2,016/12 of the former SE and in accordance with the Summer Seasonal Programming approved for the period from November 2012 to April 2013, the seasonal price format was modified, resulting in a single purchase price without considering segmentation by demand or by time and taking into account the demand structure in October 2012 as the base. Subsequently, the previous SE adopted Resolution No. 408/13, which maintained both the single price and the criteria for obtaining subsidies during the winter season.

During the 2014 winter season, Resolution No. 2,016/12 was applied without any price reduction, and residential users with consumption levels above 1,000 kWh did not receive a subsidy equivalent to that received in 2013.

On January 25, 2016, the ME&M issued Resolution No. 6/16, approving the seasonal prices of WEM for each user category, in accordance with the Electric Energy Regime, for the period from February 2016 to April 2016, effective until January 2017. These WEM prices resulted in the elimination of certain subsidies and a substantial increase in electricity tariffs for users. Such Resolution also included a differentiated tariff for residential users that achieved energy consumption savings of between 10% and 20% or higher than 20% with respect to the same period of 2015 (Plan Estímulo al Ahorro Energético), and a social tariff for residential users that met certain consumption requirements, which included a total exemption for monthly consumptions below or equal to 150 kWh and benefits in tariffs for users that exceeded such consumption level but achieved a monthly consumption lower than that of the same period of the immediately preceding year.

As of May 2016, the Company was notified by several judges of the Province of Buenos Aires regarding precautionary measures granted to individuals and user groups against Resolution No. 6/16 and Resolution No. 1/16 issued by the ENRE (which authorized the Company’s new tariff schedule as of February 2016). Consequently, the then applicable tariff schedule, which includes the WEM prices established by Resolution No. 6/16, was not applied during certain periods of 2016 to the entire concession area as a result of the measures issued in the previous case, and to the districts of Pilar and La Matanza, where the injunctions continued in force until October 24 and November 11, 2016, respectively, dates on which they expired. Therefore, as of such dates, there were no precautionary measures in force, and the new tariff schedule was applied to all users.

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On February 1, 2017, the SE published Resolution No. 20-E/17, whereby it approved the Summer Seasonal Programming for the WEM for the period from February 1, 2017 to April 30, 2017.

In this regard, the SE established the reference prices for electric energy for the different categories of users, which have been in force since March 1, 2017, and recognized a discount for such prices, exclusively for the month of February 2017. The SE also ratified the social tariff determined by Resolution No. 6/16, and included the category of users with a disease whose treatment indicates electro-dependence, which establishes total exemption in case of monthly consumptions lower or equal to 600 kWh and benefits in the tariff for those users who exceed such consumption level but achieve a monthly consumption lower than that of the same period of the immediately preceding year.

On December 1, 2017, in accordance with Resolution No. 1091/17 of the ME&M, the new stabilized price of energy and the reference price of power were defined. Additionally, the new stabilized price for transportation was established, which took greater relevance in the purchase price of energy.

On November 30, 2017, by Resolution No. 1085-E/17, the SE established a new methodology for the distribution of high voltage transportation costs, which will be distributed uniformly among the sum of energy demands of the WEM translating into a uniform tariff, distributing them among users in order to their demand.

On December 27, 2018, Resolution No. 366/18 issued by the SE approved the Summer Seasonal Programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, which determined the new prices for power, energy and transportation for the period from February 2019 to October 2019. Likewise, the social tariff and the bonuses for energy savings for the residential tariff were eliminated, due to the transfer of the beneficiaries to provincial jurisdiction. As of the date of this annual report, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires are in regular compliance with the payment of the social tariff.

On April 30, 2019, in accordance with its Resolution No. 104, the ENRE approved the values of our tariff chart as from May 1, 2019, including the new reference prices of power and the stabilized prices of energy determined by the Secretary of Renewable Resources and Electricity Market until October 31, 2019.

On December 21, 2019, the Argentine Executive Power enacted the Productive Reactivation Law, which authorized the Argentine Executive Power to initiate a renegotiation process of the tariff structure or to execute an extraordinary review for a maximum of 180 days, in order to reduce the actual tariff burden of private, commercial and industrial users by 2020.

On December 27, 2019, the ENRE ordered the Company not to apply the electricity tariff charts corresponding to January 1, 2020.

On December 16, 2020, by means of Decree No. 1020, the Argentine Executive Power extended until March 31, 2021 the freeze on electricity rates prescribed under the Productive Reactivation Law enacted in 2019. Such Law authorized the Argentine Executive Power to hold the pricing of electricity and natural gas tariffs under federal jurisdiction and to initiate a RTI renegotiation process. In addition, until a definitive renegotiation agreement is reached, the Law provides alternatively to enforce an interim renegotiation agreements containing a transitional tariff.

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On March 31, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 78/2021, the ENRE approved the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedule, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on April 1, 2021, based on the WEM’s winter seasonal programming. Such rate increase affected only GUDI customers and reflected the increase in the seasonal price passed through to rates without affecting revenues from the Company’s CPD.

 

On May 11, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 408/2021, the SE approved the definitive winter seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the May 1-October 31, 2021 period.

 

Additionally, on October 28, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 1029/2021, the SE approved the definitive summer seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the November 1, 2021-April 30, 2022 period.

 

On January 31, 2022, the SE issued Resolution 40/2022 approving the “Summer Quarterly Rescheduling” for the period February - April 2022. This increase affected GUDI customers which had an average increase of 15% and did not affect the Company’s own distribution cost revenues.

 

Also, on February 23, 2022, by means of Resolution 105/2022, the SE replaces Annex I of Resolution 40/2022 establishing an increase in the reference price of power and stabilized energy. Energy prices for non-residential demands and large users ≥ 300 kW (Public Bodies, Health/Education) went up 50% and 34% for residential demands.

 

In addition, Resolution 105/2022 established a new stabilized transportation price, which meant an increase of 28%.

 

Finally, in January 2022, the SE instructed the ENRE, within the framework of the call for a public hearing for tariff adjustments, to include in the purpose of such hearing the treatment of seasonal prices. As a result, and through Resolution SE No. 105/2022, the new seasonal prices were set effective as from March 1, 2022.

 

Stabilization Fund

The stabilization fund, managed by CAMMESA, absorbs the difference between purchases by distributors at seasonal prices and payments to generators for energy sales at the spot price. When the spot price is lower than the seasonal price, the stabilization fund increases, and when the spot price is higher than the seasonal price, the stabilization fund decreases. The outstanding balance of this fund at any given time reflects the accumulation of differences between the seasonal price and the hourly energy price in the spot market. The stabilization fund is required to maintain a minimum amount to cover payments to generators if prices in the spot market during any relevant quarter exceed the seasonal price.

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Billing of all WEM transactions is performed monthly through CAMMESA, which acts as the clearing agent for all purchases between participants in the market. Payments are made approximately 40 days after the end of each month.

The stabilization fund was adversely affected as a result of the modifications to the spot price and the seasonal price made by the emergency regulations, pursuant to which seasonal prices were set below spot prices resulting in large deficits in the stabilization fund. As of December 31, 2021, the stabilization fund balance was approximately Ps.25 billion, resulting from the stabilization fund plus the over expenses of dispatch net of the Argentine treasury contributions. However, if all the funds and accounts of energy and power are considered (including the additional energy, fuel over expenses, quality supply, surplus demand pursuant to Resolution No. 1,281/06 of the SE, WEM, over expense contracts, etc.), this balance decreases to approximately Ps. 60 billion. In this regard, the deficit of the WEM was financed by the National Government through non-refundable contributions from the Fondo Unificado (Unified Fund) administered by the SE to the stabilization fund administered by CAMMESA.

Term Market

Generators are able to enter into agreements in the term market to supply energy and capacity to distributors and large users. Distributors are able to purchase energy through agreements in the term market instead of purchasing energy in the spot market. Term agreements typically stipulate a price based on the spot price plus a margin. Prices in the term market have at times been lower than the seasonal price that distributors are required to pay in the spot market. However, as a result of the emergency regulations, spot prices in the term market are currently higher than seasonal prices, particularly with respect to residential tariffs, making it unattractive for distributors to purchase energy under term contracts while prices remain at their current levels.

As from March 2013, pursuant to the SE Resolution No. 95/13, all large users are required to purchase their backup energy from CAMMESA at any relevant contractual maturity date.

According to Law No. 27,191, users whose average demand in the previous year of each transaction, is less than or equal to 300 kW, must meet the applicable percentages of renewable energy participation imposed by such law through either of the following two mechanisms: joint purchases or supply contracts.

During 2017, pursuant to Resolution No 281-E/17 (amended by Disposition 1-E/18 issued by the Susbsecretaría de Energías Renovables) the ME&M created the Term Market Regime for Electric Power from Renewable Sources, which established the percentages of renewable energy that large users are obliged to consume within their demand of energy. The resolution also determined the commercialization and administration charges for large users that opt for the joint purchase of renewable energy that CAMMESA commercializes. Additionally, large users can agree to supply contracts directly with the generators, without incurring charges for joint purchases.

Plus Energy

In September 2006, the former SE issued Resolution No. 1,281/06 in an effort to respond to the sustained increase in energy demand following Argentina’s economic recovery after the crisis. This resolution seeks to create incentives for energy generation plants in order to meet increasing energy needs. The resolution’s principal objective is to ensure that energy available in the market is used primarily to service residential users and industrial and commercial users whose energy demand is at or below 300 kW and who do not have access to other viable energy alternatives. To achieve this, the resolution provides that:

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·

large users in the WEM and large users of distribution companies (in both cases whose energy demand is above 300 kilowatts), will be authorized to secure energy supply up to their “base demand” (equal to their demand in 2005) by entering into term contracts; and

·

large users in the WEM and large users of distribution companies (in both cases whose energy demand is above 300 kilowatts) must satisfy any consumption in excess of their base demand with energy from the Plus Energy system at unregulated market prices. The Plus Energy system consists in the supply of additional energy generation from new generation and/or generating agents, co-generators or auto-generators that are not agents of the electricity market or who as of the date of the resolution were not part of the WEM. Large users in the WEM and large users of distribution companies can also enter into contracts directly with these new generators or purchase energy at unregulated market prices through CAMMESA.

Only the new generation facilities (which include generators that were not connected to the SADI as of September 5, 2006) and new generation capacity expansions in respect of existing capacity as of such date are entitled to sell electricity under the Plus Energy system.

The resolution also established the price large users are required to pay for excess demand, if not previously contracted under Plus Energy, which is equal to the generation cost of the last generation unit transmitted to supply the incremental demand for electricity at any given time. The SE established certain temporary price caps to be paid by large users for any excess demand which as of the date of this annual report were Ps.550 per MWh for GUDIs and Ps.450 per MWh for GUMEs and GUMAs.

These prices have been updated as follows:

·

after August 2011, the median incremental charge for excess demand was set at Ps./MWh for GUMAs and GUMEs and 455 Ps./MWh for GUDIs;

·

after December 2011, the median incremental charge for excess demand for those who are not subsidized was set at 360 Ps./MWh;

·

pursuant to the former SE Resolution No. 95/13 from March 22, 2013, as opposed to the backup contracts where a unique energy supplier is authorized by CAMMESA, the Plus Energy contracts are available to the large users and generators previously authorized by the Argentine National Planning, Public Investment and Services Ministry. The users under the GUDI category, whose Energy Plus contracts mature, have the option of rehiring Energy Plus, reclassifying themselves under the GUME category; or continue buying the total amount of their energy from the distributors, paying in case needed. Base Surplus Demand pursuant to Resolution SE No. 1,281/06;

·

as of March 13, 2015, the median incremental charge for excess demand was set at Ps./MWh for GUMAs and GUMEs and 550 Ps./MWh for GUDIs;

·

based on the guidelines set forth in Resolution No. 6 of the ME&M, the median incremental charge for excess demand was set at 650 Ps./MWh for GUMAs and GUMES, while GUDIs stopped paying this charge; and

·

as of June 14, 2018, the median incremental charge for excess demand was set at 1,200 Ps./MWh for GUMAs and GUMEs and 0 Ps./MWh for GUDIs.

 

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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

On December 28, 2020, Pampa Energía S.A., the holder of 100% of edenor’s Class A shares, representing 51% of Edenor’s share capital, entered into a share purchase and sale agreement, as the seller, with Edelcos.

By virtue of such agreement, Pampa Energía S.A. agreed, subject to certain conditions precedent such as the approval of both its shareholders’ meeting and the ENRE, to sell control of edenor by transferring all the Class A Shares and votes in Edenor.

In this regard, on February 17, 2021, the Shareholders’ meeting of Pampa Energía approved the referred to Acquisition.

On June 23, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 207/2021, the ENRE authorized Pampa Energía S.A. to transfer all the Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes, to Edelcos in accordance with the SPA.

The transfer of all the Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes owned by Pampa Energía S.A., in favor of Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. was completed shortly afterwards on June 30, 2021.

Also, on July 7, 2021, Edelcos notified the National Commission for Competition Defense (CNDC), pursuant to the terms of Article 8 of Law 25,156, of the existence of the SPA for the Acquisition, requesting the approval of such commission. As of the date of this annual report, the CNCD has not issued any decision in this regard.

Within this context, after the aforementioned transfer, the Class A Directors tendered resignation; therefore, to fill the vacancies, the Company’s Supervisory Committee appointed Messrs. Neil A. Bleasdale (Chairman), Esteban Macek (Vice-Chairman); Nicolás Mallo Huergo, Eduardo Vila, Edgardo Volosin, Federico Zin and Mariano C. Lucero as Directors and Messrs. Hugo Quevedo, Mariano C. Libarona, Daniel O. Seppacuercia, Diego Hernán Pino, Sebastián Álvarez and María Teresa Grieco as Alternate Directors.

Finally, as required by the regulations in effect and within the time periods set forth therein, Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. will announce the launching of a mandatory Public Tender Offer to all the holders of Class B and Class C common shares issued by the Company, including the holders of ADS in respect of the underlying Class B common shares, in accordance with the provisions of General Resolution No. 779/2018 of the National Securities Commission.

As of the date of this annual report, Edenor is a subsidiary of Edelcos.

Edelcos is owned by South American Energy LLP, a UK-based company. Edelcos acquired a 51% of the capital stock and votes of Edenor on June 30, 2021, following the ENRE’s approval of the change in control of Edenor on June 29, 2021.

Edelcos’s strategy is to develop opportunities in the power generation, electricity distribution, new energy sources, electrification of the economy and transport, with an emphasis on energy transition and ESG matters.

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Edelcos believes that the pandemic has changed the lives of people whose households have become the center of their daily activities, including work, education and entertainment. Cities will also experiment changes in the near future, redesigning neighbourhoods and city centers with a smarter view, gaining more awareness about important issues such as climate change and social responsibility. Electricity is expected to be key to all these developments and a unique opportunity for the future, where universal energy access for the globalized world is one of the goals for 2030.

For more information, see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”

The following chart presents our corporate structure as of the date of this annual report:

		Class		Shares		Percent Ownership
Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur (EDELCOS)		A		462,292,111		51.00%
ANSES		B		242,999,553		26.81%
Public		B		168,076,412		18.54%
Treasury Shares		B		31,134,420		3.43%
Employee Stock Participation Program		C		1,952,604		0.22%
Total				906,455,100		100.00%

Property, plant and equipment

Our main properties are transmission lines, substations and distribution networks, all of which are located in the northwestern part of the greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area and in the northern part of the City of Buenos Aires. Substantially all of our properties are held in concession to provide the electricity distribution service, which, by its nature, is considered to be an essential public service. In accordance with Argentine law and court precedents, assets which are necessary for the rendering of an essential public service are not subject to attachment or attachment in aid of execution.

The net book value of our property, plant and equipment as recorded on our financial statements was Ps.195,374 million, Ps.188,478 million and Ps.208,061 million as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For a description of our capital expenditures plan, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Edenor’s Capital Expenditures.”

The total value of property, plant and equipment transferred by SEGBA on September 1, 1992 was allocated to individual assets accounts on the basis of engineering studies conducted by the Company. The value of property, plant and equipment was determined based on the price effectively paid for the acquisition of 51% of the Company’s capital stock from SEGBA. SEGBA neither prepared separate financial statements nor maintained financial information or records with respect to its distribution operations or the operations in which the assets transferred to Edenor were used. Accordingly, it was not possible to determine the historical cost of transferred assets. Additions subsequent to such date have been valued at acquisition cost, net of the related accumulated depreciation. Depreciation has been calculated by applying the straight-line method over the remaining useful life of the assets, which was determined on the basis of the above-mentioned engineering studies. Furthermore, in order to improve the disclosure of the account, the Company made certain changes in the classification of property, plant and equipment based on each technical process. In accordance with the provisions of IAS 23, borrowing costs in relation to any given asset are to be capitalized when such asset is in the process of production, construction, assembly or completion, and such processes, due to their nature, take long periods of time; those processes are not interrupted; the period of production, construction, assembly or completion does not exceed the technically required period; the necessary activities to put the asset in condition to be used or sold are not substantially complete; and the asset is not in condition so as to be used in the production or startup of other assets, depending on the purpose pursued with its production, construction, assembly or completion. Subsequent costs (major maintenance and reconstruction costs) are either included in the value of the assets or recognized as a separate asset, only if it is probable that the future benefits associated with the assets will flow to the Company, being it possible as well that the costs of the assets may be measured reliably and the investment will improve the condition of the asset beyond its original state. The other maintenance and repair expenses are recognized in profit or loss in the year in which they are incurred.

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The Company analyzes the recoverability of its long-lived assets on a periodical basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recoverable amount of the long-lived assets may be impaired. As from the enactment by the Argentine Government of new measures (see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Electricity Distribution Sector—The Argentine Government has intervened in the electricity sector in the past, and may continue intervening”), the projections made by the Company concerning the recoverability of its property, plant and equipment have been updated. The value in use is determined on the basis of projected and discounted cash flows, using discount rates that reflect the time value of money and the specific risks of the assets under consideration. Cash flows are prepared based on estimates concerning the future performance of certain variables that are sensitive to the determination of the recoverable amount, among which the following can be noted: (i) nature, timing, and form of the electricity rate increases and/or recognition of cost adjustments; (ii) demand for electricity projections; (iii) development of the costs to be incurred; (iv) investment needs to maintain the service quality levels required by the regulatory authority, and (v) macroeconomic variables, including, growth rate, inflation rates and foreign currency exchange rates, among others. The Company has made its projections under the assumption that in the next few years it will obtain the delayed electricity rate updates to which it is entitled in accordance with the applicable regulations, using a discount rate (“WACC”) in dollars. After having carried out the analysis of recoverability of long-lived assets, as of the date of these annual report, the Company has recorded no impairment of property, plant and equipment for the year 2021. As of December 31, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment of property, plant and equipment for Ps.17,396 million (Ps. 26,248 at the purchasing power of the currency at December 31, 2021).

 

The total value of property, plant and equipment suffered the effects of the application of IAS 29, as discussed in our audited financial statements, included in Item 18 of this annual report. The non-monetary items carried at historical cost were restated using coefficients that reflect the variation recorded in the general level of prices from the date of acquisition or revaluation to the closing date of the reporting period. Depreciation charges of property, plant and equipment and amortization charges of intangible assets recognized in profit or loss for the period, as well as any other consumption of non-monetary assets were determined on the basis of the new restated amounts. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations—Tariffs—Distribution Margin or Value-Added for Distribution (VAD)” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations—Tariffs—Integral Tariff Revision.”

Termination of agreement on real estate property

In November 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with RDSA for the purchase and construction of real state property for a total of U.S.$46 million (equivalent to Ps.439.3 million according to the effective exchange rate at the time of execution of the purschase agreement. The Company intended to purchase the real estate property to centralize its functions, reduce rental consts and to mitigate the risk of potential rent increases).

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Pursuant to the agreement, RDSA was obligated to deliver the property on June 1, 2018, and failed to perform. As a result, the Company declared RDSA in breach.

With regard to the U.S.$1 million receivable resulting from a settlement agreement with the insurance company Aseguradora de Cauciones S.A., the Company has received to date the payment of U.S.$720,000. The balance of U.S.$280,000 will be collected in accordance with a new payment schedule to be agreed upon between the Company and the insurance company. At the date of this annual report, such payment schedule is under negotiated.

RDSA has commenced reorganization proceedings, where the Company has filed ancillary proceedings for review of the amount declared inadmissible, relating to the contractually agreed-upon penalty clause. The ancillary proceedings for review have been rejected by the Court, decision which the Company has appealed to the Court of Appeals in Commercial Matters, where resolution is pending. Due to the pandemic declared by the WHO on March 11, 2020 and the mandatory and preventive social isolation orders adopetd in Argentina, including extensions, the originally set procedural time limits have been postponed, with the exclusivity period in order for the reorganization debtor to propose one or more reorganization plans and obtain the consent required by law for the confirmation of the eventual agreement being currently underway.

As a result of the assessment of different alternatives aimed at the recovery of the referred claim, on January 18, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors accepted the “Offer for the Assignment of the Claim in Litigation” made by Creaurban S.A., pursuant to which Edenor assigned and transfered the claim, on the terms of Section 1,614 and subsequent sections of the Argentine Civil and Commercial Code.

By virtue of the assignment, Creaurban S.A. assumed the consequences and results deriving from the reorganization proceedings, the claim in litigation and/or any other action or arrangement deriving from the collection claim; whereas the Company agreed to immediately give Creaurban S.A., with no deductions whatsoever, any amount or assets received on account of the referred to claim.

The assignment of the claim was agreed for an amount of: (i) Ps. 400 million, which was paid by Creaurban S.A. on January 27, 2021; plus (ii) an additional contingent price determined in meters that will represent 30% of the square meters to which the holder of the claim would be entitled if an internal rate of return of at least 15% per annum after taxes had been applied to the new tower project, after having deducted the new tower’s development and construction costs and the commitments of the trust and the repayment of the mortgage loan with Banco Patagonia S.A. To be valid, the assignment was subject to the acceptance by Banco Comafi S.A. of an offer under similar terms and conditions which were satisfied on January 19, 2021, with the offer of assignment thus becoming accepted by Edenor.

As of December 31, 2021, a gain has been recognized on recovery of allowance for Ps. 580, which is disclosed in Other finance income (costs), resulting from Edenor’s acceptance of the aforementioned offer.

Item 4A.

Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

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Item 5.

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, included in Item 18 of this annual report. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB.

In the last few fiscal years, the Company recorded negative working capital and operating losses. This situation is due mainly to the suspension of the electricity rate adjustment since February 2019, in spite of the constant increase of the operating costs and the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining the quality of the service, in an inflationary context in which the Argentine economy has been since mid-2018.

 

Additionally, this situation was exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a severe social, economic and financial impact. Most of the world’s countries implemented exceptional actions, which had an immediate effect on their economies, as rapidly evidenced by the falls recorded in production and activity indicators. The governments’ immediate response to these consequences was the implementation of tax aids to sustain their citizens’ income and thereby reduce the risk of a breakdown in the chain of payments, with the aim of avoiding an economic and financial crisis.

 

With regard to the Company, in 2021 and the first months of the year 2022, the values of the electricity rate schedules suffered changes that, except for the provisions of ENRE Resolutions No. 107/2021 and 76/2022 dated April 30, 2021 and February 25, 2022, respectively, implied only the passing through of the seasonal prices not an improvement of revenues from the Company’s CPD, which are still insufficient to cover our economic and financial needs in a context of growing annual inflation, with the annual rate surpassing 50%. Nevertheless, and in spite of the aforementioned context with constant increases in operating costs, the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining and even improving the quality of the service, have been made.

 

Although in 2021 the economic activity showed a recovery after the effect caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020, the country’s macroeconomic situation with the increase in the rate of inflation, the widening of the gap between the official dollar exchange rate and the dollar exchange rate quoted in the informal market, and the consequences of the agreement with the IMF make it difficult to envisage a clear-cut trend of the economy in the short term.

 

This complex and vulnerable economic context was aggravated by the currency restrictions imposed by the BCRA pursuant to which the BCRA’s prior authorization is required for certain transactions, such as the Company’s transactions associated with the payment of imports of goods that are necessary for the provision of the service, and the payments to service financial debt. These currency restrictions, or those to be implemented in the future, could affect the Company’s ability to access the MLC in order to acquire the foreign currency necessary to face its operating and financial obligations.

 

As a consequence, the Company witnessed an even greater deterioration of the economic and financial equation due to the tariff freeze, the impossibility of taking legal action to enforce payment of debts for electricity consumed but not paid, and the increase in costs on the Company’s operating structure and supplies. Therefore, it became necessary to partially postpone payments to CAMMESA for energy purchased in the WEM as from the maturities taking place in March 2020, payment obligations which have been partially regularized, but as of December 31, 2021, we accumulate a past due principal balance of Ps. 26,259 million, plus interest and charges for Ps. 23,880 million.

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However, in general terms, the quality of the electricity distribution service has been significantly improved, both in duration and frequency of power cuts. In view of the continuous increase of the costs associated with the provision of the service, as well as the need for additional investments to meet the demand, the Company is analyzing different measures aimed at mitigating the negative effects of this situation on its financial structure, minimizing the impact on the sources of employment, the execution of the investment plan, and the carrying out of the essential operation, maintenance and improvement-related works that are necessary to maintain the provision of the public service, object of the concession, in a satisfactory manner in terms of quality and safety.

 

Accordingly, the Board of Directors understands that material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt about Edenor’s ability to continue as a going concern, which may result in the Company’s being obliged to defer certain payment obligations or unable to meet expectations for salary increases or the increases recorded in third-party costs.

 

Nevertheless, these financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern and do not include the adjustments or reclassifications that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties, inasmuch as the Company has historically been provided with transitional solutions that have made it possible to partially restore the economic and financial equation and ensure the operation of the distribution networks.

Public Health situation

While 2020 was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, generating a high social, economic and financial impact, 2021 was a year of economic recovery thanks to the rapid distribution and application of vaccines throughout the world, which allowed a return to a certain normality in terms of activity.

During 2021, the Argentine Government carried out an important vaccination campaign in Argentina in order to control the spread of the desease, which allowed for strong rebound in economic activity during the year. As a consequence of the pandemic, during most of the year 2021, the commercial offices remained closed and the personnel, in “home office” mode, carried out various tasks related to customer service. On September 20, 2021, our commercial offices reopened, only with attention through shifts requested at www.edenor.com. For this purpose, we worked on adapting the commercial offices to the protocols within the context of the pandemic to ensure the safety of employees and customers.

 

Overview of IAS 29

Pursuant to IAS 29, the financial statements of an entity whose functional currency is that of a highly inflationary economy should be measured in terms of the measuring unit current as of the date of the financial statements. All the amounts included in the statement of financial position which are not stated in terms of the measuring unit current as of the date of the financial statements should be adjusted applying the general price index. All items in the statement of income should be stated in terms of the measuring unit current as of the date of the financial statements, applying the changes in the general price index from the date on which the revenues and expenses were originally recognized in the financial statements.

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Adjustment for inflation has been calculated considering the indexes reported by the FACPCE based on the price indexes published by the INDEC.

The principal inflation adjustment procedures are the following:

·

Monetary assets and liabilities that are recorded in the current currency as of the statement of financial position’s closing date are not restated because they are already stated in terms of the currency unit current as of the date of the financial statements.

·

Non-monetary items carried at historical cost or at the current value of a date prior to the end of the reporting year are restated using coefficients that reflect the variation recorded in the general level of prices from the date of acquisition or revaluation to the closing date of the reporting year. Depreciation charges of property, plant and equipment and amortization charges of intangible assets recognized in profit or loss for the year, as well as any other consumption of non-monetary assets will be determined on the basis of the new restated amounts.

·

The restatement of non-monetary assets in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting year without an equivalent adjustment for tax purposes, gives rise to a taxable temporary difference and to the recognition of a deferred tax liability, whose contra-account is recognized.

·

Income and expenses are restated from the date when they were recorded, except for those profit or loss items that reflect or include in their determination the consumption of assets carried at the purchasing power of the currency as of a date prior to the recording of the consumption, which are restated based on the date when the asset to which the item is related originated (for example, depreciation, impairment and otherconsumptions of assets valued at historical cost).

·

The net gain from the maintenance of monetary assets and liabilities is presented in a line item separately from the profit or loss for the year, called RECPAM.

·

Comparative figures have been adjusted for inflation following the procedure explained in the previous paragraphs, as established in IAS 29.

Upon initially applying inflation adjustment, the equity accounts were restated as follows:

·

The components of equity, except for reserved earnings and unappropriated retained earnings, have been restated from the dates on which they were contributed, or on which they were otherwise set up.

 

·

The restated unappropriated retained earnings were determined by the difference between net assets restated at the date of transition and the other components of opening equity expressed as indicated in the preceding headings.

 

·

After the restatement at the date indicated above, all components of equity are restated by applying the general price index from the beginning of the year, and each variation of those components is restated from the date of contribution or the date.

 

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Operating Results

We distribute electricity on an exclusive basis to the northwestern part of the greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area and the northern part of the City of Buenos Aires, comprising an area of 4,637 square kilometers, with an aggregate population of approximately eight million people. As of December 31, 2021, we had 3,229,146 users.

We serve two markets: the regulated market, which comprises users who are unable to purchase their electricity requirements directly through the WEM, and the unregulated market, which comprises large users that purchase their electricity requirements directly from generators in the WEM. The ENRE regulates the terms and conditions of our services and the tariffs we charge users in both the regulated and unregulated markets.

Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

Our net sales consist mainly of net energy sales to users in our concession area. Our net energy sales reflect the tariffs we charge our users (which include our energy purchase costs). In addition, our net sales include connection and reconnection charges and leases of poles and other network equipment.

Regulatory changes impact our results of operations as we are paid tariffs for our services. The following ENRE resolutions, among others, have a direct impact on the tariffs we charge:

·

On December 16, 2020, by means of Decree No. 1020/20, the Argentine Executive Power provided for the commencement of the RTI renegotiation process, which may not exceed two years, suspending the agreements relating to the RTI in effect, with the scope to be determined in each case by the regulatory authorities. Interim renegotiation agreements may be entered into, which modify to a limited extent the particular conditions of the tariff review imposing a transitional tariff system until a definitive renegotiation agreement is reached. The freeze on electricity rates was extended until March 31, 2021, or until the new transitional electricity rate schedules resulting from the transitional tariff system come into effect, whichever occurs first. On April 30, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 107/2021, and in the framework of the transitional tariff system, the ENRE authorized the application of a new electricity rate schedule, effective as from May 1, 2021, with a 9% increase, implying a CPD adjustment of 20.9%. In the context of the transitional tariff regime, on February 25, 2022, the ENRE, through Resolution No. 76/2022 applied the new tariff schedules effective as of March 1, 2022, incorporating the new seasonal prices set forth by Resolution SE No. 105 of the SE, which established an average increase for carriers of 20% and an increase in CPD of 8% for Edenor. Additionally, through Decree No. 871/2021, the intervention of the ENRE was extended until December 31, 2022.

 

·

On January 19, 2021, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 16/2021, providing for the commencement of the transitional tariff adjustment procedure, with the aim of setting a transitional tariff system until a definitive renegotiation agreement is reached, and inviting Edenor to participate in it. To that end, the regulatory authority requested as a first measure that it be provided with certain financial information as well as with information about the 2021-2022 investment plan, on the basis of the investment plan set forth in the 2017 RTI.

 

·

On March 3, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 53/2021, the ENRE called a public hearing held on March 30, 2021 to inform and listen to opinions about the interim tariff system to be applied to distributors, Edesur and Edenor.

 

106

·

On March 30, 2021, the ENRE held a public hearing, with the main goal of determining a transitional rate schedule for electricity distribution until the next RTI. The president and CEO of the Company at that moment, Ricardo Torres, explained the need of funds required to maintain and continue the improvement in the quality of electricity distribution services. Additionally he explained the financial situation of the Company; the investments that had been made to satisfy demand and the improvement in the provision of the services; and proposed a rate schedule structure that allowed for better control by customers.

 

·

On March 31, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 78/2021, the ENRE approved the values for the Company’s electricity rate schedule, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on April 1, 2021, based on the WEM’s winter seasonal programming. Such rate increase affected only GUDI customers and reflected the increase of the seasonal price passed through to rates without affecting revenues from the Company’s CPD.

 

·

On April 30, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 107/2021, and in the context of the transitional tariff system, the ENRE authorized the application of a new electricity rate schedule, effective as from May 1, 2021, representing a 9% increase. In view of the fact that such increase did not cover the increase requested by Edenor, on June 15, 2021, an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) was filed against such resolution.

 

·

On May 11, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 408/2021, the SE approved the definitive winter seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the May 1-October 31, 2021 period.

 

·

On October 28, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 1029/2021, the SE approved the definitive summer seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the November 1, 2021-April 30, 2022 period. Furthermore, the Power Reference Prices (PRP) and the Stabilized Price of Energy (SPE) set by SE Resolution No. 748/2021 dated August 3, 2021 were applied to the aforementioned period. The “unsubsidized” PRP and SPE have to be included by distribution companies in the bills, noting the related subsidy amount as a separate item.

 

·

On November 19, 2021, by means of ENRE Resolution No. 487/2021, distribution companies were instructed to determine as from November 1, 2021 the related subsidy amount, which has to be clearly identified as “Subsidy from the Federal Government” in the part of the bill that contains the information addressed to the user. Additionally, by means of Resolution No. 491/2021, the ENRE approved the Injection Rates for User-Generators of the concession areas of distribution companies, effective from August 1, 2021.

 

·

On August 10, 2021, by means of Resolutions Nos. 262 and 265/2021, the ENRE approved an increase for large users whose power consumption is equal to or greater than 300 kW, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on August 1, 2021. Both resolutions were appealed to the SE by Edenor because the values of the electricity rate schedule in effect provided by the ENRE did not take into consideration ex-post adjustments, the recognition of taxes and fees, the pass-through differences arising from non-transferred increases in the seasonal price, or the pending adjustments of the Company’s CPD. Moreover, neither the transitional system to supplement the required revenue, as provided for by Executive Order No. 1020/2021, nor the differences resulting from a lower than expected demand, requested by Edenor, had been established. Both appeals are in process at the closing date of these annual report.

 

107

·

On September 27, 2021, ENRE Resolution No. 323/2021, set the definitive annual control fee for 2021 to be paid by the WEM’s generation, transmission and distribution agents, and provided that final payment thereof would become due during the month of October 2021.

 

·

On February 17, 2022, by means of Resolution No. 25/2022, the ENRE called for a public hearing to be held to hear opinions on the following: (i) the treatment for the determination of power PRP and SPE in the WEM; and (ii) the distribution companies’ proposals aimed at obtaining a transitional adjustment of rates, with such public hearing to be held within the RTI renegotiation process and prior to defining the electricity rates to be applied by concession holders.

 

·

On February 3, 2022, by means of Resolution No. 41/2022, the ENRE approved the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedules effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on February 1, 2022, applying to the aforementioned period the PRP and the SPE set by SE Resolution No. 40/2022.

 

·

In the context of the transitional tariff regime, on February 25, 2022, the ENRE, through Resolution No. 76/2022 applied the new tariff schedules effective as of March 1, 2022, incorporating the new seasonal prices set forth by Resolution SE No. 105/2022 of the SE, which established an average increasd for carriers of 20% and an increase in CPD of 8% for Edenor.

 

The main consequence of the lack of recognition of additional revenue to face increasing costs as described in the preceding sections has been Edenor’s inability to comply, in due time and in proper form, with payments to CAMMESA for energy purchases in the WEM. If, in the future, we are not able to recover the incremental cost increases and have them reflected in our tariffs, and/or there is a significant lag of time between when we incur the incremental costs and when we receive increased income, we may be unable to comply with our financial and commercial obligations, suffer liquidity shortfalls and need to restructure our debt to ease our financial condition, any of which, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations and may cause the value of our ADSs to decline. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Factors Affecting our Results of Operations—Tariffs” and “Item 3. Key Information—Risk factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Failure or delay to negotiate further improvements to our tariff structure, including increases in our distribution margin, and/or to have our tariffs adjusted to reflect increases in our distribution costs in a timely manner or at all, affected and may continue to affect our capacity to perform our commercial obligations and could also have a material adverse effect on our ability to perform our financial obligations.”

The following table sets forth the composition of our net sales (stated in millions of Pesos in constant currency) for the periods indicated:

		Year ended  December 31
		2021		2020		2019
Sales of Electricity		112,725		137,066		183,977
Right of use of poles		702		635		582
Connection Charges and reconnection charges		73		81		180
Net sales		113,500		137,782		184,739

 

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The following tables show Edenor’s energy sales by category of user (in GWh) for the periods indicated:

		Year ended December 31,
		2021			2020			2019
Residential		9,868	45%		9,315	46%		8,372	43%
Small Commercial		1,839	8%		1,609	8%		1,692	9%
Medium Commercial		1,448	7%		1,341	7%		1,549	8%
Industrial		3,492	16%		3,210	16%		3,503	18%
Wheeling System(1)		3,703	17%		3,364	17%		3,569	18%
Public Lighting		665	3%		676	3%		713	4%
Shantytowns		695	3%		664	3%		48	0%
Total		21,710	100%		20,179	100%		19,446	100%

 

 

(1)

Wheeling charges represent our tariffs for generators and large users, which consist of a fixed charge for recognized technical losses and a charge for our distribution margins but exclude charges for electric power purchases, which are undertaken directly between generators and large users.

 

Our revenues and results of operations are principally affected by economic conditions in Argentina, changes in our regulated tariffs and fluctuations in demand for electricity within our service area. To a lesser extent, our revenues and results of operations are also affected by service interruptions or reductions in excess of those contemplated by Resolution No. 63/17, which may lead us to incur fines and penalties imposed by the ENRE.

Argentine Economic Conditions and Inflation

Because all of our operations, facilities and users are located in Argentina, we are affected by general economic conditions in the country. In particular, the general performance of the Argentine economy affects the demand for electricity, and inflation and fluctuations in currency exchange rates which, in turn, affect our costs and our margins. Inflation primarily affects our business by increasing operating costs, while reducing our revenues in real terms.

In December 2001, Argentina experienced an unprecedented crisis that virtually paralyzed the country’s economy through most of 2002 and led to radical changes in the Argentine Government’s policies. The crisis and the Argentine Government’s policies during this period severely affected the electricity sector, as described below. Although the Argentine economy recovered significantly from the crisis over the following years, and the business and political environment was largely stabilized, the Argentine Government has only recently begun to address the difficulties experienced by the Argentine electricity sector as a result of the crisis and its aftermath.

2001 Economic Crisis

Beginning in December 2001, the Argentine Government implemented an unexpected number of monetary and foreign exchange controls measures that included restrictions on the free disposition of funds deposited with banks and on the transfer of funds abroad without prior approval by the Central Bank, some of which are still in effect. On December 21, 2001, the Central Bank decided to close the foreign exchange market, which amounted to a de facto depreciation of the Peso. On December 24, 2001, the Argentine Government suspended payment on most of Argentina’s foreign debt.

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The economic crisis led to an unprecedented social and political crisis, including the resignation of President Fernando De la Rúa and his entire administration in December 2001. After a series of interim Governments, in January 2002 the Argentine congress appointed Senator Eduardo Duhalde, a former vice-president and former governor of the Province of Buenos Aires, to complete De la Rúa’s term through December 2003.

On January 6, 2002, the Argentine congress enacted the Public Emergency Law, which introduced dramatic changes to Argentina’s economic model, empowered the Argentine Government to implement, among other things, additional monetary, financial and foreign exchange measures to overcome the economic crisis in the short term and brought to an end the Convertibility Regime, including the fixed parity of the U.S. Dollar and the Peso. Following the adoption of the Public Emergency Law, the Peso devalued dramatically, reaching its lowest level on June 25, 2002, at which time it had devalued from Ps.1.00 to Ps.3.90 per U.S. Dollar according to Banco Nación. The depreciation of the Peso had a substantial negative effect on the Argentine economy and on the financial condition of individuals and businesses. The depreciation caused many Argentine businesses (including us) to default on their foreign currency debt obligations, significantly reduced real wages and crippled businesses that depended on domestic demand, such as public utilities and the financial services industry. The depreciation of the Peso created pressure on the domestic pricing system and triggered very high rates of inflation. According to INDEC, during 2002 the Argentine WPI increased by approximately 118% and the Argentine CPI rose approximately 41%.

Following the adoption of the Public Emergency Law, the Argentine Government implemented measures, whether by executive Decree, Central Bank regulation or Argentine legislation, attempting to address the effects of the collapse of the Convertibility Regime, recover access to financial markets, reduce Government spending, restore liquidity to the financial system, reduce unemployment and generally stimulate the economy.

Pursuant to the Public Emergency Law, the Argentine Government, among other measures:

·

converted public utility tariffs from their original U.S. Dollar values to Pesos at a rate of Ps.1.00 per U.S.$1.00;

·

froze all regulated distribution margins relating to the provision of public utility services (including electricity distribution services);

·

revoked all price adjustment provisions and inflation indexation mechanisms in public utility concessions (including our concession); and

·

empowered the Argentine Executive Branch to conduct a renegotiation of public utility contracts (including our concession) and the tariffs set therein (including our tariffs).

These measures, combined with the depreciation of the Peso and high rates of inflation, had a severe effect on public utility companies in Argentina (including us). Because public utility companies were no longer able to increase tariffs at a rate consistent with the increased costs they were incurring, increases in the rate of inflation led to decreases in their revenues in real terms and a deterioration of their operating performance and financial condition. Most public utility companies had also incurred large amounts of foreign currency indebtedness to finance the capital improvement and expenditure programs. At the time of these privatizations, the capital structures of each privatized company were determined taking into account the Convertibility Regime and included material levels of U.S. Dollar-denominated debt. Following the elimination of the Convertibility Regime and the resulting depreciation of the Peso, the debt service burden of these utility companies significantly increased, which when combined with the margin freeze and conversion of tariffs from U.S. Dollars to Pesos, led many of these utility companies (including us) to suspend payments on their foreign currency debt in 2002.

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Economic Performance and Outlook

Economic Activity

In accordance with the latest available data, as of December 31, 2021, the economic activity recorded a cumulative rise of 10.3% as compared to the same period of the previous year, due mainly to the normalization of the economic activity after an atypical 2020 severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Private consumption, public consumption, and investment increased by 10.2%, 7.8% and 32.9%, respectively. Those hikes were partially offset by net imports, in contrast to net exports of 2020, due mainly to the recovery of the economy throughout 2021.

The expansion in the activity reached 15 of the 16 economic sectors, with community, social and personal-related services being the most benefited sector, along with construction (27.1%), fishing (16.5%), manufacturing industry (15.8%), and wholesale and retail trade and repairs (13.2%).

Price Trends

With regard to the development of prices, in 2021, the Consumer Price Index published by the INDEC showed a variation of 50.9%. The most significant variations were recorded in the restaurants and hotels (65.4%), clothing and footwear (64.6%), and transport (57.6%) categories. The categories affected to a lesser extent were housing, water, electricity and other fuels (28.3%), communications (35.8%), and miscellaneous goods and services (38.8%). As for wages, measured by the Average Taxable Remuneration of Stable Workers (Remuneración Imponible Promedio de los Trabajadores Estables - RIPTE) record, they recorded a year-on-year increase of 53.4% at December 2021, compared to the same month of 2020.

Trade Balance

With regard to foreign trade, and according to the INDEC’s latest available data for the year, the cumulative current account surplus as of the third quarter of 2021 reached U.S.$6.3 billion. This is mainly explained by the trade balance surplus, in which Free on Board value exports totaled U.S.$71.3 billion, whereas the Cost, Insurance and Freight value of imports was USD 56.9 billion in the first eleven months of the year. The increase in exports as compared to the same period of the previous year was due to the recovery of industrial manufacturing exports, which grew by 50.1%, the exports of fuel and energy, which increased by 44.9%, the increases in agricultural manufacturing exports by 38.4% and in primary exports by 29.7%. As for imports, the expansion compared to the same period of 2020 is explained by recoveries in the following categories: fuel and lubricants (105.7%), parts and accessories for capital goods (58.2%), capital goods (37.2%), consumer goods (18.4%), and automotive (9.1%).

Fiscal Situation

At December 2021, the Non-Financial Public Sector’s fiscal accounts recorded a cumulative primary and total deficit of 3.0% and 4.5% of GDP, respectively. The total annual variation of tax revenues, measured in Argentine pesos according to the figures published by the Federal Administration of Public Revenues (AFIP), closed with a year-on-year increase of 65.9%. Additionally, primary expenditure recorded in 2021 by the National Treasury showed a year-on-year variation of 45.9%.

With regard to the financial situation, the US dollar wholesale rate of exchange according to Communication A3500 of the BCRA at December 31, 2021 was Ps.102.75/U.S.$1, recording a cumulative increase of 22.11% as compared to the end of 2020 and a year-on-year average variation of 23.30%. The BCRA’s international reserves at the end of the year totaled U.S.$39.59 billion, down by U.S.$195 million compared to the level reached in the previous year. As for the monetary base, it amounted to Ps.3,923 billion at the end of 2021, reflecting a 47.9% increase compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the BCRA’s stock of debt on account of bills issued totaled at the end of the third quarter of 2021 Ps.4,751,950 million, showing a year-on-year increase of 67.1%.

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Tariffs

Our revenues and margins are substantially dependent on the composition of our tariffs and on the tariff setting and adjustment process contemplated by our concession.

The following chart shows the variation in Edenor’s average tariffs, including taxes, in Pesos per MWh for the periods indicated:

Under the terms of our concession, our tariffs for all of our users (other than users in the wheeling system) are composed of:

§

the cost of electric power purchases, which we pass on to our users, and a fixed charge (which varies depending on the category and level of consumption of each user and their energy purchase prices) to cover a portion of our energy losses in our distribution activities (determined by reference to a fixed percentage of energy and power capacity for each respective voltage level set forth in our concession);

§

our regulated distribution margin, which is known as VAD or CPD; and

§

any taxes imposed by the Province of Buenos Aires or the City of Buenos Aires, which may differ in each jurisdiction.

Certain of our large users (which we refer to as wheeling system users) are eligible to purchase their energy needs directly from generators in the WEM and only acquire from us the service of electricity delivery. Therefore, our tariffs for these large users (known as wheeling charges) do not include charges for energy purchases. Accordingly, wheeling charges consist of the fixed charge for recognized losses (determined by reference to a fixed percentage of energy and power capacity for each respective voltage level set forth in our concession) and our distribution margin. As a result, although the amounts billed to wheeling system users are relatively lower than those billed to other large users, namely industrial users, the distribution margin on sales to wheeling system users is similar to that of other large users because we do not incur the corresponding cost of electric power purchases related to those sales.

112

Recognition of Cost of Electric Power Purchases

As part of our tariffs, we bill our users for the costs of our electric power purchases, which include energy and capacity charges. In general, we purchase electric power at a seasonal price, which is approved by the ENRE every six months and reviewed quarterly. Our electric power purchase price reflects transportation costs and certain other regulatory charges (such as the charges imposed by the Fondo Nacional de Energía Eléctrica or the National Electricity Energy Fund).

On January 25, 2016, the ME&M issued Resolution No. 6/16, approving the seasonal WEM prices for each category of users for the period from February 2016 through April 2016. Such resolution adjusted the seasonal prices as required by the regulatory framework. Energy prices in the spot market were set by CAMMESA, which determined the price to be charged by generators for energy sold in the spot market of the WEM on an hourly basis. The WEM prices result in the elimination of certain energy subsidies and a substantial increase in electricity rates for individuals. Resolution No. 6/16 introduced different prices depending on the categories of users. Such resolution also contemplated a social tariff for residential users who comply with certain consumption requirements, which included a full exemption for monthly consumptions below or equal to 150 KWh and tariffs benefits for users who exceed such consumption level but achieve a monthly consumption lower than that of the same period in the immediately preceding year.

 

Resolution No. 20 – E/17 incorporated a new category of consumer denominated “electricity-dependent user”. An electricity dependent user is a person who registers an extraordinary consumption of electrical energy due to special equipment and / or infrastructure for a disease diagnosed by a physician or a stable and permanent electrical service to address medical needs within their home. The resolution established the provision of 600 KWh per month free of charge and an electricity reference price that varies according to the level of savings and demands registered compared to the previous month.

 

In May 2017, Law No. 27,351 was enacted, which guarantees the permanent and free of charge supply of electricity to those individuals who qualify as dependent on power for reasons of health to avoid risks in their lives or health. The law states that the account holder of the service or someone who lives with a person that is registered at the “Registry of Electricity Dependent for Reasons of Health” will be exempt from the payment of any and all connection fees and will benefit from a special free of charge tariff treatment for the electric power supply service.

 

In July 2017, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 292 stating that those discounts are to be made as from the effective date of the aforementioned law, and instructed CAMMESA to implement those discounts in its billing to the distribution companies.

 

On October 31, 2017, the ENRE informed pursuant to Note No. 128,399, through the proceedings carried out by the ME&M, the decision to postpone the application of the CPD increase in the RTI for November 1, 2017 to December 1, 2017, as well as the application of the CPD update which was made in August 2017.

 

113

Due to the deferring of the CPD increases, the ENRE notified a new tariff schedule to be applied in the December 2017- January 2018 period pursuant to Resolution No. 603/17, which was offset due to a retroactive adjustment, CPD’s updates that were not granted and the previously mentioned application.

 

In addition, such tariff schedule included the modification of seasonal prices, costs of transport and saving billings and bonuses according to the incentive plan established pursuant to SEE Resolution No. 1091/17. The savings billing of the incentive plan was modified, by establishing a 10% discount to the stabilized energy price for those residential users who reduce the consumption in at least a 20% compared to the consumption registered on the same month in 2015, having removed saving categories between 10% and 20%. Moreover, a new application methodology for the social tariff was introduced.

 

On January 31, 2018, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 33/18, whereby it approved the CPD values for July 2017 through December 2017, of which 11.99%, was applied to the 48 monthly installment established in the ENRE Resolution No. 329/17 that had been deferred in 2017, and the electricity rate schedule to be applied to consumption as of February 1, 2018 became effective. In addition, such resolution notified the average electricity rate value, which amounted to Ps.2.4627/KWh.

 

On July 31, 2018, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 208/18, pursuant to which it approved, the CPD for January 2018 through June 2018, of which 7.93% was applied as of August 1, 2018, and 6.51% in six consecutive monthly installments as of February 1, 2019. The CPD amounted to 15.85%. Moreover, Resolution No. 208/18 established a system of caps for the social tariff as well as the values that the Company had to apply to determine and credit discounts in the electricity bills of the users affected by deficiencies in the quality of the technical product and/or the quality of the technical and commercial service from 2018 to February 2019. Additionally, the modified average electricity rate value reached to Ps.2.9871/KWh.

 

On December 27, 2018, the SE issued Resolution No. 366/18, pursuant to which approved the summer seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, thus determining new prices for power capacity, energy and transmission from February 2019 to October 2019. Furthermore, the social tariff and savings bonuses for the residential tariff were eliminated, as beneficiaries have been transferred to the provincial jurisdictions, which will bear their cost and implementation.

 

On January 31, 2019, ENRE issued Resolution No. 25 which approved the values of Edenor’s tariff scheme as from February 1, 2019, incorporated the new power capacity reference prices and stabilized prices for energy determined by the SE until April 30, 2019. In turn, the ENRE informed that under the transfer of jurisdiction from the Argentine Government to the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires, the guidelines for the social tariff regime effective as of December 31, 2018 will remain in effect. As of the date of this annual report, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires are complying with the payment of the social tariff regularly.

 

Moreover, on January 31, 2019, pursuant to Resolution No. 27/19, the ENRE approved the VAD updates for the second six-month period of 2018 and the pending update corresponding to the first six-month period of 2019, totaling a 32.0% increase applicable as from March 1, 2019. Additionally, the application of the new -1.59% “E”-factor adjustment will be deducted from cumulative inflation updates.

 

Furthermore, the cost of deferrals for August 2018 through February 2019 and for the month of February 2019, totaled Ps.1,005 million and Ps.841 million, respectively, and will be paid in 5 installments from March 2019. Additionally, Ps.51 million will be collected under the same method due to the partial recognition of the appeal filed by Edenor to Resolution No. 208/18, which acknowledged additional costs that had not been calculated as part of prior tariffs.

114

 

On April 30, 2019, the Resolution SRRYME No. 14/19 was published, approving the final winter programming for the WEM raised by CAMMESA, corresponding to the period from May 1 to July 31, 2019, and the corresponding one for the period from August 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. This resolution divided the general distributor demand between residential and non-residential, and maintained the category of Large Distributor Users at 300 kW and modified the PRP and the SPE relating to the May 1-October 31, 2019 period. For residential customers, seasonal prices remained unchanged for both quarters.

 

Subsequently, as from May 1, 2019, pursuant to Resolution ENRE No. 104/2019, a new tariff table was established, taking into account the seasonal prices set forth by Resolution SRRYME No. 14/19, for the quarter from May 1 to July 31, 2019, with increases only generated by new seasonal energy prices for all non-residential customers.

 

On September 19, 2019, the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement was entered into between the Federal Government and the Company – the following points were defined at the tariff level:

 

·

The CPD with the six-monthly update to be implemented from August 1, 2019, would become effective on January 1, 2020. The difference in the CPD between the CPD applied on August 1, 2019 and the one applied on January 1, 2020 (for the period August 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019) would be recovered in 7 monthly and consecutive installments from January 1, 2020 and adjusted according to the appropriate CPD setting.

 

·

The updating of the tariff table with respect to seasonal energy prices took place as from January 1, 2020. In addition, the difference between the seasonal prices in force between August 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, and the seasonal prices applied in the tariff table in force as of August 1, 2019, have been recovered as from January 1, 2020 in 7 monthly and consecutive installments, and adjusted according to the methodology provided by CAMMESA for the out-of-term payment.

 

On December 5, 2019, the Company submitted GAR Note 46/2019 with a calculation of the tariff table to be applied from January 2020. This table was calculated following the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement referred to above. Subsequent adjustments were also added for the period from November 2018 to July 2019.

 

However, a correction in the value of the CPD calculation of August 2019 was incorporated, given the publication of the final indices, with the new value at 19.05%.

 

On December 27, 2019, ENRE instructed the Company not to apply the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement as such agreement had lost its applicability before the electricity rate emergency provided for in the Productive Reactivation Law (which froze the prices of natural gas and electricity for 180 days since its effectiveness). Therefore, the electricity rate schedule that had been applied since May 1, 2019 (pursuant to ENRE Resolution No. 104/19) came back into effect.

 

Furthermore, on March 31, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 78/2021, the ENRE approved the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedule, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on April 1, 2021, based on the WEM’s winter seasonal programming. Such rate increase affected only GUDI customers and reflected the increase in the seasonal price passed through to rates without affecting revenues from the Company’s CPD.

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Moreover, on April 30, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 107/2021, and in the context of the transitional tariff system, the ENRE authorized the application of a new electricity rate schedule, effective as from May 1, 2021, representing a 9% increase.

 

On May 11, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 408/2021, the SE approved the Definitive Winter Seasonal Programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the May 1-October 31, 2021 period.

 

On August 10, 2021, by means of Resolutions Nos. 262 and 265/2021, the ENRE approved an increase for large users whose power consumption is equal to or greater than 300 kW, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on August 1, 2021. Both resolutions were appealed to the SE by Edenor because the values of the electricity rate schedule in effect provided for by the ENRE did not take into consideration ex-post adjustments, the recognition of taxes and fees, the pass-through differences arising from non-transferred increases in the seasonal price, or the pending adjustments of the Company’s CPD.

 

Furthermore, on October 28, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 1029/2021, the SE approved the Definitive summer seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the November 1, 2021-April 30, 2022 period.

 

During 2021 and 2020, Edenor purchased all of the energy in the market at an average monomic price of Ps.2,437.74 / MWh and Ps.2,187.21 / MWh, respectively.

 

We purchased a total of 26,373 GWh in 2021, 25,124 GWh in 2020, and 24,960 GWh in 2019. Following the adoption of certain amendments to the pricing rules applicable to the WEM pursuant to the Public Emergency Law, we have purchased all of our energy supply in the WEM at the monomic price. We have not purchased any energy under long-term supply contracts since 2004.

 

Recognition of cost of energy losses

Energy losses are equivalent to the difference between energy purchased (including wheeling system demand) and energy sold. These losses may be classified as technical and non-technical losses. Technical losses represent the energy that is lost during transmission and distribution within the network as a consequence of natural heating of the conductors and transformers that transmit electricity from the generating plants to the users. Non-technical losses represent the remainder of our energy losses and are primarily due to illegal use of our services. Energy losses require us to purchase additional electricity to satisfy demand and our concession allows us to recover from our users the cost of these purchases up to a loss factor specified in our concession for each tariff category. Our loss factor under our concession is, on average, 10%. Our management is focused on taking the necessary measures to ensure that our energy losses do not increase above current levels because of their direct impact on our gross margins. However, due to the inefficiencies associated with reducing our energy losses below the level at which we are reimbursed pursuant to our concession (i.e., 10%), we currently do not intend to significantly lower our level of losses.

At the time of our privatization, our total energy losses represented approximately 26.59% of our energy purchases, of which more than two thirds were non-technical losses attributable to fraud and illegal use of our service. Beginning in 1992, we implemented a loss reduction plan (plan de disciplina del mercado, or market discipline plan) that allowed us to gradually reduce our total energy losses to 10% by 2000, with non-technical losses of 2.7%. However, beginning in mid-2001 and up until 2004, we experienced an increase in our non-technical losses, as the economic crisis eroded the ability of our users to pay their bills, and in our technical losses in proportion to the increased volume of energy we supplied during those periods.

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The following table sets forth our estimated disruption between technical and non-technical energy losses experienced in our concession area for the periods indicated.

	Year ended December 31,
	2021		2020		2019
Technical losses	9.4%		9.1%		9.6%
Non technical losses	8.2%		10.5%		10.3%
Total losses	17.6%		19.6%		19.9%

The rolling annual rate of total losses for 2021 decreased to 17.6%, compared to 19.6% in the previous year. In Regions II and III, new shantytowns were formed while existing shantytowns continued to grow. The theft of energy in these areas continues to be the main factor in the increase in total losses in the last five years.

 

In 2021, the plan launched in previous years continued to be implemented, substantially increasing the installation of MIDEs, under a plan that consists in having 250,000 meters in place by 240,314. The plan is aimed at normalizing clandestine consumers, inactive customers and chronic delinquent customers. In 2021, 42,449 MIDEs were installed, 41,381 of which are currently operative.

 

The installation of the new type of MULCON network continued, using the MIDE meter’s functionalities, such as its invulnerability. Additionally, analytical and artificial intelligence tools, aimed at improving effectiveness in the routing of inspections to reduce energy theft, continued to be further developed.

 

In 2021, approximately 465,000 inspections of Tariff 1 meters were carried out with a 49.3% effectiveness. In the last five years, more than 300,000 irregular connections were normalized, although a rate of repeat fraud practices is noticed.

 

Distribution margin or value-added for distribution (VAD)

 

Our concession authorizes us to charge a distribution margin for our services to seek to cover our operating expenses, taxes and amortization expenses and to provide us with an adequate return on our asset base.

Historical Overview of VAD.

Our concession originally contemplated a fixed distribution margin for each tariff parameter with semi-annual adjustments based on variations in the U.S. wholesale price index (67% of the distribution margin) and the U.S. consumer price index (the remaining 33% of the distribution margin). However, pursuant to the Public Emergency Law, all adjustment clauses in U.S. Dollars or other foreign currencies and indexation clauses based on foreign indexes or other indexation mechanisms included in contracts to be performed by the Argentine Government were revoked. As a result, the adjustment provisions contained in our concession are no longer in force and, from January 2002 through January 2007, we were required to charge the same fixed distribution margin in Pesos established in 2002, without any type of currency or inflation adjustment. These measures, coupled with the effect of accumulated inflation since 2002 and the depreciation of the Peso, have had a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operation and cash flows, leading us to record net losses.

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Adjustment Agreement.

On September 21, 2005, we entered into the Acta Acuerdo sobre la Adecuación del Contrato de Concesión del Servicio Público de Distribución y Comercialización de Energía Eléctrica (Adjustment Agreement), an agreement with the Argentine Government relating to the adjustment and renegotiation of the terms of our concession. Because a new Minister of Economy took office thereafter, we formally re-executed the Adjustment Agreement with the Argentine Government on February 13, 2006 under the same terms and conditions originally agreed. The ratification of the Adjustment Agreement by the Argentine Government was completed in January 2007. Pursuant to the Adjustment Agreement, the Argentine Government granted us an increase of 28% in our distribution margin, which includes a 5% increase to fund specified capital expenditures we are required to make under the Adjustment Agreement. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Edenor’s Capital expenditures.” The increase was effective retroactively from November 1, 2005 and remained in effect until the approval of the new tariff scheme under the RTI, in February 2017.

The Adjustment Agreement also contemplated a cost adjustment mechanism for the transitional period during which a RTI process was being conducted. This mechanism, known as the Cost Monitoring Mechanism, or CMM, took into consideration, among other factors, the wholesale and consumer price indexes, exchange rates, the price of diesel and construction costs and salaries, all of which are weighted based on their relative importance to operating costs and capital expenditures.

On January 30, 2007, the ENRE formally approved our new tariff schedule reflecting the 28% increase in the distribution margins charged to our non-residential users contemplated by the Adjustment Agreement. In addition, because the Adjustment Agreement is effective retroactively from November 1, 2005, the ENRE applied the CMM retroactively in each of May and November 2006, the dates in each year on which the ENRE is required to apply the CMM.

Between 2007 and 2016, we requested several CMM adjustments, which were recognized by the ENRE through different resolutions and notes (Resolution No. 1,037/07, Note No. 81,399, Resolution No. 250/13 and Resolution No. 32/15). Only two adjustments were recognized in a timely manner and were incorporated into the tariff structure, while the rest of them were recognized belatedly and not incorporated into our tariff structure.

On November 23, 2012, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 347/12, pursuant to which it established a fixed and variable charge differentiated by category of users, which the distribution companies will collect on account of the CMM adjustments stipulated in clause 4.2 of the Adjustment Agreement, and will use exclusively to finance infrastructure and corrective maintenance of their facilities. Such charges, which were clearly identified in the bills sent to users, were deposited in a special account to be managed by a Trustee. Such amounts were used exclusively to finance infrastructure and corrective maintenance of the facilities.

Pursuant to the SE’s Resolution No. 250/13 and Notes No. 6,852/13, No. 4,012/14, No. 486/14 and No. 1,136/14 of the SE, the Company was authorized to compensate its debt registered under the PUREE against CMM recognitions for the period from May 2008 through December 2014.

In addition, CAMMESA was instructed to issue sale settlements with maturity dates to be determined for the surplus generated after compensation between the credits of the CMM and the PUREE debts, to partially compensate the debt with the WEM. We were also entitled to deposit the remaining sale settlements with maturity dates to be determined in the trust created pursuant to ENRE’s Resolution No. 347/12. As of the date of this annual report, all the sale settlements with maturity dates to be determined issued by CAMMESA were compensated with PUREE debts or with Commercial debt with CAMMESA.

118

As from February 1, 2015, pursuant to Resolution No. 32/15 of the SE, PUREE funds were considered as part of Edenor’s income on account of the future RTI. We compensated up to January 31, 2015, the debts for PUREE, with claims arising from the calculation of CMM up to January 31, 2016, including the application of interest that could correspond to both concepts.

In January 2016, the ME&M issued Resolution No. 7/16, pursuant to which the ENRE implemented a VAD adjustment to the tariff schedule on account of the future RTI in effect as of February 1, 2016, and took all the necessary actions to conclude a RTI process by February 2017.

In addition, such resolution: (i) abrogated the PUREE; (ii) repealed SE Resolution No. 32/15 as from the date the ENRE resolution implementing the new tariff schedule that became effective; (iii) discontinued the application of mechanisms that imply the transfer of funds from CAMMESA in the form of loan agreements with CAMMESA; and (iv) ordered the implementation of the actions required to terminate the trusts created pursuant to ENRE Resolution No. 347/12. Resolution No. 2/16 of the ENRE partially repealed Resolution No. 347/12, discontinuing the FOCEDE and ordered the Company to open a special bank account with a Central Bank authorized entity where the funds received pursuant to Resolution No. 347/12 were deposited. Pursuant to ME&M Resolution No. 7/16, the ENRE issued Resolution No. 1/16 establishing a new tariff structure.

Regularization of Obligations Agreement

Pursuant to Law No. 27,467, which enacted the Expenses and Resources Budget Law 2019, the Argentine Executive Branch was instructed to promote the transfer of Edenor’s jurisdiction to the jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires as from January 1, 2019 and the creation of a new oversight body. On February 28, 2019, the Federal Government, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires entered into an agreement for the transfer of the public electric power distribution service duly awarded to Edenor under the Concession Agreement entered into by the Federal Government, to the joint jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires. Pursuant to such agreement, the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires would create a new entity in place of ENRE, in charge of controlling and regulating the distribution service. It was also agreed that the Federal Government would be solely responsible for all debts and credits related to the distribution service awarded to Edenor whose cause was prior to February 28, 2019.

As a result of such agreement, on May 10, 2019, the Company entered into the “Agreement for the Regularization of Obligations for the Transfer of the Concessionaires to the Local Jurisdictions” (the “Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations”) with the SE, on behalf of the Federal Government, pursuant to which, prior to the transfer of the respective concessions to the jurisdiction of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires, the parties agreed to terminate the outstanding reciprocal claims originated during the 2006-2016 transition period.

On January 19, 2021, the Federal Government entered into a new agreement with the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires, by virtue of which the Federal Government remained the grantor of the concession contracts (Decree No. 292/2021 and SE Resolution No. 16/2021).

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On September 21, 2021, the Ministry of Economy issued Resolution No. 590/2021, whereby it declared the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations, registered on May 10, 2019, harmful to the general interest. It also ordered the suspension of the administrative proceedings related to the execution of obligations originated in such Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations. Edenor filed a hierarchical appeal against Regulation No. 590/2021 in order to annul it.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date of this annual report, the Company has not been notified of the commencement of any legal action aimed at the judicial declaration of nullity of the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations or of the acts issued as a consequence thereof. The administrative act in question has not provided for the suspension of the legal effects of said Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations, and therefore it is in full and complete force and effect. The Company filed a hierarchical appeal against this resolution before the Office of the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers and an appeal for clarification before the Ministry of Economy, which was granted and resolved by Resolution No. 656/2021, notified on October 20, 2021, whereby said Ministry confirms that the aforementioned Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations is not suspended.

Integral Tariff Revision.

On April 30, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 107/2021, and in the context of the transitional tariff system, the ENRE authorized the application of a new electricity rate schedule, effective as from May 1, 2021, representing a 9% increase. In view of the fact that such increase did not cover the increase requested by Edenor.

On August 10, 2021, by means of Resolutions Nos. 262 and 265/2021, the ENRE approved an increase for large users whose power consumption is equal to or greater than 300 kW, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on August 1, 2021. Both resolutions were appealed to the SE by Edenor because the values of the electricity rate schedule in effect provided by the ENRE did not take into consideration the ex-post adjustments, the recognition of taxes and fees, the pass-through differences arising from non-transferred increases in the seasonal price, or the pending adjustments of the Company’s CPD.

The following table sets forth the relative weight of our distribution margin in our average tariffs per category of user (other than wheeling system, public lighting and shantytown users) in our concession area at the dates indicated. Although the VAD and electric power purchases per category of user are the same, we are subject to different taxes in the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires.

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		VAD
Tariff(1)		November	January	February	October 2008	Res.1301	Res. 1	Res. 92/17	Res. 92/17	Res. 603/17	Res. 33/18	Res. 208/18	Res. 25/19	Res. 27/19	Res. 104/19	Res. 262/21
		2001	2005	2007		2011(2)	2016	Feb. 2017	Mar. 2017	Dic. 2017	Dic. 2017	Feb. 2018	Feb. 2019	Mar. 2019	May. 2019	Aug. 2021
Residential
TIRI (0-300)		49.40%	44.50%	44.50%	44.58%	11.26%	30.63%	26.60%	19.07%	18.10%	19.99%	16.71%	12.62%	15.86%	15.86%	21.41%
TIRI2 (301-650)		36.20%	33.00%	33.00%	30.70%	4.80%	15.40%	23.49%	16.54%	15.20%	16.91%	14.01%	10.47%	13.34%	13.34%	19.41%
TIR# (651-800)					31.94%	4.55%	14.48%	26.66%	19.15%	17.74%	19.58%	16.36%	12.34%	15.55%	15.55%	21.55%
TIR4 (801-900)					31.51%	4.32%	13.91%	29.46%	21.55%	20.08%	22.07%	18.57%	14.13%	17.69%	17.69%	23.60%
TIR5 (90-1000)					32.63%	4.35%	14.04%	33.25%	24.91%	23.42%	25.63%	21.78%	16.79%	20.82%	20.82%	26.29%
TIR6 (1001-1200)					26.20%	4.19%	15.98%	37.51%	28.95%	27.52%	29.93%	25.75%	20.18%	24.75%	24.75%	29.59%
TIR 7 (1201-1400)					27.10%	3.98%	15.25%	41.21%	32.64%	32.80%	38.44%	33.90%	27.52%	34.28%	34.28%	37.70%
TIR8 (1401-2800)					25.87%	4.81%	17.83%	45.69%	37.36%	40.50%	46.79%	42.30%	35.64%	40.55%	40.55%	44.28%
TIR9 (> 2800)					22.48%	3.84%	14.81%	46.83%	38.62%	39.94%	45.06%	40.52%	33.86%	39.02%	39.02%	43.59%
Commercial - small demands
TIG1		55.10%	40.00%	47.80%	48.66%	21.91%	53.18%	53.79%	45.89%	48.82%	49.63%	45.38%	39.58%	45.32%	44.17%	46.11%
TIG2		53.60%	31.10%	43.60%	42.47%	15.97%	41.52%	52.94%	44.89%	47.86%	48.54%	44.23%	38.40%	44.08%	42.92%	45.34%
TIG3					37.40%	9.13%	26.24%	52.74%	44.65%	47.54%	48.27%	43.94%	38.11%	43.61%	42.45%	44.99%
Commercial - medium demand
T2		43.30%	27.90%	35.50%	37.81%	16.03%	44.80%	74.18%	74.07%	43.55%	43.75%	39.34%	32.08%	37.59%	36.58%	38.90%
Industrial
T3 low voltage below 300kw		44.20%	26.50%	34.30%	37.70%	15.37%	43.74%	46.90%	37.97%	39.76%	39.92%	35.43%	28.19%	33.60%	32.61%	35.18%
T3 low voltage over 300kw		42.60%	24.50%	32.10%	27.01%	11.99%	22.80%	23.80%	23.52%	27.24%	29.62%	22.67%	18.43%	23.00%	22.30%	13.90%
T3 medium voltage below 300kw		29.30%	14.10%	19.70%	25.12%	8.46%	30.72%	30.38%	22.08%	23.59%	23.63%	19.93%	14.71%	18.53%	17.79%	21.91%
T3 medium volgate over 300kw		27.30%	12.30%	17.50%	17.64%	7.09%	14.50%	13.19%	13.00%	15.44%	17.28%	12.42%	9.67%	12.54%	12.09%	8.03%
Average Tariff		41.20%	28.50%	33.90%	33.04%	9.57%	28.33%	39.07%	32.45%	32.18%	34.02%	29.12%	23.23%	28.49%	27.48%	28.08%

		Average Taxes
Tariff(1)		November	January	February	October 2008	Res.1301	Res. 1	Res. 92/17	Res. 92/17	Res. 603/17	Res. 33/18	Res. 208/18	Res. 25/19	Res. 27/19	Res. 104/19	Res. 262/21
		2001	2005	2007		2011(2)	2016	Feb. 2017	Mar. 2017	Dic. 2017	Dic. 2017	Feb. 2018	Feb. 2019	Mar. 2019	May. 2019	Aug. 2021
Residential
TIRI (0-300)		28.70%	28.70%	28.70%	28.70%	28.70%	28.70%	28.70%	28.70%	28.70%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIRI2 (301-650)		29.20%	29.20%	29.20%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIR# (651-800)					29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIR4 (801-900)					29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIR5 (90-1000)					29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIR6 (1001-1200)					29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIR 7 (1201-1400)					29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIR8 (1401-2800)					29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIR9 (> 2800)					29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	29.23%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
Commercial - small demands
TIG1		25.70%	25.70%	25.70%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIG2		25.60%	25.60%	25.60%	25.64%	25.64%	25.64%	25.64%	25.64%	25.64%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
TIG3					25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	21.83%	21.83%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%	21.52%
Commercial - medium demand
T2		25.60%	25.60%	25.60%	25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	25.63%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%
Industrial
T3 low voltage below 300kw		25.70%	25.70%	25.70%	25.66%	25.66%	25.66%	25.66%	25.66%	25.66%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%
T3 low voltage over 300kw		25.60%	25.60%	25.60%	25.62%	25.62%	25.62%	25.62%	25.62%	25.62%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%
T3 medium voltage below 300kw		25.70%	25.70%	25.70%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	25.68%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%
T3 medium volgate over 300kw		25.70%	25.70%	25.70%	25.69%	25.69%	25.69%	25.69%	25.69%	25.69%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%	25.05%
Average Tariff		27.20%	27.20%	27.20%	27.24%	27.24%	27.24%	27.24%	27.24%	27.24%	23.63%	23.64%	23.47%	22.75%	24.14%	23.72%

 

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		Electric Power Purchases
Tariff(1)		November	January	February	October 2008	Res.1301	Res. 1	Res. 92/17	Res. 92/17	Res. 603/17	Res. 33/18	Res. 208/18	Res. 25/19	Res. 27/19	Res. 104/19	Res. 262/21
		2001	2005	2007		2011(2)	2016	Feb. 2017	Mar. 2017	Dic. 2017	Dic. 2017	Feb. 2018	Feb. 2019	Mar. 2019	May. 2019	Aug. 2021
Residential
TIRI (0-300)		21.90%	26.80%	26.80%	26.55%	60.00%	40.65%	44.71%	52.23%	53.20%	58.18%	61.46%	65.86%	62.62%	62.62%	57.07%
TIRI2 (301-650)		34.60%	37.80%	37.80%	39.81%	65.91%	55.33%	47.28%	54.23%	55.57%	61.25%	64.15%	68.01%	65.15%	65.15%	59.07%
TIR# (651-800)					38.51%	66.15%	56.23%	44.11%	51.61%	53.02%	58.59%	61.81%	66.15%	62.93%	62.93%	56.93%
TIR4 (801-900)					38.98%	66.39%	56.81%	41.30%	49.22%	50.68%	56.09%	59.60%	64.35%	60.79%	60.79%	54.88%
TIR5 (90-1000)					37.88%	66.37%	56.69%	37.51%	45.86%	47.34%	52.54%	56.39%	61.69%	57.66%	57.66%	52.19%
TIR6 (1001-1200)					44.32%	66.51%	54.73%	33.26%	41.81%	43.25%	48.24%	52.42%	58.30%	53.74%	53.74%	48.89%
TIR 7 (1201-1400)					43.46%	66.73%	55.47%	29.55%	38.13%	37.96%	39.73%	44.27%	50.96%	44.21%	44.21%	40.78%
TIR8 (1401-2800)					44.70%	65.89%	52.88%	25.08%	33.40%	30.27%	31.38%	35.86%	42.85%	37.93%	37.93%	34.20%
TIR9 (> 2800)					48.20%	66.88%	55.92%	23.93%	32.15%	30.83%	33.11%	37.64%	44.62%	39.47%	39.47%	34.89%
Commercial - small demands
TIG1		19.20%	34.30%	26.50%	25.50%	52.34%	21.11%	20.53%	28.43%	25.50%	28.54%	32.79%	38.90%	33.16%	34.31%	32.37%
TIG2		20.70%	43.20%	30.70%	32.04%	58.29%	32.79%	21.42%	29.47%	26.50%	29.63%	33.93%	40.09%	34.40%	35.56%	33.14%
TIG3					37.57%	65.12%	48.04%	21.63%	29.71%	26.82%	29.90%	34.22%	40.37%	34.88%	36.03%	33.49%
Commercial - medium demand
T2		31.00%	46.40%	38.90%	36.12%	58.15%	29.47%	0.18%	0.29%	30.81%	31.20%	35.62%	42.87%	37.36%	38.38%	36.06%
Industrial
T3 low voltage below 300kw		30.10%	47.80%	40.10%	36.32%	58.84%	30.53%	27.44%	36.36%	34.58%	35.04%	39.53%	46.76%	41.35%	42.34%	39.77%
T3 low voltage over 300kw		31.80%	49.90%	42.30%	47.14%	62.29%	51.55%	50.58%	50.86%	47.14%	45.33%	52.28%	56.53%	51.96%	52.66%	61.05%
T3 medium voltage below 300kw		45.00%	60.30%	54.60%	48.81%	65.73%	43.51%	43.94%	52.24%	50.73%	51.32%	55.02%	60.25%	56.42%	57.16%	53.05%
T3 medium volgate over 300kw		47.00%	62.00%	56.80%	56.40%	67.11%	59.77%	61.11%	61.31%	58.87%	57.68%	62.53%	65.28%	62.41%	62.86%	66.93%
Average Tariff		31.50%	44.20%	38.90%	39.47%	63.10%	44.38%	33.70%	40.31%	40.58%	42.35%	47.24%	53.30%	48.76%	48.38%	48.20%

 

(1)

T1R1 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is less than or equal to 300 KWh. T1R2 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 300 KWh but less than 650 KWh. TIR3 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 650 KWh but less than 800 KWh. TIR4 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 800 KWh but less than 900 KWh. TIR5 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 900KWh but less than 1,000 KWh TIR6 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 1,000 KWh but less than 1,200 KWh. TIR7 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 1,200 KWh but less than 1,400 KWh. TIR8 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 1,400 KWh but less than 2,800 KWh. TIR9 refers to residential users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 2,800KWh. T1G1 refers to commercial users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is less than or equal to 1600 KWh. T1G2 refers to commercial users whose peak capacity demand is less than 10 kW and whose bimonthly energy demand is greater than 1600 KWh but less than 4,000 KWh. T1G3 refers to commercial users whose peak capacity demand is greater than 4,000 KWh. T2 refers to commercial users whose peak capacity demand is greater than 10 kW but less than 50 KW. T3 refers to users whose peak capacity demand is equal to or greater than 50 kW. The T3 category is applied to high-demand users according to the voltage (tension) at which each user is connected. Low tension is defined as voltage less than or equal to 1 kV and medium tension is defined as voltage greater than 1kV but less than 66 kV.

(2)

On November 7, 2011, the SE issued Resolution No. 1,301/11, which established the summer scheduling, eliminating the Argentine Government grants to certain economic activities, which, in accordance with the provisions of the Resolution, are in conditions to pay the actual cost that needs to be incurred for being supplied with their demand of electricity. The removal of the Argentine Government grants has been extended to residential users, who were classified by geographical areas and type of residence. The modification related only to electricity purchase prices in the Wholesale Electricity Market, for which reason the Company’s VAD (value added for distribution) remained almost unchanged.

 

An integral tariff proposal includes, among other factors, a recalculation of the compensation we receive for our distribution services, including taxes that are not currently passed onto our users (such as taxes on financial transactions), a revised analysis of our distribution costs, modifications to our quality of service standards and penalty scheme and, finally, a revision of our asset base and rate of return.

During the year 2016, the Company, guided by the ENRE, complied with all the procedural obligations required to complete a RTI process set forth in the Adjustment Agreement. A RTI process was completed on February 1, 2017, on which date the ENRE issued Resolution No. 63/17. Such resolution established a new tariff schedule which included a VAD maximum increase of 42% for February 2017, as well as two additional phase increases for the months of November 2017 and February 2018. On January 31, 2019, ENRE issued Resolution No. 25 which approved the values of Edenor’s tariff scheme as from February 1, 2019. Moreover, on January 31, 2019, pursuant to Resolution No. 27/19, the ENRE approved the VAD updates for the second six-month period of 2018 and the pending update corresponding to the first six-month period of 2019, totaling a 32.0% increase applicable as from March 1, 2019.

122

In December 2019, the Executive Power enacted, in the context of the Economic Emergency, Law No. 27,541 on Social Solidarity and Production Reactivation, pursuant to which is authorized to initiate either a renegotiation process of the tariff structure in effect or an extraordinary review. In this context, on December 27, 2019, the ENRE instructed the Company not to apply the electricity rate schedules from January 1, 2020, resulting from the provisions of the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement entered into by and between the Company and the Federal Government on September 19, 2019, as such agreement had lost its applicability due to the electricity rate emergency provided for in the aforementioned law, and the electricity rate schedule that had been approved by ENRE Resolution No. 104/19 dated April 30, 2019 remained in effect.

 

Additionally, on December 16, 2020, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 1020/2020 which extended the freeze on electricity rates prescribed by the Productive Reactivation Law (which authorized the Executive Power to maintain electricity tariffs under federal jurisdiction freezed) until March 31, 2021, or until the new transitional electricity rate schedules come into effect, whichever occurs first. Additionally, by means of Decree No. 1020/2020, the Executive Power provided for the commencement of the Tariff Structure Review renegotiation process, which may not exceed two years, suspending until then the Agreements relating to the respective Tariff Structure Reviews in effect, with the scope to be determined in each case by the Regulatory Authorities. It is provided that Interim Renegotiation Agreements may be entered into, which modify to a limited extent the particular conditions of the tariff review imposing a Transitional Tariff System until a Definitive Renegotiation Agreement is reached. Finally, by means of Resolution No. 53/2021, the ENRE called a public hearing to be held on March 30, 2021 to inform and listen to opinions about the Transitional Tariff System to be applied to electricity distributors Edesur and Edenor.

On March 30, 2021, the ENRE called a public hearing, with the main goal of determining a transitional rate schedule for electricity distribution until the next RTI. The president and CEO of the Company, explained the need of funds required to maintain and continue the improvement in the quality of electricity services. Additionally, he explained the financial situation of the Company, the investments that have been made to satisfy demand and the improvement in the provision of the services, and he proposed a rate schedule structure that allows better control by customers.

Furthermore, on March 31, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 78/2021, the ENRE approved the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedule, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on April 1, 2021, based on the WEM’s winter seasonal programming. Such rate increase affected only GUDI customers and reflected the increase in the seasonal price passed through to rates without affecting revenues from the Company’s CPD.

Moreover, on April 30, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 107/2021, and in the context of the transitional tariff system, the ENRE authorized the application of a new electricity rate schedule, effective as from May 1, 2021, representing a 9% increase. In view of the fact that such increase did not cover the increase requested by edenor, on June 15, 2021, an administrative appeal was filed against such Resolution.

On August 10, 2021, by means of Resolutions Nos. 262 and 265/2021, the ENRE approved an increase for large users whose power consumption is equal to or greater than 300 kW, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on August 1, 2021. Both resolutions were appealed to the SE by Edenor because the values of the electricity rate schedule in effect provided by the ENRE did not take into consideration ex-post adjustments, the recognition of taxes and fees, the pass-through differences arising from non-transferred increases in the seasonal price, or the pending adjustments of the Company’s CPD.

123

Finally, by means of Resolution No. 25/2022, the ENRE called for a public hearing to be held on February 17, 2022 to hear opinions on the following:

·

the treatment for the determination of power PRP and SPE in the WEM; and

·

the distribution companies’ proposals aimed at obtaining a transitional adjustment of rates, with such public hearing to be held within the RTI renegotiation process and prior to defining the electricity rates to be applied by concession holders.

Additionally, on February 3, 2022, by means of Resolution No. 41/2022, the ENRE approves the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedules effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on February 1, 2022, applying to the aforementioned period the PRP and the SPE set by SE Resolution No. 40/2022.

In the context of the transitional tariff regime, on February 25, 2022, the ENRE, through Resolution No. 76/2022 applied the new tariff schedules effective as of March 1, 2022, incorporating the new seasonal prices set forth by Resolution SE No. 105/2022 of the SE, which established an average increase for carriers of 20% and an increase in CPD of 8% for Edenor.

Social Tariff Regime.

According to the Adjustment Agreement, we are required to apply a social tariff regime as part of our revised tariff structure resulting from the RTI. This regime is a system of subsidized tariffs for the sectors of the community to be approved by the ENRE in the context of the RTI. The social tariff regime provides sectors of the community with the same service and quality of service as other users. The beneficiaries under this regime must register with the Argentine Government and meet certain criteria, including not owning more than one home and having a level of electricity consumption that is not higher than the limit established by the Argentine Government.

In January 2016, pursuant to ME&M’s Resolution No. 6/16, the Argentine Government introduced a social tariff for residential users who comply with certain consumption requirements, which includes a full exemption for monthly consumptions below or equal to 150 KWh and preferential tariffs for users who exceed such consumption level but achieve a monthly consumption lower than that of the same period in the immediately preceding year.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 63/17, the ENRE ratified this measure, maintaining the zero cost modality for monthly consumptions below or equal to 150 KWh and preferential tariffs for consumption that exceeds such level, updating the values in accordance with the new tariff scheme.

Resolution No 603/17 determined a new methodology for social tariff. It established: (1) a 100% discount in the stabilized price of energy for monthly consumptions below or equal to 150 KWh (base consumption); for the monthly consumption above the base consumption, (2) a 50% discount in the stabilized price of energy for the monthly consumptions below or equal 150 KWh; and (3) non-discount for the rest of the surplus consumption. Moreover, a scheme of maximum percentages was established in social tariff user’s invoices with respect to what would be paid, before taxes, by residential users of equal consumption.

124

On December 27, 2018, SE Resolution 1091/17 was repealed, thus eliminating the energy-savings discount for the residential tariff charged to customers framed or not under the social tariff as from January 1, 2019. The social tariff discounts were assumed by the Governments of the Province of Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos Aires in accordance with the provisions of the 2019 Federal Budget of Expenditures and Resources Law.

Demand

Energy demand depends to a significant extent on economic and political conditions prevailing from time to time in Argentina, as well as seasonal factors. In general, the demand for electricity varies depending on the performance of the Argentine economy, as businesses and individuals generally consume more energy and are better able to pay their bills during periods of economic stability or growth. As a result, energy demand is affected by Argentine Governmental actions concerning the economy, including with respect to inflation, interest rates, price controls, foreign exchange controls, taxes and energy tariffs.

The following table sets forth the amount of electricity generated in Argentina and our electricity purchases in each of the periods indicated.

Year		Electricity demand in Gwh(1)		Edenor demand in Gwh(2)		Edenor’s demand as % of total demand
2011		116,418		23,004		19.8%
2012		131,944		23,933		18.1%
2013		125,162		24,902		19.9%
2014		126,421		24,860		19.7%
2015		131,998		26,322		19.9%
2016		133,111		26,838		20.2%
2017		132,426		25,950		19.6%
2018		132,925		25,906		19.5%
2019		128,880		24,960		19.4%
2020		127,306		25,124		19.7%
2021		133,872		26,373		19.7%

Source: CAMMESA

(1)

Includes demand in the Mercado Eléctrico Mayorista Sistema Patagónico (Patagonia Wholesale Electricity Market, or MEMSP).

(2)

Calculated as electricity purchased by us and our wheeling system users.

 

In 2021, the demand of electricity amounted to 26,373 GWh, which represented a 5% increase as compared to 2020, whereas the WEM’s demand amounted to 133,872 GWh (+5.2% interannual). The variation in Edenor’s demand was mainly due to temperature, elasticity, the price and the level of the economic activity.

We cannot assure you that the tariffs that result from the RTI or future economic, social and political developments in Argentina, over which we have no control, will not have an adverse effect on energy demand in Argentina. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Electricity Distribution Sector—Electricity demand may be affected by tariff increases, which could lead distribution companies, such as us, to record lower revenues.”

125

Capacity demand

Demand for installed capacity to deliver electricity generally increases with growth in demand for electricity. However, since the 2001 and 2002 crisis, with the exception of two thermal generation plants, no new generation plants have been built in Argentina. Despite the lack of new generation plants, the Argentine Government has implemented some economic incentives, such as those in the Plus Energy Program, which have served to increase generating capacity in existing generation plants such as Central Térmica Güemes and Central Loma de la Lata. A lack of generation capacity would place limits on our ability to grow and could lead to increased service disruptions, which could cause an increase in our fines. See “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Electricity Distribution Sector—If the demand for energy is increased suddenly, the difficulty in increasing the capacity of distribution companies in a short or medium term, could adversely affect the Company, which in turn could result in customer complaints and substantial fines for any interruptions.”

In response to the lack of private investment in new generation plants, the Argentine Government undertook a project to construct two 800 MW thermal generation plants, Central Termoeléctrica Manuel Belgrano and Central Termoeléctrica General San Martín. Construction of these two plants was completed and operations commenced in 2009. The two plants were constructed with funds derived from three sources: net revenues of generators derived from energy sales in the spot market, a special charge to our non-residential users per MWh of energy billed and a specific charge from CAMMESA applicable to large users. In addition to the construction of these two new thermal generation plants, in September 2006 the SE issued Resolution No. 1,281/06 in an effort to respond to the sustained increase in energy demand following Argentina’s economic recovery after the crisis. This resolution aims to create incentives for energy generation plants to meet increasing energy needs. The Government has also required us to finance 24% and Edesur 26%, of the construction costs of two high-tension 220 kV lines between the Central Puerto and Central Costanera generators and the Malaver network, which provide access to an additional 600MW of energy from the Central Puerto and Central Costanera generators that currently cannot be distributed due to saturation of their grids. In May 2012, we finished the construction of the 220kV linking lines of the local generators Central Puerto and Central Costanera with Edenor network, through Malaver substations. This extension pursuant to Resolution No. 1,875/05 of the SE permitted an increase in supply capacity by 600 MW from Central Puerto and Central Costanera generators. In December 2012, the third transformer of 300 MVA-220/132 kV was put into service in Malaver’s substation.

During January 2017, a new temporary 500/132 kV transformer of 300 MVA was installed in SE Rodríguez, which allowed the entry of more power from the WEM. This transformer was replaced by a definitive one of 500 MVA during 2018. In addition, during 2017 a new type of thermal generation (by means of transportable modules) has been directly connected to Edenor’s high voltage network, with an aim to decrease the saturation of these networks: CT Zappalorto (APR), CT Pilar (Pampa Energía S.A.), CT Matheu II (APR). In 2018, CT Matheu III (Araucaria) began operating and a new 220/132 kV transformer of 300 MVA was installed in SE Ezeiza.

We cannot assure you that these new generation plants will be able to serve our energy demands in the manner we anticipate.

Seasonality of Demand

Seasonality has a significant impact on the demand for electricity in our concession area, with electricity consumption peaks in summer and winter. The impact of seasonal changes in demand is registered primarily in our residential and small commercial user categories. The seasonal changes in demand are attributable to the impact of various climatological factors, including weather and the amount of daylight time, on the usage of lights, heating systems and air conditioners.

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The impact of seasonality on industrial demand for electricity is less pronounced than on the residential and commercial sectors, primarily because different types of industrial activity by their nature have different seasonal peaks, such that the climatic effect is more varied.

The chart below shows seasonality of demand in Edenor’s residential user category for the periods indicated.

The chart below shows seasonality of demand in Edenor’s small commercial user category for the periods indicated.

 

The chart below shows seasonality of demand in Edenor’s medium commercial user category for the periods indicated.

 

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The chart below shows seasonality of demand in Edenor’s industrial user category for the periods indicated.

Taxes on Electricity Tariffs

Sales of electricity within our service area are subject to certain taxes, levies and charges at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. These taxes vary according to location and type of user. In general, residential and governmental users are subject to a lower tax rate than commercial and industrial users. Similarly, taxes are typically higher in the Province of Buenos Aires than in the City of Buenos Aires. All of these taxes are billed to our users along with electricity charges.

Framework Agreement (Shantytowns)

Since 1994, we have supplied electricity to low-income areas and shantytowns within our concession area under a special regime established pursuant to a series of framework agreements. For a discussion of these agreements and our ongoing negotiations to extend the most recent framework agreement, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Operating Results— Edenor’s Capital expenditures (Shantytowns).”

Operating Expenses

Our most significant operating expenses are transmission and distribution expenses, which include depreciation charges, salaries and social security taxes, outsourcing, fines and penalties, and purchases of materials and supplies, among others.

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We seek to maintain a flexible cost base by achieving an optimal level of outsourcing, which allows us to respond more quickly to changes in our market. We had 4,688 employees and contracts with third-party services companies that count with 5,877 employees as of December 31, 2021. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Employees.”

Our principal material and supply expenses consist of purchases of wire and transformers (i.e., electromagnetic devices used to change the voltage level of alternating-current electricity), which we use to maintain our network.

Summary of Historical Results of Operations

On May 10, 2019, Edenor and the SE, on behalf of the Federal Government, entered into the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations, putting end to the mutual pending claims originated in the 2006-2016 transition period, pursuant to which the Company (i) waived any rights to which it could be entitled and abandoned any actions against the Federal Government, including the complaint filed by Edenor in 2013 for failure to comply with the obligations resulting from the Adjustment Agreement entered into on February 13, 2006; (ii) bound itself to settle debts for works and loans for consumption (“mutuums”) originated in the transition period; (iii) undertook to pay users certain penalty and compensation amounts related to that period; and (iv) agreed to make investments, in addition to those agreed upon in the RTI, aimed at contributing to improving the reliability and safety of the service. In return, the Federal Government partially recognized the claim duly made by the Company -referred to in (i) above-, by fully offsetting pending obligations with the WEM for electric power purchases made during the transition period, partially cancelling the mutuums for investments granted by CAMMESA also during that period and cancelling penalties payable to the National Treasury.

 

On September 19, 2019 Edenor and Edesur entered into the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement with the Federal Government, pursuant to which the Federal Government instructed the ENRE to maintain, during the six-month period commenced on August 1, 2019, the electricity rate schedule that was in effect prior to the commencement of such period for all electricity rate categories. The distribution companies accepted that the CPD adjustment, effective as from August 1, 2019, would be applied up to a maximum amount equivalent to that collected by the holders of the concession during the previous six-month period as recovery of the previous six-month period deferral, plus the adjustments that could arise. The CPD value, with the half-yearly adjustment due as of July 31, 2019, would become effective as from January 1, 2020. The generated difference of the CPD would be recovered in seven monthly installments as from January 1, 2020. Furthermore, the distribution companies accepted that the update of the electricity rate schedule in relation to the seasonal prices of energy would take place as from January 1, 2020, and that the difference generated between seasonal prices would be recovered in 7 installments as from January 1, 2020. In the framework of the agreement, the parties also agreed to postpone the payment of any penalty until March 1, 2020.

 

On December 27, 2019, the ENRE instructed Edenor not to apply the electricity rate schedules resulting from the provisions of the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement, as such agreement lost its applicability due to the electricity rate emergency provided for in Productive Reactivation Law; therefore, the electricity rate schedule that had been applied since May 1, 2019 came back into effect.

 

By means of the Productive Reactivation Law, regulated by Decrees No. 58 and 99/19, the Federal Executive Power declared the state of emergency in economic, financial, fiscal, administrative, pension, tariff, energy, sanitary, and social matters. Additionally, the Federal Executive Power was authorized both to maintain the electricity and natural gas rates under federal jurisdiction and to initiate either a renegotiation process of the RTI in effect or an extraordinary review, in a maximum term of 180 days, until December 31, 2020, with the aim of reducing the real burden on households, shops and industries for 2020. The provinces were invited to adhere to these policies on the maintenance of rate schedules and renegotiation or extraordinary review of rates in their jurisdictions. Said intervention was extended on December 17, 2020 by means of Decree No. 1020/20, until December 31, 2021, or until the tariff review process is concluded, whichever occurs first.

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In 2020, the Company made different presentations to the ENRE with the estimates of the electricity rate schedules that were to be applied during 2020, according to the terms of the Electricity Rate Schedules Maintenance Agreement entered between the Company and the Federal Government. However, the ENRE has instructed the Company not to apply them, in accordance with Productive Reactivation Law.

 

On December 16, 2020, by means of Decree No. 1020/20, the Argentine Executive Power provided for the commencement of the RTI renegotiation process, which may not exceed two years, suspending until then the agreements relating to the respective RTI in effect, with the scope to be determined in each case by the regulatory authorities. It is provided that interim renegotiation agreements may be entered into, which modify to a limited extent the particular conditions of the tariff review imposing a Transitional Tariff System until a definitive renegotiation agreement is reached.

 

On March 5, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 53/2021, the ENRE called a Public Hearing to make known and listen to opinions on the distribution companies’ Transitional Tariff System, with such Public Hearing being held in the framework of the Tariff Structure Review (RTI) Process and prior to defining the electricity rates to be applied by the referred to concession holders. On March 30, edenor made a presentation at the Public Hearing to discuss the transitional tariff adjustment of the Distribution, including revenue requirements and a new tariff structure proposal to cover the public service expenses and investment needs. 

 

Furthermore, on March 31, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 78/2021, the ENRE approved the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedule, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on April 1, 2021, based on the WEM’s winter seasonal programming. Such rate increase affected only GUDI customers and reflected the increase in the seasonal price passed through to rates without affecting revenues from the Company’s CPD.

 

Moreover, on April 30, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 107/2021, and in the context of the transitional tariff system, the ENRE authorized the application of a new electricity rate schedule, effective as from May 1, 2021, representing a 9% increase. In view of the fact that such increase did not cover the increase requested by edenor, on June 15, 2021, an administrative appeal was filed against such resolution.

 

On May 11, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 408/2021, the SE approved the definitive winter seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the May 1-October 31, 2021 period.

 

On August 10, 2021, by means of Resolutions Nos. 262 and 265/2021, the ENRE approved an increase for large users whose power consumption is equal to or greater than 300 kW, effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on August 1, 2021. Both resolutions were appealed to the SE by edenor because the values of the electricity rate schedule in effect provided by the ENRE did not take into consideration ex-post adjustments, the recognition of taxes and fees, the pass-through differences arising from non-transferred increases in the seasonal price, or the pending adjustments of the Company’s CPD. Moreover, neither the transitional system to supplement the required revenue, as provided for by Executive Order No. 1020/2021, nor the differences resulting from a lower than expected demand, requested by edenor, had been established. Both appeals are in process at the closing date of these annual report.

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Moreover, ENRE Resolution No. 323/2021 dated September 27, 2021, set the definitive annual control fee for 2021 to be paid by the WEM’s generation, transmission and distribution agents, and provided that final payment thereof would become due during the month of October 2021.

 

Furthermore, on October 28, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 1029/2021, the SE approved the definitive summer seasonal programming for the WEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the November 1, 2021-April 30, 2022 period. Furthermore, the Power Reference Prices (PRP) and the Stabilized Price of Energy (SPE) set by SE Resolution No. 748/2021 dated August 3, 2021 are to be applied to the aforementioned period. The “Unsubsidized” PRP and SPE are set in order for distribution companies to include in the bills the related subsidy amount as a separate item.

In line with the preceding paragraph, on November 19, 2021, by means of ENRE Resolution No. 487/2021, distribution companies were instructed to determine as from November 1, 2021 the related subsidy amount, which has to be clearly identified as “Subsidy from the Federal Government” in the part of the bill that contains the information addressed to the user.

 

Additionally, by means of Resolution No. 491/2021, the ENRE approved the Injection Rates for User-Generators of the concession areas of distribution companies, effective from August 1, 2021.

 

Finally, by means of Resolution No. 25/2022, the ENRE called for a public hearing to be held on February 17, 2022 to hear opinions on the following:

 

·

the treatment for the determination of power PRP and SPE in the WEM; and

·

the distribution companies’ proposals aimed at obtaining a transitional adjustment of rates, with such public hearing to be held within the RTI renegotiation process and prior to defining the electricity rates to be applied by concession holders.

 

Additionally, on February 3, 2022, by means of Resolution No. 41/2022, the ENRE approved the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedules effective as from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on February 1, 2022, applying to the aforementioned period the PRP and the SPE set by SE Resolution No. 40/2022.

 

In the context of the transitional tariff regime, on February 25, 2022, the ENRE, through Resolution No. 76/2022 applied the new tariff schedules effective as of March 1, 2022, incorporating the new seasonal prices set forth by Resolution SE No. 105 of the SE, which established an average increase for carriers of 20% and an increase in CPD of 8% for Edenor.

 

The main consequence of the lack of recognition of additional revenue to face increasing costs as described in the preceding sections has been Edenor’s inability to comply, in due time and in proper form, with payments to CAMMESA for energy purchases in the WEM. Argentina’s National Congress, recognizing this situation, approved within the FY2021 National Government Budget the offsetting of such debts through “Special system for the settlement of debts” with CAMMESA set forth in Section 87 of Law 27,591.

 

In this regard, by means of Executive Order No. 990/20, the 2021 Budget Law was partially approved. In its Section 87, the law provides for a system for the settlement of debts with CAMMESA and/or the WEM accumulated by electricity distribution companies as of September 30, 2020, whether on account of the consumption of energy, power, interest and/or penalties, in accordance with the conditions to be set out by the regulatory authority, which may provide for credits equivalent to up to five times the monthly average bill or to 66% of the existing debt, whereas the remaining debt is to be paid in up to sixty monthly installments, with a grace period of up to six months, and at the rate in effect in the WEM, reduced by 50%.

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Consequently, by means of Resolution No. 40/2021, the SE established the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations” of electricity distribution companies that are agents of the WEM for the debts held with CAMMESA and/or the WEM whether on account of the consumption of energy, power, interest and/or penalties, accumulated as of September 30, 2020. It also set a “Special System of Credits” for those electricity distribution companies that are agents of the WEM and have no debts with CAMMESA and/or the WEM or whose debts are regarded as being within reasonable values vis-à-vis their levels of transactions as of September 30, 2020.

 

Subsequently, the SE determined that it was suitable to establish as indicators for purposes of calculating the credits to be recognized, the maintenance of the electricity rate schedules throughout the year 2020, the policies implemented by each distribution company that is an agent of the WEM aimed at satisfying the demand, the effect of the application of the provisions of Executive Order No. 311 dated March 24, 2020, as amended and supplemented, as well as the investment commitments on energy efficiency, technology applied to the provision of the service and/or energy infrastructure works that imply an improvement in the quality of the service provided to users. Therefore, the SE issued Resolution No. 371/2021, which supplements Resolution No. 40/2021. 

 

More recently, on February 22, 2022, by means of Executive Order No. 88/2022, the Executive Power extended until December 31, 2022 the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations” provided for in section 87 of Law 27,591 (see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the Electricity Distribution Sector—There is uncertainty as to what other measures the Argentine Government may adopt in connection with tariffs on public services and their impact on the Argentine economy”).

 

The following table provides a summary of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

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Statement of comprehensive income (loss)

			2021		2020		2019
			Ps.		Ps.		Ps.
Revenue   (1)			113,500		137,782		184,739
Electric power purchases			(69,800)		(87,408)		(117,160)
Subtotal			43,700		50,374		67,579
Transmission and distribution expenses			(29,112)		(29,974)		(33,164)
Gross margin			14,588		20,400		34,415
Selling expenses			(11,495)		(16,362)		(15,099)
Administrative expenses			(7,447)		(8,075)		(7,881)
Other operating income			4,842		3,635		3,567
Other operating expense			(4,887)		(3,399)		(5,249)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment			-		(26,248)		-
Gain from interest in joint ventures			2		-		3
Operating (loss) profit			(4,397)		(30,049)		9,756
Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations			-		-		35,111
Financial income			65		83		118
Finance costs			(26,961)		(13,996)		(13,889)
Other finance costs			1,741		(2,852)		(7,236)
Net finance costs			(25,155)		(16,765)		(21,007)
Monetary gain (RECPAM)			23,844		14,734		22,987
(Loss) Profit before taxes			(5,708)		(32,080)		46,847
Income tax			(15,636)		5,376		(21,924)
(Loss) Profit for the year			(21,344)		(26,704)		24,923
(Loss) Profit for the year attributable to:
Owners of the Company			(21,344)		(26,704)		24,923
(Loss) Profit for the year			(21,344)		(26,704)		24,923
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
Results related to benefit plans			200		164		(15)
Tax effect of actuarial results on benefit plans			(70)		(49)		5
Total other comprehensive results			130		115		(10)
Comprehensive (loss) income for the year attributable to:
Owners of the parent			(21,214)		(26,589)		24,913
Comprehensive (loss) profit for the year			(21,214)		(26,589)		24,913
Basic and diluted (loss) profit per share:
(Loss) earnings per share (argentine pesos per share)			(24.4)		(30.5)		28.5
Basic and diluted (loss) profit per ADS (2):
(Loss) earnings per ADS (argentine pesos per ADS)			(487.8)		(610.4)		569.8

(1)

Revenue from operations is recognized on an accrual basis and derives mainly from electricity distribution. Such revenue includes electricity supplied, whether billed or unbilled, at the end of each year.

(2)

Each ADS represents 20 Class B common shares.

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Year Ended December 31, 2021 compared with Year Ended December 31, 2020.

Revenue from sales

Revenue from sales decreased by 18%, to Ps.113,500 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, from Ps.137,782 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, mainly due to the insufficient tariff increase established by the executive power, partially offset by an increase in energy demand of 5% in GWh.

Electric Power Purchases

The amount of electric power purchases decreased by 20%, to Ps.69,800 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, from Ps.87,408 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease was mainly due to the effect in purchase prices of the hyper-inflationary economy in Argentina (tariff increases lower than inflation). The energy demand had an increase of 5% in GWh and energy losses a decrease of around 10%, in each case, as compared to 2020.

Our volume of electric power purchases for the year ended December 31, 2021 amounted to 26,373 GWh, which represented a 5% increase in demand as compared to 2020.

Energy losses slightly decreased to 17.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 19.6% for the year ended December 31, 2020 due to the inspections and energy recovery actions carried out by the Company. For more information, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects— Operating Results—Tariffs—Recognition of Cost of Energy Losses”.

Transmission and Distribution Expenses

Transmission and distribution expenses slightly decreased by 3% to Ps.29,112 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to Ps.29,974 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease was mainly due to the decrease in depreciation of property, plant and equipment due to the impairment loss recorded in 2020; and supplies consumption; partially offset by an increase in ENRE penalties due to the application of the new admissible gaps agreed in the RTI.

 

As a percentage of revenue from sales, transmission and distribution expenses increased to 25.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021, from 21.9% for the year ended December 31, 2020, due to the increase in costs because of inflation, as well as the freeze on electricity rates.

The following table sets forth the principal components of our transmission and distribution expenses for the years indicated.

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	Year ended December 31,
	2021				% of 2021		2020				% of 2020
					net sales						net sales
Salaries and social security taxes	11,292		38.8%		9.9%		11,703		39.0%		8.5%
Supplies consumption	2,264		7.8%		2.0%		2,834		9.5%		2.1%
Fees and remuneration for services	5,832		20.0%		5.1%		5,885		19.6%		4.3%
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	7,159		24.6%		6.3%		7,720		25.7%		5.6%
ENRE penalties	1,207		4.1%		1.1%		499		1.7%		0.4%
Others	1,358		4.7%		1.2%		1,333		4.5%		1.0%
Total	29,112		100%		25.6%		29,974		100%		21.9%

 

Gross profit

Our gross profit, including transmission and distribution expenses, decreased to Ps.14,588 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, from Ps.20,400 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease was mainly attributable to the freeze of electricity rates, the increase in operating costs necessary to maintain the level of service and the inflationary state of the Argentine economy.

Selling Expenses

Our selling expenses are related to user services provided at our commercial offices, billing, invoice mailing, collection and collection procedures, as well as allowances for doubtful accounts.

Selling expenses decreased by 30% to Ps.11,495 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, from Ps.16,362 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease of Ps.4,867 million was mainly due to a decrease in allowance for impairment of trade receivables, since fiscal year 2020 was affected by the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selling expenses represented 10% and 11.9% of net sales in the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to the decrease in selling expenses in 2021, as described in the previous paragraph.

The following table sets forth the principal components of our selling expenses for the years indicated.

	Year ended December 31,
	2021				% of 2021		2020				% of 2020
					net sales						net sales
Salaries and social security taxes	1,797		15.6%		1.6%		1,942		12%		1.4%
Allowance for the impairment of trade and other receivables	1,962		17.1%		1.7%		6,311		38.6%		4.6%
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	1,067		9.3%		0.9%		1,148		7.0%		0.8%
Fees and remuneration for services	3,105		27.0%		2.7%		3,275		20.0%		2.4%
ENRE penalties	838		7.3%		0.7%		550		3.4%		0.4%
Taxes and charges	1,751		15.2%		1.5%		2,193		13.3%		1.6%
Others	975		8.4%		0.9%		943		5.8%		0.7%
Total	11,495		100%		10.0%		16,362		100%		11.9%

 

Administrative Expenses

Our administrative expenses include, among others, expenses associated with accounting, payroll administration, personnel training, systems operation third-party services and taxes.

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Administrative expenses decreased by 8%, to Ps.7,447 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, from Ps.8,075 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease was mainly due to a decrease in salaries and social security taxes due to the fact that the increase in salaries and contributions to social security were less than the increase in inflation.

As a percentage of revenue from sales, administrative expenses increased to 6.6% for the year ended December 31, 2021, from 5.9% for the year ended December 31, 2020, due to the freeze on electricity rates.

The following are the principal components of our administrative expenses for the years indicated.

	Year ended December 31,
	2021				% of 2021		2020				% of 2020
					net sales						net sales
Salaries and social security taxes	2,553		34.3%		2.2%		3,428		42.5%		2.5%
Leases and insurance	511		6.9%		0.5%		475		5.9%		0.3%
Fees and remuneration for services	2,588		34.8%		2.3%		2,320		28.7%		1.7%
Depreciation of right-of-use asset	320		4.3%		0.3%		333		4.1%		0.2%
Depreciation of property, plants and equipments	875		11.8%		0.8%		944		11.7%		0.7%
Supplies consumption	212		2.8%		0.2%		223		2.8%		0.2%
Others	388		5.1%		0.3%		352		4.3%		0.3%
Total	7,447		100%		6.6%		8,075		100%		5.9%

 

Other operating (expenses) income

Other operating (expenses) income include provision for contingencies and debit and credit tax. Other operating (expenses) income, including impairment of property, plant and equipment, decreased from a net loss of Ps.26,012 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, to a net loss of Ps.45 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease was mainly due to the impairment of property, plant and equipment recorded in the year 2020. Without considering the impairment of property, plant and equipment, other operating (expense) income would amount to Ps.236 million income for 2020, showing an increase in the net loss of Ps.281 million, due to the increase in the provision for contingencies and in retirement bonuses.

Operating Loss

Our operating loss decreased from Ps.30,049 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to Ps.4,397 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, mainly due to the impairment loss of property, plant and equipment recorded in fiscal year 2020. Without considering the impairment of property, plant and equipment, other operating loss would amount to Ps.3.801 million for 2020, showing an increase in losses of Ps.596 million, mainly due to de decrease in revenue as a result of the freeze on rates in greater amount than the decrease in expenses.

Net Finance Costs

Net finance costs totaled Ps.25,155 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to Ps.16,765 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase in the net loss is mainly due to the increase of Ps. 13,194 million in commercial interests due to the debt that Edenor maintains with CAMMESA as a result of the tariff arrears and the financial difficulties to meet operating costs, which were partially offset by a decrease in exchange differences of Ps. 4,682 million and results from changes in the fair value of financial assets.

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Income Tax

Our income tax showed a loss of Ps.15,636 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a gain of Ps.5,376 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, mainly due to the adjustment of the deferred tax liability of property, plant and equipment of Ps. 19,286 in the deferred tax loss, due to the change in income tax rates from an average rate between 25% and 27% to one of 35% and also due to the impact in fiscal year 2021 of the tax inflation adjustment which represents an increase of Ps. 1,726 in the current tax expense.

Loss for the year

We recorded a loss of Ps.21,344 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a loss of Ps.26,704 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, mainly due to the impairment of property, plant and equipment recorded in 2020, which was partially offset by the increase in commercial interests due to the debt that Edenor maintains with CAMMESA and by the change in income tax rates with direct impact in the deferred tax loss.

For information about prior year discussion, please see our Annual Report as of December 31, 2020.

Liquidity and capital resources

Sources and Uses of Funds

In 2021, the Company’s financial situation was significantly affected by the continued freeze on electricity rates, coupled with the high levels of inflation experienced over the past four years. Additionally, this situation was exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a severe social, economic and financial impact. Most of the world’s countries, including Argentina, however, implemented exceptional actions, which had an immediate effect on their economies, as rapidly evidenced by the falls recorded in production and activity indicators. The governments’ immediate response to these events was the implementation of tax benefits to sustain their citizens’ income and thereby reduce the risk of a breakdown in the chain of payments, with the aim of avoiding an economic and financial crisis.

In the last few fiscal years, the Company recorded negative working capital and operating losses. This situation was due mainly to the suspension of the electricity rate adjustment since February 2019, in spite of the constant increase of the operating costs and the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining the quality of the service, in an inflationary context in which the Argentine economy has been since mid-2018.

 

Additionally, this situation was exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a severe social, economic and financial impact. Most of the world’s countries implemented exceptional actions, which had an immediate effect on their economies, as rapidly evidenced by the falls recorded in production and activity indicators. The governments’ immediate response to these consequences was the implementation of tax aids to sustain their citizens’ income and thereby reduce the risk of a breakdown in the chain of payments, with the aim of avoiding an economic and financial crisis.

 

With regard to the Company, in 2021 and the first months of the year 2022, the values of the electricity rate schedules suffered changes that, except for the provisions of ENRE Resolutions No. 107/2021 and 76/2022 dated April 30, 2021 and February 25, 2022, respectively, implied only the passing through of the seasonal prices and not an improvement of revenues from the Company’s CPD, which are still insufficient to cover our economic and financial needs in a context of growing annual inflation, with the annual rate surpassing 50%. Nevertheless, and in spite of the aforementioned context with constant increases in operating costs, the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining and even improving the quality of the service, have been made.

137

 

Although in 2021 the economic activity showed a recovery after the effect caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020, the country’s macroeconomic situation with the increase in the rate of inflation, the widening of the gap between the official dollar exchange rate and the dollar exchange rate quoted in the informal market, and the consequences of the agreement with the IMF make it difficult to envisage a clear-cut trend of the economy in the short term.

 

This complex and vulnerable economic context was aggravated by the currency restrictions imposed by the BCRA pursuant to which the BCRA’s prior authorization is required for certain transactions, such as the Company’s transactions associated with the payment of imports of goods that are necessary for the provision of the service, and the payments to service the financial debt. These currency restrictions, or those to be implemented in the future, could affect the Company’s ability to access the MLC in order to acquire the foreign currency necessary to face its operating and financial obligations.

 

As a consequence, the Company witnessed an even greater deterioration of the economic and financial equation due to the tariff freeze, the impossibility of taking legal action to enforce payment of debts for electricity consumed but not paid, and the increase in costs on the Company’s operating structure and supplies. Therefore, it became necessary to partially postpone payments to CAMMESA for energy purchased in the WEM as from the maturities taking place in March 2020, payment obligations which have been partially regularized, but as of December 31, 2021, we accumulate a past due principal balance of Ps. 26,259 million, plus interest and charges for Ps. 23,880 million.

 

However, in general terms, the quality of the electricity distribution service has been significantly improved, both in duration and frequency of power cuts. In view of the continuous increase of the costs associated with the provision of the service, as well as the need for additional investments to meet the demand, the Company is analyzing different measures aimed at mitigating the negative effects of this situation on its financial structure, minimizing the impact on the sources of employment, the execution of the investment plan, and the carrying out of the essential operation, maintenance and improvement-related works that are necessary to maintain the provision of the public service, object of the concession, in a satisfactory manner in terms of quality and safety.

 

Accordingly, the Board of Directors understands that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt about Edenor’s ability to continue as a going concern, which may result in the Company’s being obliged to defer certain payment obligations or unable to meet expectations for salary increases or the increases recorded in third-party costs.

 

Nevertheless, these financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern and do not include the adjustments or reclassifications that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties, inasmuch as the Company has historically been provided with transitional solutions that have made it possible to partially restore the economic and financial equation and ensure the operation of the distribution networks.

 

Our principal uses of cash are expected to be operating costs, the servicing of our financial debt and our investment plan. We are subject to limitations on our ability to incur new debt under the terms of our debt instruments so we cannot assure that we will be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms (see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt”). As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, our cash and cash equivalents amounted to Ps.3,172 million and Ps.6,582 million, respectively. We generally invest our cash in a range of instruments, including sovereign debt, corporate debt securities and other securities. The table below reflects our cash and cash equivalents position at the dates indicated and the net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities during the years indicated:

 

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		Year ended  December 31
		2021		2020		2019
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		6,582		6,572		66
Net cash flows provided by operating activities		21,348		26,149		20,863
Net cash flows used in investing activities (*)		(25,544)		(18,241)		(4,222)
Net cash flows (used in) generated by financing activities		(1,438)		(9,284)		(10,418)
Result from exposure to inflation (*)		(4)		1		(5)
Exchange differences in cash and cash equivalents (*)		2,228		1,385		288
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year (*)		3,172		6,582		6,572

 

(*)The figures presented in this statement of cash flows as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 have been revised. Based on their nature, certain amounts that were previously disclosed as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss were reclassified to cash equivalents. The impact of these changes is considered non-material.

 

Net Cash flows provided by operating activities

Net cash flows provided by operating activities decreased by 18% to Ps.21,348 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, from Ps.26,149 million in the year ended December 31, 2020.

The levels of the cash flows provided by operating activities have remained without significant variations compared to the previous year, due to the fact that were no material economic events that have implied substantial changes in the operation from which the company obtains its cash flows.

Changes in net cash flows provided by operating activities were primarily due to a decrease of Ps.1,829 million in tax liabilities and a decrease in deferred revenue of Ps. 1,630 million.

Net cash flows provided by operating activities decreased by 25% to Ps.26,149 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, from Ps. 20,863 million in the year ended December 31, 2019.

In 2020, changes in net cash flows provided by operating activities were also primarily due to the fact that the Company had to partially postpone payments to CAMMESA for energy purchased in the WEM, which means an increase of Ps.12,721 in trade payables, partially offset by a decrease of Ps. 2,160 million in tax liabilities and an increase of Ps. 2,296 million in other receivables.

Net Cash flows used in investing activities

Net cash flows used in investing activities increased by 40% to Ps.25,544 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to Ps.18,241 million in the year ended December 31, 2020.

Changes in net cash flows used in investing activities in 2021 were primarily due to a increase in purchases of mutual funds and government bonds of Ps. 6.827 million.

Net cash flows used in investing activities increased by 332% from Ps.4,222 million in the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to Ps.18,241 million in the year ended December 31, 2020.

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Changes in net cash flows used in investing activities in 2020 were primarily due to a decrease in net collections resulting from the sales of mutual funds and government bonds of Ps.15,249 million, which was partially offset by the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, for Ps.14,858 million in 2020, compared to Ps.19,245 million in 2019.

Net Cash flows used in financing activities

Net cash flows used in financing activities decreased to Ps.1,438 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to Ps.9,283 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, mainly due to a decrease in the repayment of corporate notes.

Net cash flows used in financing activities decreased to Ps.9,283 million in the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to Ps.10,418 million in the year ended December 31, 2019, mainly due to a decrease in payment of loans received from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Dubai (ICBC).

Edenor’s Capital Expenditures

Edenor’s concession does not require us to make mandatory capital expenditures. Edenor’s concession does, however, set forth specific quality standards that become progressively more stringent over time, which require us to make additional capital expenditures. Financial penalties are imposed on us for non-compliance with the terms of our concession, including quality standards.

Prior to our privatization, a low level of capital expenditures and poor maintenance programs adversely affected the condition of our assets. After our privatization in 1992, we developed an aggressive capital expenditure plan to update the technology of our productive assets, renew our facilities and expand energy distribution services, automate the control of the distribution network and improve user service. Following the crisis, however, the freeze of our distribution margins and the pesification of our tariffs and our inability to obtain financing, coupled with increasing energy losses, forced us to curtail our capital expenditure program and make only those investments that were necessary to permit us to comply with quality of service and safety and environmental requirements, despite increases in demand in recent years.

We are not subject to any limitations on the amount of capital expenditures we are required to make pursuant to our concession and applicable laws or regulations.

Our capital expenditures consist of net cash used in investing activities during a specified period plus supplies purchased in prior periods and used in such specified period. The following table sets forth our actual capital expenditures:

	Year ended December 31,
	2021		2020
	(Figures in millions)
HV Network structure	2,740		5,980
MV Network structure	1,388		1,850
LV Network structure	2,664		3,083
Network improvements	6,765		4,469
Buildings, software, furniture, tools and equipment	2,689		1,322
Total	16,246		16,704

 

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In 2021, in accordance with our capital expenditure program, we invested Ps.16,246 million in constant currency, a substantial portion of which was applied to increasing the capacity of our grid in line with the growth of our user base over the last years. In addition, we made investments in order to meet our quality standards. To secure these investments, various protocols have been implemented as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

With the aim of satisfying demand, improving service quality and reducing non-technical losses, most of our investments were allocated to increasing capacity, installing remote control equipment in the medium voltage network, connecting new supplies and installing self-managed energy meters. All investments we made prioritizing the protection of the environment and public safety.

In the context of a RTI process, we submitted our investment plan for the following five-year period (2017-2022). In the last years we made investments aimed at improving both the electricity network’s capacity and the operation in order to comply with the investment plan agreed upon with the ENRE.

 

 

Debt

On October 25, 2010, we issued Senior Notes due 2022 with a face value of U.S.$230.3 million, of which U.S.$140 million were subscribed under a cash offer and U.S.$90.3 million were exchanged, as a result of an exchange offer, for Senior Notes due 2017, paying in cash U.S.$9.5 million plus accrued unpaid interest on those Senior Notes due 2017.

The Senior Notes due 2022 have a 12-year maturity and were issued at par, with interest accruing from the date of issuance at a fixed rate of 9.75% and payable semi-annually on October 25 and April 25 of each year, with the first interest payment on April 25, 2011.

On July 16, 2021, we launched a consent solicitation from holders of the 2022 Notes to waive compliance with Section 10.3 of the Indenture (requiring us to offer to repurchase any and all of the 2022 Notes) in connection with the Acquisition. The consent solicitation was successfully consummated on June 30, 2021

From time to time, Edenor has repurchased Senior Notes due 2022 at market prices. As of December 31, 2021, our outstanding debt under the Senior Notes due 2022 amounted to U.S.$98 million. The Senior Notes due 2022 are currently rate “Caa3” by Moody’s, on a global scale.

Long term loan by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Dubai Branch

On October 11, 2017, we obtained a loan from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Dubai Branch in the amount of U.S.$50 million and for a term of 36 months. Proceeds were allocated to the financing of our working capital and investment plan and allowed us to partially offset the impact of the deferral of revenues generated by the staggered recognition of CPD pursuant to ENRE Resolution No. 63/17, as determined by a RTI process. This loan consisted of permitted indebtedness under the Senior Notes due 2022.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, this loan was fully repaid.

141

Derivatives Contracts

Management of derivative financial instruments

 

In 2020 and 2019, with the aim of hedging the currency risk associated with the payment of the next interest coupon of our and Senior Notes due 2022 we entered into futures contracts to buy U.S. Dollars.

 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the economic impact of the transactions carried out in those fiscal years resulted in losses of Ps.116,7 million and Ps.432,9 million, respectively, which are recorded in the “Other finance costs” account of the Statement of Comprehensive (Loss) Income.

 

In 2021, Edenor did not enter into derivative financial instruments.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

A summary of our significant financial policies is included in Note 6 to our financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this annual report. The preparation of financial statements requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and accompanying footnotes. Our estimates and assumptions are based on historical experiences and changes in the business environment. However, actual results may differ from estimates under different conditions, sometimes materially. Critical accounting policies and estimates are defined as those that are both most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operation and require management’s most subjective judgments.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2021.

 

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Technical assistance fees

Corresponds to the technical advice on financial affairs that Edelcos (see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions”) has provided to the Company since July 1, 2021. For this service, the Company pays Edelcos either an annual amount of Ps.1,766 million or the amount equivalent to 1.75% of annual gross billing, whichever results in the higher amount, plus the associated value added tax. It expires in December 2026, but may be extended if so agreed by the parties hereto.

 

Fines and penalties

Pursuant to caption C of Section 37 of the Concession Agreement, the grantor of the concession may, without prejudice to other rights to which it is entitled thereunder, foreclose on the collateral granted by the Company when the cumulative value of the penalties imposed in the previous one-year period exceeds 20% of its annual billing, net of taxes and rates.

As of December 31, 2021, total accrued fines and penalties imposed on us amounted to Ps.12,927 million, of which Ps.12,779 million (including accrued interest) corresponded to penalties accrued but not yet imposed on us and Ps.148 million (including accrued interest) correspond to penalties imposed on us but not yet paid.

Corporate Notes programs

 

The relevant information of our corporate notes program is detailed below (debt issued in U.S. Dollars):

 

142

 

								Million of USD						Million of $
Corporate Notes		Class		Rate		Year of Maturity		At 12.31.20		Debt repurchase		Debt structure at 12.31.21		At 12.31.21
Fixed Rate Par Note		9		9.75		2022		98		-		98		10,067
Total								98		-		98		10,067

  

								Million of USD						Million of $
Corporate Notes		Class		Rate		Year of Maturity		Debt structure at 12.31.19		Debt repurchase		Debt structure at 12.31.20		At 12.31.20
Fixed Rate Par Note		9		9.75		2022		137		(39)		98		12,465
Total								137		(39)		98		12,465

 

(1)

Net of issuance expenses.

 

 

Item 6.

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Board of Directors

Our business and affairs are managed by our Board of Directors in accordance with our bylaws and the Argentine Corporations Law. Our bylaws provide that our Board of Directors will consist of twelve directors and up to the same number of alternate directors. Pursuant to the Argentine Corporations Law, a majority of our directors must be residents of Argentina.

Edenor’s bylaws provide that holders of our Class A common shares are entitled to elect seven directors and up to seven alternate directors, while the holders of our Class B and Class C common shares are entitled to elect five directors and up to five alternate directors, one of which must be independent in accordance with CNV regulations. Holders of Class C common shares vote jointly as a single class with the holders of Class B common shares in the election of directors. In the absence of a director elected by holders of a class of shares, any alternate director elected by holders of the same class may legally attend and vote at meetings of our Board of Directors. The Board of Directors elects among its members a chairman and a vice president.

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 27, 2021 appointed the members and alternate members of the Board of Directors for fiscal year 2021. However, as a result of the change in control of Edenor, on August 10, 2021, the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting reappointed the members of the Board of Directors elected by the Class A shareholders.

 

143

Name		Position		Year of appointment (class electing director)
Bleasdale Neil Arthur		Chairman		2021 (Class A)
Macek Esteban Gabriel*		Director		2021 (Class A)
Mallo Huergo Ricardo Nicolás		Director		2021 (Class A)
Vila Eduardo Marcelo		Director		2021 (Class A)
Volosin Edgardo Alberto		Director		2021 (Class A)
Zin Federico Claudio*		Director		2021 (Class A)
Lucero Mariano Cruz*		Director		2021 (Class A)
Ferrera Hernán*		Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Bernal Federico*		Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Fraschina Juan Santiago*		Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Navarro Benjamín Andrés*		Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Ramírez Maximiliano *		Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Quevedo Victor Hugo		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Cuneo Libarona Mariano		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Pino Diego Hernán		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Álvarez Sebastián		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Grieco María Teresa*		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Maletta Mirta Silvia*		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Mazer Pedro Iván*		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Grosso María Josefina*		Alternate Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Juárez Emilse Alejandra*		Alternate Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Carmona Facundo*		Alternate Director		2021 (Class B/C)

* Independent under Argentine law and under Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

In addition, the list of Directors who held their positions during the year 2021 and have resigned after the change in control of Edenor are the following.

144

 

Name		Position		Year of appointment (class electing director)
María Carolina Sigwald (1)		Director		2021 (Class A)
Diego Martin Salaverri (1)		Director		2021 (Class A)
Maria José Wuille Bille* (1)		Director		2021 (Class A)
Carlos Perez Bello * (1)		Director		2021 (Class A)
Germán Wetzler Malbrán (1)		Director		2021 (Class A)
Victoria Hitce (1)		Director		2021 (Class A)
Iglesias Carlos Alberto* (1)		Director		2021 (Class A)
Leandro Montero (1)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Daniel Flaks (1)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Eduardo Abel Maggi (1)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Gerardo Ruben Tabakman (1)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Mariana de la Fuente (1)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Gerardo Carlos Paz (1)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Mauricio Penta (1)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class A)
Lopez Osornio Santiago*(2)		Director		2021 (Class B/C)
Diego Leandro Rozengardt *(3)		Alternate Director		2021 (Class B/C)

* Independent under Argentine law and under Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(1) Position held until June 30, 2021

(2) Position held until August 22, 2021

(3) Position held until December 16, 2021

 

The following is a brief description of our current directors’ and alternate directors’ background, experience and principal business activities:

145

Neil Arthur Bleasdale was born on April 28 1956, studied at the University of Leeds in England, and has worked in Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, Brazil and the Netherlands during the last 42 years. In 2006, he began his career in the electricity distribution sector as director of Empresa Distribuidora de Electricidad de Mendoza S.A. (“EDEMSA”) and, from March 2008 to June 2021, he served as president and general director of such company.

Esteban Gabriel Macek was born on November 8, 1960 and obtained his degree as CPA at the University of Buenos Aires (“UBA”). He is the chairman of Fiduciaria Internacional Argentina S.A. and member of the board of directors at Inmobiliaria Madero S.A. He is also member of the supervisory committees of Prisma Medios de Pago S.A. He has a wide professional experience assisting domestic and international companies, and many years of experience as member of the board of directors and leading the audit comitte of Telecom Argentina S.A.

Ricardo Nicolás Mallo Huergo was born on December 26, 1969, and has specialized in the different stages of the oil & gas sector (exploration, development and exploitation). He graduated from the Universidad Católica Argentina as a lawyer and obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) with honors from Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, in 1999. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Phoenix Global Resources Plc (Ticker: AIM: PGR), and has been a director of Ketsal S.A., Kilwer S.A., Integra Oil & Gas S.A.S. and Grecoil S.A., among other local and foreign companies. Within his specialization, he has advised local and foreign companies on corporate matters, mergers, acquisitions, privatizations and financing, public and private tenders, share offer mechanisms, acquisitions with leverage and other restructuring transactions, strategic investments and joint ventures, operations venture capital and project financing, and advice on structuring transactions.

Eduardo Marcelo Vila was born on October 23, 1964 and graduated as a lawyer and public notary at the University of Mendoza. He has extensive experience in business consulting, mainly in regulated activities and in those subject to government control, such as media and companies that provide public services, especially in the electricity sector. For 20 years, he has been the director of the legal affairs department of Grupo América, one of the main multimedia companies in Argentina, where he has been in charge of all the legal issues related to the group in Argentina and abroad, and obtained vast experience in the communication services and information technology sectors, as well as in various companies related to real estate development, technology startup, fintech and family office activities. Also, as a member of the board of directors of some of the companies of the group, he has participated in local and international debt restructurings, acquisitions and sales of stock packages, mergers, and corporate and business restructuring processes. Likewise, he has advised Empresa Distribuidora de Electricidad de Mendoza S.A. (EDEMSA), the main electric power distribution company in the province of Mendoza.

Edgardo Alberto Volosin was born on May 18 1953 and is a lawyer. Between 1987 and 1990, he served as the manager of human resources and legal affairs departments of the industrial companies of the Perez Companc Group. Between 1990 and 1992, he served as the director of human resources department at Telecom Argentina. Between 2002 and 2015, he worked at Edenor as director of the human resources and legal affairs department, then as director of the corporate affairs department, and finally as CEO of the company. Between 2016 and 2018, he served as the director of the public services area of the Province of Buenos Aires.

Federico Claudio Zin was born on October 2, 1979. He earned a CPA degree from the Universidad Católica Argentina and a certified capital market advisor. He has extensive experience in finance, structured debt, and in reporting and relations with public entities. He previously served as Adeco Agro’s finance manager for Argentina and Uruguay and as director of the M&A department at Global Acquisition Land Opportunities Fund. In the public sector, he served as Undersecretary of SMEs and Entrepreneurs at the Ministry of Production of the Province of Buenos Aires, and as chief of staff of the Secretary General of Government and director of investments at the GLOBA agency for the Secretary General of the Province of Buenos Aires. Since 2019, he has serves as director of restructuring and debt & corporate finance areas at Zeta Consultoría.

146

Mariano Cruz Lucero was born on August 8, 1960. He is a lawyer with a masters in business law from the University of Buenos Aires and an MBA from IAE (Austral University). He has an extensive career as a lawyer. He worked for Unilever Argentina and Video Cable Comunicación, was a partner with Marval, O’Farrel & Mairal the law firm, and CEO of Supercanal Holding. He is currently a partner at the Bissoni & Carcavallo law firm and consultants.

Juan Santiago Fraschina was born on January 14, 1977. He is an economistand graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. He has a Master's degree in Economic Sociology from UNSAM and a Master's degree in Economic History and Economic Policies from UBA. He has served as coordinator of Proximity Commerce of the Secretariat of Commerce, and was Vice Superintendent of Insurance of the Nation. He is a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, the National University of Lomas de Zamora and the University of Morón. He is currently General Secretary of Anses, and he is a member of the Board of Directors of Pampa Energía, and Ternium Argentina, as well as Edenor.

Federico Bernal was born in June, 1974. He has a degree in biochemistry and biotechnology from UBA. He specializes in Industrial Microbiology. He has extensive experience in energy matters, and he is also author of books and publications on this subject. He is currently the comptroller of the Ente Nacional Regulador del Gas. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the following companies: Transener S.A, Edesa Holding S.A., Edesal Holding S.A.

Hernan Ferrera was born in October, 1959. He has a degree in Sociology from the University of Buenos Aires and is an Electrotechnical degree from the Technical School N ° 9 Engineer Luis Huergo. He has served for more than ten years in many technical areas, among other, operational management, purchasing and logistics as well as implementation of different computer support systems. He also has a vast experience in the implementation of ISO 9002. He has served as professor at many Universities.

Benjamin Navarro was born in December, 1978. He has a degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires. He has worked in the energy and insurance sectors. He has more than 10 years of experience in different areas and government roles, including the role of senior analyst in the Energy Secretariat and in the Secretariat of Economic Policy. He was in charge of the statistics management of the Superintendence of Insurance of the Nation. He was deputy general manager of Emprendimientos Energéticos Binacionales S.A. He is currently Director of corporate affairs management of the Guarantee and Sustainability Fund, and he is also alternate director of the companies Distribuidora Gas Cuyana, Naturgy Ban, as well as of Edenor. He has also been a university professor.

Maximiliano Ramírez was born in July 1981 and has a degree in Economics from the National University of La Plata,where he also completed an MBA with a specialization in Capital Markets and obtained a master's degree in Economics. In addition, he has a diploma in Risk Management and Basel III from the University of San Andrés. He has extensive professional experience in the public sector where, prior to his appointment as Undersecretary of Macroeconomic Programming, he served as advisor to the presidency at the Banco de la Provincia de Buenos Aires and as an economic and financial analyst at the Ministry of Economy. In the academic field, he stood out as a researcher at the Institute for Research in Economic Sciences of the Universidad del Salvador, where he specialized in the analysis and prospects of the world economy and Argentina. He also teaches in different private and public universities in Argentina.

147

Victor Hugo Quevedo was born on April 1, 1963. He is a lawyer graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. He obtained an LL.M. (Master of Laws) at the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, University of London, and a PGDip.GB (Postgraduate Diploma in Global Business) at Said Business School, University of Oxford. He has studied international financial law at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, and energy law at the Center for Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy, University of Dundee. He worked as a lawyer at Borns & Salas, Muñoz de Toro & Quevedo, and Klein & Franco law firms. He is currently partner at the Quevedo Abogados law firm. He was an arbitrator in local arbitrations and served on numerous boards of directors and supervisory commissions in the country and abroad. He served in public service as a lawyer for the Presidency’s Legal and Technical Secretariat and General Director of Organization, Secretariat of Public Function. He also served as an advisor for the Secretariat of Public Function, for the National Prosecutor for Administrative Investigations and for the Secretariat of Energy. In the academic field, he was a professor of financial law in the Master of Business Law at the University of San Andrés and professor of international financial operations at ESEADE (Higher School of Economics and Administration) and the University of Palermo.

Mariano Cuneo Libarona was born on June 8, 1961. He graduated from the Law School at the University of the Argentine Social Museum. He has a master’s degree in criminal law from the Austral University and a specialization in criminal procedure law from the University of the Argentine Social Museum. He worked in the Judicial Power and, since 1989, has practiced his legal profession independently. He is a member of the Cúneo Libarona law firm. He also worked for various magazines and television programs, most recently as legal advisor for Forbes Argentina magazine and as a panelist in the Animales Sueltos program, broadcast by América. He worked as a teacher at various universities such as the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Belgrano, among others. He also served as a lawyer and advisor to various sports institutions.

Diego Hernán Pino was born on August 16, 1969. He has a degree in Business Administration from the Marine Merchant University, with an MBA from the Argentine Catholic University. He has been a member of the board of directors of Transclor S.A. (“Transclor”) since 2005. He held different executive positions, in finance, production and commercial areas, including the position of CEO. He is currently a shareholder and holds the presidency of the company. Before joining Transclor, he was the president at Boro Norte, a company dedicated to the production and commercialization of hydrochloric acid.

Sebastián Álvarez was born on June 20, 1965. He is a public accountant, graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. He has been a member of the board of directors of Transclor S.A. since 2005. Prior to joining Transclor, he worked in the tax department of Canale food company. Later, he went to Gustavo Leers company, covering roles in the administrative and foreign trade areas. Also, he worked at Frigorífico Ramallo as administrative manager, and later as partner of a consulting and tax law firm. Since 2001, he has worked at the Issuer Company in different management roles.

María Teresa Grieco has a degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires, a Master in Economics and Industrial Development with a Specialization in SMEs at the National University of General Sarmiento, and a Master in Journalism at the Universidad Torcuato Di Tella - Diario La Nación. She has worked at the Secretariat for Economic Policy (Undersecretary for Microeconomic Programming) of the Ministry of the Economy. With more than 15 years of experience, she has specialized in productive development and public policies for industrial and service sectors, with experience in leading work teams and coordinating projects for the analysis of industrial and service sectors and their value chains and senior consultant of the program of sector tables of the Ministry of Production and Labor, a public-private coordination space for the consensus of work agendas aimed at improving the competitiveness and internationalization of the different productive sectors. She is currently part of the Edenor’s board of directors.

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Mirta Silvia Maletta was born in March, 1959. She is a public accountant, graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. She has more than 35 years of experience as an auditor and consultant for companies and non-profit entities. She is a retired partner from PwC. She is president of the supervisory commission of the ENARD since its creation. She is also a member of the board of directors of the ORT Association of Argentina and the operative committee of the Civil Association Management Contributions for the Third Sector. She has served as independent director of La Caja de Seguros S.A. since April 2019 and she is IDEA Trustee since May 2021.

Pedro Iván Mazer is a lawyer graduated from the University of Belgrano. He has a master degree in business economic law from the UCA. He is also a member of Alfaro Abogados SC firm. He has vast experience in corporate law, M&As, contracts, antitrust and compliance, capital markets and general practice of commercial law. In addition, he has specialized over the years in oil and gas and pharma markets, including by attending a specialization course in oil and gas law at the UBA.

Emilse Alejandra Juarez was born in February, 1985. She has a degree in Economics from University of Buenos Aires, and she has also a Master in public policies for development with social inclusion from the University of FLACSO. She is a specialist in Social Economy. She has served as a university professor of Microeconomics at UNDAV (National University of Avellaneda). She currently coordinates the Economic-Financial Area of ​​the Directorate of Management of Corporate Affairs, Executive Sub-Directorate of Operation of the FGS (ANSES). Previously, she has also served as an economic analyst in the Technical and Administrative Coordination of the General Secretariat of ANSES. She took part as an assistant and coordinator in multiple projects of the Undersecretary of Entrepreneurs of the Natioanl Ministry of Production (including: UNDP PROJECT 16/004 "Program to Strengthen the Development of Social and Cultural Systemic Conditions for Entrepreneurship", PROJECT UNDP 16/004 “Program to Strengthen the Development of Social and Cultural Systemic Conditions for Entrepreneurship” and UNDP PROJECT ARG 11/018 “Mipc Program for Productive Development Phase II”). She has also served in the Civil Association Nuestras Huellas, in Boulogne, Province of Buenos Aires as Community Bank Coordinator. She is an alternate Director of the following companies: Edenor, Naturgy Ban, TGS and Distribuidora Gas Cuyana.

Maria Josefina Grosso was born in May, 1978. She has a degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires, a Master in Economics and Industrial Development with a Specialization in PyMES at the National University of General Sarmiento and a Master in Journalism at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella - Diario La Nación. She works at the Secretariat for Economic Policy (Undersecretary for Microeconomic Programming) of the Ministry of Economy. With more than 15 years of experience, she has specialized in productive development and public policies for industrial and service areas. She also has experience in leading work teams and coordinating projects for the analysis of industrial and service sectors and its value chains. She has served as senior consultant of the program of sector tables of the Ministry of Production and Labor, a space for public-private coordination for the consensus at improving the competitiveness and internationalization of the different productive sectors.

Facundo Carmona was born in July, 1987. He has a degree in Economics from the University of La Plata. He is currently a coordinator in the corporate affairs management department at the Sub-directorate of Executive Operation of the Sustainability Guarantee Fund – ANSES. He has served as analyst and sector specialist in the Gross Geographical Product Area - Department of Economic and Social Statistics, at the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of the Province of Buenos Aires. He has served also as a consultant at the Undersecretary of Public Investment at the Ministry of Economy of Buenos Aires Province.

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Compensation

With regard to the remuneration policy for senior management, we have implemented a fixed and variable remuneration system. The fixed remuneration is related to both the level of responsibility required for the position and its competitiveness as compared to similar positions in the market, whereas the variable remuneration is associated with the business objectives set at the beginning of each fiscal year and the degree of achievement of such objectives by the performance of the executive member throughout each fiscal year.

Our Board of Directors has not designated a Remuneration Committee and has delegated to the Human Resources Department the approval of the general policy on the remuneration of the Company’s employees, as well as the responsibility of proposing options and subsequently implementing the specific decisions and policies on these issues. Due to the fact that he is a related party, our Chief Executive Officer’s remuneration has been approved by the Audit Committee and our Board of Directors. The aggregate remuneration paid to the members and alternate members of our Board of Directors, the members and alternate members of our supervisory committee and our senior management during 2021 was Ps.30.1 million, Ps.5.2 million and Ps.1,518 million at nominal currency, respectively.

Board Practices

The duties and responsibilities of the members of our Board of Directors are set forth in Argentine law and our by-laws. Under Argentine law, directors must perform their duties with loyalty and the diligence of a prudent business person. Directors are prohibited from engaging in activities that compete with our company without express authorization of a shareholders’ meeting. Certain transactions between directors and our company are subject to ratification procedures established by Argentine law.

On November 29, 2012, the Argentine Government enacted Law No. 26,831 (the “Capital Markets Law” or “CML”) which revokes Law No. 17,811 and Decree No. 677/01. However, the CML adopted most of the provisions established in those regulations. The CML was enacted with the aim of creating an adequate legal framework to strengthen the level of protection of investors in the market. Other objectives of the CML were to promote the development, liquidity, stability, solvency and transparency of the market, generating procedures to guarantee the efficient distribution of savings and good practices in the administration of corporations.

The CML imposes the following duties on members of the Board of Directors of Argentine public companies:

·

a duty to disclose all material events related to the company, including any fact or situation which is capable of affecting the value or trading of the securities of the company;

·

a duty of loyalty and diligence;

·

a duty of confidentiality; and

·

a duty to consider the general interests of all shareholders over the interests of controlling shareholders.

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There are no agreements between our company and the members of our Board of Directors that provide for any benefits upon termination of their designation as directors.

None of our directors maintains service contracts with us except as described in “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions.”

The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE standards are listed on our website in compliance with the NYSE requirements. For a summary of these differences see “Item 16G. Corporate Governance”.

Executive Committee

On October 4, 2007, our Board of Directors created an Executive Committee, as contemplated by our by-laws and Argentine Law No. 19,550 (Commercial Companies Law), and delegated to the Executive Committee the authority to take certain actions on behalf of the board. The Executive Committee complements the work of the board by performing certain day-to-day tasks required to oversee our activity. By creating an Executive Committee, the board sought to increase the efficiency of our management. The Executive Committee consists of Neil Arthur Bleasdale, Edagardo Alberto Volosin and Eduardo Marcelo Vila.

Audit Committee

Pursuant to the CML and CNV rules, Argentine public companies must appoint a comité de auditoría (audit committee) composed of at least three members of the Board of Directors, a majority of which must be independent in accordance with the criteria set forth by Argentine law. They serve for one-year periods

Pursuant to our by-laws, one director is appointed by holders of our Class A common shares and one by holders of our Class B common shares. Our audit committee’s duties include:

·

monitoring our internal control, administrative and accounting systems;

·

supervising the application of our risk management policies;

·

providing the market adequate information regarding conflicts of interests that may arise between our company and our directors or controlling shareholders;

·

rendering opinions on relevant transactions with related parties;

·

supervising and reporting to regulatory authorities the existence of any kind of conflict of interest;

·

supervising external audit and evaluating their independence, plans and performance;

·

evaluating plans and performance of the internal audit,

·

supervising the operations of the complaints channel.

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the members of our audit committee were:

 

Name		Position		Class electing member
Macek Esteban Gabriel (1)		Chairman		Class A
Zin Federico Claudio  (1)		Member		Class A
Navarro Benjamín Andrés  (1)		Member		Class B/C

(1) Independent under Argentine law and under Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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Senior Management

The following table sets forth information regarding our senior management, as of December 31, 2021:

Name		Current Position
Neil Arthur Bleasdale		Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Miguel Farrel *		Technical Director
Pablo Perez		Director of Operations and Customer Services
Germán Ranftl		Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Cristina Canzani		Director of Information Technology and Telecommunications
Neil Arthur Bleasdale *		Director of Human Resources
María José Van Morlegan		Legal Affairs Manager
Ricardo Luttini		Internal Audit (1)
Fabiana Colombo		Director of Supply, Services and Logistics

* Position held temporarily.

(1) Internal Audit participates in the Operating Committee with voice, but without vote.

Miguel Farrel is an electrical engineer, graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, with a master's degree in business administration from USAL-DEUSTO. He joined the Company in 1994 and he has hold various positions, such as NEXUS project deputy manager and preventive maintenance deputy manager. He has been planning and technical control manager since 2016.

Pablo Perez is an engineer graduated from the National Technological University (UTN) with a master´s degree in business administration from Universidad del Salvador. He has hold different positions within the company in areas related to operation and maintenance. In 2006, he was appointed as the operations manager for the Pilar area and, since August 2010, he has worked as the distribution manager. In such position, he has been in charge of coordinating the Company’s operations departments -the control center that includes the alta, media and low voltage network- and the technical processes inherent to the technical operations. He assumed his role as operations and client services director on October 1, 2021.

Germán Ranftl is a public accountant from the University of Buenos Aires and obtained an MBA from UCEMA. He has spent 11 years in the banking sector, 8 of which he served as vice president of corporate finance and investment banking. Since 1998 and for five years, he was the chief financial officer of Supercanal S.A. and later joined Integra Investment SA as vice president, a consulting firm with international and Argentine transactions in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and debt restructuring. He also served as EDEMSA’s chief financial officer.

Cristina Canzani graduated from University of Buenos Aires, with a post degree in Systems Management at University of Belgrano. She has worked for more than 25 years at Edenor, in positions such as systems manager, applications manager and commercial office manager, having a vast experience in both technological aspects and the electrical business. In addition, she has 15 years of experience holding various technology positions in social security agencies and acted as an independent technology consultant for various industries.

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María José Van Morlegan graduated as a lawyer from the Universidad Católica Argentina and obtained an MBA from IAE. She has extensive experience working at major law firms and managerial roles in financial and advisory entities by working for major companies. She is a member of the supervisory commission of Caja de Valores S.A.

Ricardo Luttini is an accountant graduated from the University of Belgrano in 1986. He has an extensive experience in leading multidisciplinary teams focused on effectiveness of internal control systems, and compliance with the corresponding internal and external regulations. He has worked at Axion Energy Argentina and at Telecom Argentina as audit director. Likewise, he has served as business control and audit manager at La Caja de Ahorro y Seguro, general manager at Banco Caja de Ahorro, and manager of accounting, management control and internal audit at Banco Mercantil Argentino..

Fabiana Colombo is a former CFO of Grupo América. Fabiana is an accountant, graduated from the University of Buenos Aires and has a certification in e-commerce finance from UCEMA and an executive program for corporate finance. She has specialized in administration and finance, budgeting, management and control. She has vast experience in finance, information and communication technologies, network deployment, audiovisual media and electronic commerce. Also, she has developed professional activities advising companies on accounting, auditing, taxes, balance sheets, business acquisitions and Due Diligence processes.

Supervisory Committee

Argentine law requires certain corporations, such as us, to have a Comisión Fiscalizadora (supervisory committee). The supervisory committee is responsible for overseeing compliance with our by-laws, shareholders’ resolutions and Argentine law and, without prejudice to the role of external auditors, is required to present to the shareholders at the annual ordinary general meeting a written report on the reasonableness of the financial information included in our annual report and in the financial statements presented to the shareholders by our Board of Directors. The members of the supervisory committee are also authorized to attend Board of Directors’, audit committee’s and shareholders’ meetings, call extraordinary shareholders’ meetings, and investigate written complaints of shareholders holding at least 2% of our outstanding shares. Pursuant to Argentine law, the members of the supervisory committee must be licensed attorneys or certified public accountants.

Our by-laws provide that our supervisory committee must consist of three members and three alternate members, elected by our shareholders at an ordinary meeting. Members of our supervisory committee are elected to serve one-year terms and may be re-elected. Pursuant to our by-laws, holders of our Class A common shares are entitled to appoint two members and two alternate members of the supervisory committee and holders of our Class B and Class C common shares are entitled to collectively appoint one member and one alternate member.

The members and alternate members of our supervisory committee as of December 31. 2020 were:

Name		Position		Year of appointment (class electing director)
Carlos Esteban Cvitanich (1)		Chairman		2021 (Class A)
Javier Errecondo (1)		Member		2021 (Class A)
Jorge Roberto Pardo (1)		Member		2021 (Class B/C)
Carlos Borgatello (1)		Alternate Member		2021 (Class A)
Federico Matías Ortega Armas (1)		Alternate Member		2021 (Class A)
Sandra Auditore (1)		Alternate Member		2021 (Class B/C)

(1)

Independent under Argentine law.

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Carlos Esteban Cvitanich is an accountant graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. He has developed professional activities advising national and international companies in accounting, auditing, taxes, balance sheets, receiverships, mergers and acquisitions, and due diligence processes. He worked at PWC (Price Waterhouse Coopers) Firm from 1984 to 1999. He has been director of Multimedios Grupo América for more than 20 years. He has vast experience in the communication and information technology services sector, with dedication to the corporate area.

Javier Errecondo is a lawyer from the University of Buenos Aires. He has specialized in banking law and capital markets, restructuring of sovereign and corporate debt, purchase and sale of share packages and structuring of investment vehicles. He has more than 35 years of experience representing companies, financial institutions, investment fund managers and high net worth individuals. He is registered to practice professionally in the City of Buenos Aires and in the City of New York. He was a foreign associate in the New York office of the law firm Shearman & Sterling from 1988 to 1992. Since 2004, he has been a founding member of the EGFA Lawyers firm.

Jorge Roberto Pardo was born on March 31, 1953, and is a public accountant with a degree from the University of Buenos Aires. He has been a member of our supervisory committee since April 26, 2018. From 1993, he has worked at the Sindicatura General de la Nación (SIGEN) and has held several positions of relevance, including, among others, the deputy general syndic of the nation during the period 2002-2003. Between 1983 and 1992, he worked in the General Office of Public Companies or SIGEP.

Carlos Borgatello has a degree in administration and finance. He has more than 35 years of experience in national and multinational companies of first level. He also has extensive knowledge of business in countries such as Brazil and Uruguay. He is currently an independent consultant in administration and finance. Previously, he worked as consulting and audit department partner at the consultants firms Gruslin, Martinez and Associates, and Rodriguez, Zachera and Associates .

Federico Matías Ortega Armas is a lawyer. He is a partner of the firm MCO & Abogados. He has vast experience in legal advice on business matters, M&A, corporate and business law. Previously, he worked at Llerena y Asociados, and he served in the department of legal affairs at A.N.M.A.T.

Sandra Auditore was born on November 3, 1967. She has been an alternate member of our supervisory committee since April 24, 2019. Mrs Auditore is a Public Accounting from the Universidad de Buenos Aires since 1995. In 2011 she completed a Specialization in Government Control. Currently, also serves as Company Trustee at Nación Seguros S.A., Nación Seguros de Retiro S.A., Nación Reaseguros S.A. and Transener S.A.

In addition, the list of Directors who held their positions during the year 2021 and have resigned after the change in control of Edenor are the followings:

Name		Position		Year of appointment (class electing director)
José Daniel Abelovich (1)		Member		2021 (Class A)
Marcelo Fuxman (1)		Member		2021 (Class A)
Martin Fernandez Dussaut (1)		Alternate Member		2021 (Class A)
Noemí Cohn (1)		Alternate Member		2021 (Class A)

(1)

Position held until August 10, 2021.

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Employees

Edenor had 4,688 employees as of December 31, 2021, 4,776 employees as of December 31, 2020 and 4,777 employees as of December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2021, approximately 81% of our full-time employees were subject to two collective bargaining agreements.

The Company’s labor relations with its employees are reflected in the collective bargaining agreements entered into with the Sindicato de Luz y Fuerza (Electric Light and Power Labor Union or “LYF”) for production personnel and the Asociación del Personal Superior de Empresas de Energía (Association of Energy Companies’ Supervisory Personnel or “APSEE”) for supervision personnel. In July 1995, we signed two collective bargaining agreements with the Electric Light and Power Labor Union and Association of Energy Companies’ Supervisory Personnel, which are currently in force pursuant to collective bargaining agreements 817/06 “E” (LYF) and 805/06 “E” (APSEE). Such agreements were renewed on November 8, 2006 and October 5, 2006 respectively. The union agreements have a joint commission integrated by representatives of the Company and the unions, to interpret the agreements and analyze claims and unresolved issues that arise in our daily activities. The most common issues that arise are related to changes in the organization of working tasks, the conformation of the working teams, relocation and readjustment of employees’ positions, detailed situations with personnel and the analysis of the suitability of different technological advances and their applications.

Although the terms of the collective bargaining agreements approved by the competent authorities have expired, the working conditions arising therefrom continue to apply until the execution of a new agreement by virtue of the provisions of Section 12 of Law No. 14,250, pursuant to which a collective bargaining agreement shall remain valid after its expiration if it is not renewed.

Furthermore, the Company has entered into several memoranda of understanding with the aforementioned unions with an aim to improving the productivity, efficiency, and the integral application of multi-functionalism and multi-professionalism in the development of the tasks of personnel in order to increase the quality levels of the service provided to users.

Additional improvements to optimize the Company’s human resources in the different operational areas include the incorporation and adoption of new technologies and the introduction of changes in organizational structures, work plans and management systems, including the realignment of positions, responsibilities, work shifts and integration of different workplaces.

The collective bargaining agreements entered into in December 2020 were in effect until March 2021. Subsequently, a new agreement effective from April 2021 to March 2022 was signed, which complies with the salary guidelines established in Decree No. 14/2020. As of the date of this annual report, there is no certainty concerning future collective bargaining agreements.

We outsource a number of activities related to our business to third party contractors in order to achieve a lower and more flexible cost base, so as not to oversize our structure following works and investments plans that change from year to year and to provide us with the ability to respond more quickly to changes in our market. We have contracts with third-party service companies that together employed a total of 5,877 employees as of December 31, 2021, 5,977 employees as of December 31, 2020 and 5,588 employees as of December 31, 2019. Although we have very strict policies regarding compliance with labor and social security obligations by our contractors, we are not in a position to ensure that, if conflicted, contractors’ employees will not initiate legal actions to seek indemnification from us based upon a number of judicial rulings issued by labor courts in Argentina recognizing joint and several liabilities between the contractor and the entity to which it is supplying services under certain circumstances. As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, termination complaints amounted to Ps.1,702.5 million, Ps.1,315.2 million and Ps.1,843.3 million, respectively.

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Share Ownership

None of the members of our Board of Directors, our audit committee or our senior management beneficially own any shares of our capital stock. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”

 

 

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

The following table sets forth information relating to the ownership of our common shares as of the date of this annual report.

		Class(1)		Shares		Percent Ownership
Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur (EDELCOS) (2)		A		462,292,111		51.00%
ANSES(3)		B		242,999,553		26.81%
Public		B		168,076,412		18.54%
Treasury Shares		B		31,134,420		3.43%
Employee Stock Participation Program		C		1,952,604		0.22%
Total				906,455,100		100.00%

(1)

Each class of shares entitles holders to one vote per share.

(2)

All of our Class A common shares have been pledged to the Argentine Government to secure our obligations under our concession and cannot be transferred without the prior approval of the ENRE. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Our Obligations”.

(3)

On November 20, 2008, the Argentine Congress passed a law unifying the Argentine pension and retirement system into a system publicly administered by the ANSES and eliminating the retirement savings system previously administered by private pension funds under the supervision of the Superintendency of Retirement and Pension Funds Administrators, under the Ministry of Labor. In accordance with the new law, private pension funds transferred all of the assets administered by them under the retirement savings system to the ANSES. These transferred assets included 242,999,553 of our Class B common shares, representing 26.8% of our capital stock. The ANSES is subject to the same investment rules, prohibitions and restrictions that were applicable to the Argentine private pension funds under the retirement savings system, except as described in the following sentence. On April 12, 2011, the Executive Power issued Emergency Decree No. 441, which annulled the restrictions under Section 76(f) of Law No. 24,241 on the exercise of more than 5% of the voting power in any local or foreign company, such as us, in any meeting of shareholders, irrespective of the actual interest held in the relevant company’s capital stock. The annulment of the restrictions under Section 76(f) of Law No. 24,241 came into effect on April 14, 2011. As of such date, ANSES may exercise its voting power in any local or foreign company, such as us, based on the actual interest held in the relevant company’s capital stock.

 

 

All of our shares have the same voting rights. As of December 31, 2021, there were five registered shareholders of our ADSs in the United States and 3,757,486 of our ADSs were outstanding. Since certain of our ADSs are held by brokers or other nominees, the number of direct record holders in the United States may not be fully indicative of the number of direct beneficial owners in the United States or of where the direct beneficial owners of such shares are residents. We have no information concerning holders with registered addresses in the United States that hold our shares not represented by ADSs.

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Initial Public Offering

In April 2007, we completed the initial public offering of our Class B ordinary shares in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADSs). We and a group of our shareholders sold 18,050,097 ADSs, representing 361,001,940 ordinary Class B common shares, in an offering in the United States and other jurisdictions outside of Argentina, and the Employee Stock Participation Program sold 81,208,416 ordinary class B shares in a simultaneous offering in Argentina. The ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “EDN” and the Class B common shares are listed on the BYMA under the same symbol. We received approximately U.S.$61.4 million from the initial public offering, before costs. Of this amount, we used approximately U.S.$36 million to repurchase some of our Discount Notes due 2014. The remainder of the proceeds from the initial public offering was used to repurchase some of our Fixed Rate Par Notes due 2016 and for capital expenditures. After the initial public offering, our controlling shareholder continues to own 51% of our ordinary shares.

Share Buy-Back Program

On November 14, 2008, we commenced an open-market share purchase program. Under the terms of the program, we were authorized to purchase our Class B common shares for up to Ps.45 million in nominal currency, equivalent to Ps.466.5 million in current currency, subject to certain volume and price restrictions. The open market share purchase program expired on March 17, 2009. Pursuant to the program we purchased 9,012,500 Class B common shares, at an average price of Ps.0.65 per share in nominal currency, equivalent to Ps.6.8 in current currency, representing approximately 1.03% of our capital stock.

The original term of own shares in portfolio was extended by resolution of the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company dated March 3, 2011, for the same term, computable from November of that year.

On November 18, 2014, the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company approved an additional extension of three years which will allow for an automatic reduction of capital under the Capital Markets Law and develop a proposal to target those shares, which will be submitted for consideration and approval of the relevant corporate bodies.

On April 18, 2017, the Company held the Annual General Meeting that resolved by majority vote to approve the allocation of own shares in portfolio to the implementation of the long-term incentive plan in favor of personnel dependent on company under the terms of article 67 of the CML.

 

On May 10, 2018, the Company held an Annual General Meeting that resolved by majority vote to approve the allocation of own shares in portfolio under the terms of article 67 of the CML.

On December 4, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors, approved a share repurchase pursuant to both Section 64 of the CML and the regulations of the CNV, under the following terms and conditions: a maximum amount of Ps.800 million can be invested; the treasury stock may not exceed the limit of 10% of share capital, as a whole; the maximum price to be paid for the shares is U.S.$30 per ADR in the New York Stock Exchange, or the equivalent amount in Pesos at U.S.$1.5 per share in the Argentine stock exchange and markets (Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos S.A. or “BYMA”); the repurchases will be made with realized and liquid profits; and the shares may be acquired for a term of 120 calendar days beginning on December 5, 2018.

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In this framework, on December 31, 2018, the Company repurchased 15,590,860 of its own Class B shares with a nominal value of Ps.1.

On April 8, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the allocation of own shares in portfolio under the terms of article 67 of the CML.

In making such a decision, the Board of Directors took into account the same decisions adopted on the Board of Directors’ meetings of May 10, 2018 and December 4, 2018.

The following are only the terms and conditions approved by the Board of Directors for the share repurchase, which differ from the terms and conditions for the share repurchase approved on May 10, 2018: (i) a maximum amount of Ps.800 million can be invested; the treasury stock may not exceed the limit of 10% of share capital, in the aggregate; (ii) the maximum price to be paid for the shares is U.S.$23 per ADR in the New York Stock Exchange, or the equivalent amount in Pesos at U.S.$1.15 per share in the BYMA; (iii) the repurchases will be made with realized and liquid profits; and (iv) the shares could be acquired for a term of 120 calendar days beginning on April 17, 2019.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s treasury stock amounted to 31,134,420 and 31,380,871 Class B shares (8,269,740 and 15,590,860 were acquired in 2019, for a total of Ps.1,230.6 million and Ps.3,376 million restated in constant currency, respectively).

The Company’s Share-based Compensation Plan

In 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors proposed that the Company’s treasury shares be used for the implementation of a long-term incentive plan in favor of executive directors, managers or other personnel holding key executive positions that have an employment relationship with the Company and those individuals that are invited to participate in the future, under the terms of Section 67 of the CML. The plan was ratified and approved by the ordinary and extraordinary shareholders’ meeting held on April 18, 2017.

In 2017, the “long term incentive plan” addressed to Edenor’s staff was developed with the purpose of keeping and attracting key staff and promoting the highest performance by offering company’s shares to the executive and management levels and other key employees. The plan would be administered and executed by an implementing committee to be composed of three members of the Company’s Executive Committee, which, in April of each year decides on the implementation of the plan for the respective calendar year and shall issue the corresponding annual granting resolution.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 the Company owned 31,134,420 and 31,380,871 shares, respectively, held as treasury stock. In April 2021, 246,451 shares were delivered as additional remuneration to executive directors and managers in connection with the compensation plan mentioned above.

Employee Stock Participation Program

At the time of the privatization of SEGBA (our predecessor), the Argentine Government allocated all of our Class C common shares, representing 10% of our outstanding capital stock, to establish a Programa de Propiedad Participada (employee stock participation program, or PPP), pursuant to Law No. 23,696 and regulations thereunder, through which certain eligible employees (including former employees of SEGBA who became our employees) were each entitled to receive a specified number of our Class C common shares, calculated in accordance with a formula that considered a number of factors, including the employee’s salary level, position and seniority. In order to implement the PPP, a general transfer agreement, a share syndication agreement and a trust agreement were executed.

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Pursuant to the transfer agreement, participating employees were allowed to defer payment for the Class C common shares over time. As a guarantee for the payment of the deferred purchase price, the Class C common shares were pledged in favor of the Argentine Government. Furthermore, under the original trust agreement, the Class C common shares were placed in trust by the Argentine Government with Banco Nación, acting as trustee for the Class C common shares, for the benefit of the participant employees and the Argentine Government. In addition, pursuant to the share syndication agreement, all political rights of the participant employees (including the right to vote at our ordinary and extraordinary shareholders’ meetings) were to be exercised collectively until the payment in full of the deferred purchase price and the release of the pledge in favor of the Argentine Government. On April 27, 2007, the participant employees paid the deferred purchase price of all of the Class C common shares in full to the Argentine Government and, accordingly, the pledge was released and the share syndication agreement was terminated.

According to the regulations applicable to the employee stock participation program, participating employees who terminated their employment with us before the payment in full of the deferred purchase price to the Argentine Government were required to transfer their shares to the guarantee and repurchase fund, at a price calculated pursuant to a formula set forth in the transfer agreement. As of the date of payment of the deferred purchase price, the guarantee and repurchase fund had not paid in full the amounts due to the former participating employees for the transfer of their Class C common Shares.

A number of our and SEGBA’s former employees have brought claims against the guaranty and repurchase fund, the Argentine Government and, in certain limited cases, us, in each case relating to the administration of our Employee Stock Participation Program. The plaintiffs who are former employees of SEGBA were not deemed eligible by the relevant authorities to participate in the Employee Stock Participation Program at the time of its creation, which determination these plaintiffs´ dispute and are seeking compensation for. The plaintiffs, who are our former employees, are either seeking payment of amounts due to them by the guaranty and repurchase fund for share transfers that occurred upon their retirement from our employment or disputing the calculation of the amounts paid to them by the Guaranty and Repurchase Fund. In several of these claims, the plaintiffs have obtained attachment orders or injunctive relief against the guaranty and repurchase fund over approximately 1,567,231 Class C common shares and Ps.0.7 million of the funds on deposit in the fund, in each case up to the amount of their respective claims. Because the outcome of these proceedings has not yet been determined, the Argentine Government has instructed Banco Nación to create a Contingency Fund to hold a portion of the proceeds of the offering of Class B common shares by the Employee Stock Participation Program pending the outcome of these legal proceedings.

According to the agreements, laws and Decrees that govern the employee stock participation program, our Class C common shares may only be held by our employees. Upon the closing of our initial public offering, substantially all of our Class C common shares were converted into Class B common shares and sold. In accordance with these agreements, laws and Decrees, the rights previously attributable to the Class C common shares have been combined with those attributable to the Class B common shares, and holders of the remaining Class C common shares will vote jointly as a single class with the holders of Class B common shares in the election of directors. Only 1,952,604 Class C common shares remain outstanding, representing 0.2% of our capital stock.

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Change of control

On December 28, 2020, Pampa Energía, the former holder of 100% of Edenor’s Class A shares, representing 51% of Edenor’s share capital, entered into a share purchase and sale agreement, as the seller, with Edelcos.

By virtue of such agreement, Pampa Energía agreed, subject to certain conditions precedent such as the approval of both its shareholders’ meeting and the ENRE, to sell its controlling interest in Edenor by transferring all the Class A Shares and votes to Edelcos.

Accordingly, on February 17, 2021, the shareholders’ meeting of Pampa Energía approved the referred to Acquisition.

On June 23, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 207/2021, the ENRE authorized Pampa Energía to transfer 100% of Edenor’s Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes, to Edelcos in accordance with the SPA. The transfer of 100% of Edenor’s Class A shares closed shortly thereafter, on June 30, 2021.

Also, on July 7, 2021, Edelcos notified the National Commission for Competition Defense (CNDC), pursuant to the terms of Article 8 of Law 25,156, of the existence of the SPA for the Acquisition, requesting the approval of such commission. As of the date of this annual report, the CNCD has not issued any decision in this regard.

Following the change of control, the Class A directors tendered their resignations. To fill the vacancies, the Company’s Supervisory Committee appointed Messrs. Neil A. Bleasdale (Chairman), Esteban Macek (Vice-Chairman); Nicolás Mallo Huergo, Eduardo Vila, Edgardo Volosin, Federico Zin and Mariano C. Lucero as directors and Messrs. Hugo Quevedo, Mariano C. Libarona, Daniel O. Seppacuercia, Diego Hernán Pino, Sebastián Álvarez and María Teresa Grieco as alternate directors.

As required by the regulations in effect and within the time periods set forth therein, Edelcos carried out a mandatory tender offer in Argentina and the United States in respect of the Class B and Class C common shares issued by the Company, including those repreented by ADSs.

As of the date of this annual report, Edenor is a subsidiary of Edelcos.

Edelcos strategy is to develop opportunities in the power generation, electricity distribution, new energy sources, electrification of the economy and transport, giving emphasis to energy transitions and ESG matters.

Edelcos believes that the pandemic has changed the lives of people whose households have become the centre of their daily activities, such as work, education, entertainment, etc. while cities will experiment changes in the near future, redesigning neighbourhoods and city centres with a smarter view, experiencing a deepest consciousness of climate change and social responsibility. Electricity is key to all these developments and it is a unique business opportunity for the future, where universal energy access is one of the goals for 2030.

 

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Technical Assistance Agreement with Edelcos

The agreement comprises the provision to the Company of technical advisory services, especially in financial matters. It expires in December 2026, but may be extended if so agreed by the parties thereto. In exchange for such services, the Company pays Edelcos either an annual amount of Ps.1,766 million or the amount equivalent to 1.75% of the annual gross billing, whichever results in the higher amount, plus the associated value added tax. Any of the parties may terminate the agreement at any time by giving 60 days’ notice, without having to comply with any further obligations or paying any indemnification to the other party.

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Company recorded charges for Edelcos technical advisory services for a total of Ps. 911 million relating to the services rendered in the second half of 2021.

 

Agreement with SACME

In the framework of the regulation of the Argentine electric power sector established by Law No. 24,065 and SEE Resolution No. 61/92, and after the awarding of the distribution areas of the city and metropolitan area of Buenos Aires to Edenor and Edesur, the bidding terms and conditions of the privatization provided that both companies were required to organize SACME to operate the electric power supervision and control center of the transmission and sub-transmission system that feeds the market areas transferred to those companies. For such purpose, on September 18, 1992 SACME was organized by Edenor and Edesur.

 

SACME’s purpose is to manage, supervise and control the operation of both the electric power generation, transmission and sub-transmission system in the City of Buenos Aires and the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and the interconnections with the SADI, to represent distribution companies in the operational management before CAMMESA, and, in general, to carry out the necessary actions for the proper development of its activities.

 

The share capital of SACME is divided into 12,000 common, registered non-endorsable shares, of which 6,000 Class I shares are owned by Edenor and 6,000 Class II shares are owned by Edesur.

 

In 2021, the Company’s operating costs amounted to Ps.317 million.

 

 

FIDUS S.G.R.

On December 4, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the contribution of funds to Fidus S.G.R. totalling Ps.25 million, in the capacity as protector partner and with the scope set forth in Law No. 24,467.

 

Furthermore, on December 21, 2020, the contribution made as protector partner was refunded to the Company.

 

 

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Item 8.

Financial Information

See “Item 18. Financial Statements and Report Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 1349)” beginning on page F-1.

 

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS

Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of our business, we participate as plaintiff and defendant in various types of lawsuits. Our management evaluates the merit of each claim and assesses its possible outcome, recording a reasonable allowance in our financial statements for the contingencies related to the claims filed in the lawsuits against the Company. As of December 31, 2021, we had established provisions in the aggregate amount of Ps.4,518 million to cover potential losses from such claims and legal proceedings. Except as disclosed below, we are not a party to any legal proceedings or claims that may have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

We are not aware of any other contingencies that are reasonably possible and, as of December 31, 2021, there were no losses in excess of the contingencies that we recognized in our Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The most significant legal actions in which the Company is a party involved are detailed below:

a.

Legal action brought by Consumidores Financieros Asociación civil para su defensa

In March 2010, Consumidores Financieros, Asociación Civil Para Su Defensa, a consumers’ association, instituted an action against Edenor and Edesur in the National Court of First Instance in Federal Administrative Claims Tribunal No. 2, Secretariat 3 (Juzgado Nacional de Primera Instancia en lo Contencioso). The action is based on three claims. First, the plaintiffs claim a refund for the percentage payment of VAT over a taxable base they allege was inappropriately increased to include an amount that exceeded Edenor’s and Edesur’s own payments to the WEM. Second, the plaintiffs claim a refund for charges relating to interest on payments by users that the plaintiffs claim Edenor and Edesur failed to adjust to reflect the actual number of days the payment was outstanding. Finally, the plaintiffs claim a refund for late payment charges from 2008 onwards calculated at the interest rate that Banco Nación pays on deposits (tasa pasiva) in alleged contravention of the Law of Consumer Defense (Ley de Defensa del Consumidor) in April 2008.

On April 22, 2010, we answered the complaint and filed a motion to dismiss for lack of standing (“excepción de falta de legitimación”), requesting, at such time, that summons be served upon the Argentine Government, the AFIP and the ENRE as third-party defendants.

Prior to the evidence stage, the review of the proceeding by the Fiscal Representative was ordered, for the purpose of issuing a ruling on the lack of standing motion filed by Edenor. Once the proceeding returned to the court, the motion to dismiss for lack of standing was rejected. In due time, the Company appealed such rejection.

 

During 2020, the evidence was offered and the allegations were presented. Prior to the issuance of the judgement, the case was sent to the Fiscal Agent. The dismissal based on lack of standing and expiration have been deferred and will be considered at the final judgment. The ADDUC case (see below), which has not yet reached trial, will be considered together with these actions. Once both cases reach identical procedural conditions, a single judgement will be issued. This proceeding is not projected to conclude during 2022.

 

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b.

Legal action brought by Asociación de Defensa de Derechos de Usuarios y Consumidores – ADDUC

On October 21, 2011, we were notified of a lawsuit filed by the Association for the Defense of Rights of Users and Consumers (Asociación de Defensa de Derechos de Usuarios y Consumidores, or “ADDUC”) requesting that the intervening court (i) order the reduction or moderation of penalty interest rates or late payment interest that we charge to users, because such rates allegedly violate Art. 31 of Law 24,240, and (ii) declare the non-implementation of the agreements or conventions which have stipulated the interest rates that we apply to its users, and of the administrative regulations on the basis of which we justify the interest charging and (iii) orders the restitution of wrongfully perceived interests of users. On April 8, 2014, the court granted the motion to dismiss on account of the existence of other action pending (lis pendens) and ordered that the proceedings be referred to such other court, to be consolidated with such other case “Consumidores Financieros Asociación Civil c/EDESUR y Otro s/ incumplimiento contractual”.

Prior to the evidence stage, the review of the proceeding by the Fiscal Representative was ordered, for the purpose of issuing a ruling on the lack of standing motion filed by Edenor. Once the proceeding returned to the court, the motion to dismiss for lack of standing was rejected. In due time, the Company appealed such rejection.

 

On October 16, 2020, the National Court of Appeals for Federal Administrative Matters upheld the decision of the lower court, with costs, rejecting the lack of standing filed by Edenor S.A. The file is ready to be opened for evidence. The proceeding is not expected to be concluded during 2022.

 

c.

Legal action brought by the Company (“Edenor S.A. vs Federal Government – Ministry of Federal Planning / proceeding for the determination of a claim and motion to litigate in forma pauperis”)

On June 28, 2013, we initiated a legal action against the Ministry of Planning, Public Investment and Services pursuant to an acknowledgment process and a request to litigate without expenses, both entertained by the National Court of First Instance in Federal Administrative Claims Tribunal No. 11 (Juzgado Nacional de Primera Instancia en lo Contencioso Administrativo Federal No 11). We claimed a breach by the Argentine Government of the agreed terms under the Adjustment Agreement and sought compensation for damages.

On November 22, 2013, we amended the complaint so as to claim additional damages as a consequence of the Argentine Government’s omission to perform the obligations under the aforementioned “Adjustment Agreement”. On February 3, 2015, the court hearing the case ordered that notice of the complaint be served within the time limit prescribed by law, which was answered by the Argentine Government. Subsequently, the Company informed the Court of the issuance of SE Resolution No. 32/15 as new event (“hecho nuevo”), under the terms of Section 365 of the Federal Code of Civil and Commercial Procedure. After notice was served, the court rejected the treatment thereof as an “event”, holding Edenor liable for costs. The Company filed an appeal, which was admitted “with a delayed effect” (i.e. the Appellate Court will grant or reject the appeal when deciding on the granting or rejection of the appeal against final judgment). On December 4, 2015, we requested the suspension of the procedural time-limits, which as of the date of this annual report, are still suspended by mutual agreement.

The request to litigate without expenses, which was filed on July 2, 2013, is at the discovery period and the period for the parties to file their arguments on the merits of the produced evidence has begun. As of the date of this annual report, and by “agreement of the parties”, the procedural time-limits continue to be suspended.

On September 16, 2019, the Company -within the framework of the "request to litigate without expenses” proceeding-, presented a waiver of the action and the right, arguing that the costs would be imposed in the order in which they were incurred. The representatives of the Argentine Government agreed with the terms of the brief. On September 24, 2019, the court took into account such brief and ordered to close this separate proceeding.

163

Simultaneously, in the main proceeding, the Company (with the Argentine Government’s consent), on September 16, 2019, submitted a waiver of the action and the right, declaring that the facts disputed in the proceeding amounted to Ps.6,900 million. As a result, the payment of the justice fee was integrated, which amounted to Ps.207 million. The proceeding was sent to the Treasury for review and approval purposes. The Treasury approved the payment, and the proceeding concluded.

d.

Legal action brought by the Company (Study, Review and Inspection of Works in public spaces “TERI”)

In December 2015, the Company filed a petition for a declaratory judgment and requested injunctive relief with the City of Buenos Aires Courts in Contentious and Tax-Related Matters (Fuero Contencioso Administrativo y Tributario de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires), in connection with a claim by the City of Buenos Aires against Edenor with respect to an alleged local tax liability (relating to the Study, Review and Inspection of Works in Public Spaces Fees, the “TERI”). The injunctive relief requested aims at suspending the foreclosure proceedings initiated by the City of Buenos Aires and avoiding an attachment on the Company’s assets. As of the date of the filing of the petition, the City of Buenos Aires’ claim amounted to Ps.96.8 million.

In our opinion, such local taxes are not applicable under federal regulations and case law. The Company’s management and its external counsel understand that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Edenor should prevail on this matter.

e.

AGIP’s claim. Determinative Resolution N° 3417/DGR//17

By Determinative Resolution No. 3417/DGR/17 issued on December 5, 2017, the AGIP claims Edenor alleged differences in the contribution impacting on electricity companies. The difference is based on the content of the tax base of the Contribution, which the AGIP asserts is made up of the Company’s monthly income from the sale of electricity, without admitting the deduction for the sale of energy to railroads, pursuant to the federal laws that govern the Contribution. Through Resolution 3417/17, the General Tax Collection authority: a) challenged the tax returns submitted by Edenor in connection with “Contributions impacting Electricity Companies in relation to the fiscal periods in 2011 (1st to 12th monthly advances), 2012 (1st to 12th monthly advances) and 2013 (1st to 12th monthly advances); b) determined ex officio the taxable matter and the resulting tax from the taxpayer for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 fiscal years for a total amount of Ps.0.2 million plus interest; c) established that for the income obtained with respect to the activity “Electric power distribution and commercialization services,” the Company should pay the mentioned Contribution at a rate of 6% for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 fiscal years, and d) Imposed a fine of Ps.0.2 million on Edenor.

In a timely manner, on January 18, 2018, we filed an appeal for reconsideration under the terms of Article 150 of the Tax Code of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (T.O.2018), against AGIP’s Determinative Resolution N° 3417/DGR/17.

On July 4, 2019, Edenor was notified of Resolution 2019-1908-GCABA-DGR, rejecting the Appeal for Reconsideration filed. Continuing the administrative procedural steps, against that decision, the company brought a hierarchical appeal on July 26, 2019. As of the date of this annual report, the AGIP has not handed down a decision on the appeal.

164

f.

AFIP Administrative Procedure – Social Security Resources. Rate differential application Decree 814/2001.

By Administrative Resolution No. 236/2018 DV TJGE (DI RSGE), AFIP alleged differences in the application of the rate determining the Social Security Contributions entered on the staff payroll, for the period between December 2011 and December 2016. The Company submitted an appeal on August 3, 2018. In addition, on December 2, 2019, the Company was notified of the settlement of adjustments with respect to differences in the application of the above-mentioned rate, for the period between January 2017 and June 2019.

On July 6, 2021, the Company filed an appeal to the Federal Social Security Court of Appeals against AFIP Resolution No. 1740/2021 that dismissed the presentation made by edenor in relation to the assessment of a debt in connection with contributions to Argentina’s Integrated Social Security System, relating to the January 2017-June 2019 period, for differences detected due to the use of the rate set forth in Section 2 Sub-section B) 2001 (17%), when the applicable rate, according to the AFIP, is that mentioned in Section 2 Sub-section A) (21%), of Executive Order No. 814.

Additionally, on April 8, 2021, the Company was notified by the AFIP of a new resolution pursuant to which a debt had been assessed for the same concept, relating to the July 2019-November 2019 period. The resolution was challenged by the Company on September 23, 2021.

This new notification follows the one received on July 12, 2018 relating to the December 2011-December 2016 period, and has been appealed to the Federal Social Security Court of Appeals.

The Company’s Management believes that the application of the 17% rate is correct. In this regard, in accordance with the analysis performed, it is reasonable that “minority government-owned corporations (sociedades anónimas con simple participación estatal) governed by Law No. 19,550” be understood to mean all those corporations (sociedades anónimas) in which the government has a minority stake, whatever the reason why such stake has been acquired. Therefore, included therein are the shareholdings that the National Social Security Administration (“ANSES”) has in certain corporations, among which the Company is included.

The Company filed appeals to the Federal Social Security Court of Appeals, on July 6, 2021 and September 13, 2021, against the first two resolutions, relating to the 01/2017-06/2019 and 11/2011-12/2016 periods, respectively, as the administrative remedies available in relation thereto have been exhausted.

Under such conditions and in connection with the aforementioned AFIP’s assessment, in the Company’s opinion, there exist sufficient and solid arguments to make its position prevail at the judicial stage. Consequently, no liabilities whatsoever have been recorded by the Company for this matter as of December 31, 2021.

g.

National Regulatory Authority for the Distribution of Electricity, Proceeding for the Determination of a Claim” (case file No. 16/2020)

On May 4, 2021, the Company was served notice of a complaint filed by the ENRE in connection with Edenor‘s compliance with sections 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 of the “Agreement on the Renegotiation of the Concession Agreement” for differences arising from the date of payment of certain penalties included therein.

At the date of issuance of this annual report, the Company has answered the complaint, with the case being currently in process.

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The Company believes that it has sufficient authority under the Agreement on the Renegotiation of the Concession Agreement to support the payment made under such conditions and considers it to be in compliance with the law, to have an extinguishing effect and to have implied no damage to the users. In this regard, the Company believe that there exist sufficient and solid arguments to make its position prevail at the judicial stage; therefore, no liabilities whatsoever for this concept have been recorded as of December 31, 2021.

h.

AFIP’s Income Tax claim, Undocumented outflows and VAT

On July 2, 2020, at the request of the Court hearing a criminal case, the AFIP initiated the sua sponte assessment process of tax debt for possible apocryphal invoices issued by the suppliers in question, as they are considered to be “usinas mixtas” (companies used as real and fake invoice plants).

In this regard, on May 17, 2021 the AFIP notified the Company of three resolutions, whereby the tax authorities resolved:

i)       to object to the Company’s transactions with two suppliers, and thereby to the related tax credit for the January 2017-December 2018 monthly tax periods;

ii)       that the Company would have deducted from its tax balance sheets for the 2017 and 2018 tax periods unfounded expenses and/or costs related to the transactions presumably carried out with the suppliers in question;

iii)       to object to the transactions with both suppliers and the destination of the funds earmarked for the settlement thereof;

iv)       to initiate investigative proceedings for the 2017 and 2018 periods in respect of:

a.       income tax;

b.       value added tax; and

c.       undocumented outflows.

On July 6, 2021, the Company answered the notice with respect to the income tax, undocumented outflows and value added tax concepts for the 2017 and 2018 tax periods, responding to the charges and filing a motion for nullity on the AFIP’s tax claim, stating the legal foundations and submitting the relevant documentary evidence.

Additionally, in response to the tax authorities’ subsequent orders aimed at obtaining further evidence, the duly submitted information was supplemented with more details, in the two presentations dated September 23 and October 14, 2021.

On November 17, 2021, the Company was served notice of three resolutions from the AFIP with the respective sua sponte assessments of the three taxes previously mentioned.

The Company believes that the assessments issued by the AFIP are groundless; therefore, on December 10, 2021, an appeal was filed to the Federal Tax Court against the three rulings. This appeal stays the execution of payment.

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In the Company’s opinion, there exist sufficient and solid arguments to make its position prevail at the judicial stage. Consequently, no liabilities whatsoever have been recorded by the Company for this matter as of December 31, 2021.

However, the Company is evaluating different scenarios to defend itself against tax claims, among them, payment facility plans or the regularization of obligations in force at the time the management decision.

DIVIDENDS

Pursuant to the Argentine Corporations Law, declaration and payment of annual dividends, to the extent the distribution of available earnings complies with the requirements of such law, is determined by our shareholders at the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting. From time to time, the Board of Directors makes a recommendation with respect to the payment of dividends. Edenor has not declared or paid any dividends since August 14, 2001.

Amount available for distribution

Dividends may be lawfully declared and paid only out of our retained earnings stated in our yearly financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and CNV regulations and approved by the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting.

According to the Argentine Corporations Law and our by-laws we are required to maintain a legal reserve of 20% of our outstanding capital stock. The legal reserve is not available for distribution to shareholders. Under the Argentine Corporations Law and our by-laws, our yearly net income (as adjusted to reflect changes in prior results) is allocated in the following order:

(i)

to comply with the legal reserve requirement;

(ii)

to pay the accrued fees of the members of our Board of Directors and supervisory committee;

(iii)

to pay any amounts owed to our employees under the “Bonos de Participación para el Personal” (which are bonds issued to our employees according to the provisions of our by-laws, that entitle each holder to a pro rata portion of 0.5% of our earnings, after payment of taxes);

(iv)

for voluntary or contingent reserves, as may be resolved from time to time by our shareholders at the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting; and

(v)

remainder of the net income for the year may be distributed as dividends on common shares or as otherwise decided by our shareholders at the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting.

Our Board of Directors submits our financial statements for the preceding fiscal year, together with reports thereon by the supervisory committee, at the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting for approval. Within four months of the end of each fiscal year, an ordinary shareholders’ meeting must be held to approve the financial statements and determine the allocation of our net income for such year. Under applicable CNV regulations, cash dividends must be paid to shareholders within 30 days of the shareholders’ meeting approving any dividends. In the case of stock dividends, shares are required to be delivered within three months of our receipt of notice of the authorization of the CNV for the public offering of the shares arising from such dividends. The statute of limitations for any shareholder to receive dividends declared by the shareholders’ meeting is three years from the date in which they have been made available to the shareholder.

As from February 2017, pursuant to ENRE Resolution No. 63/17, the company no longer has regulatory restrictions to make dividend payments. Consequently, we could pay dividends out of our retained earnings, subject to the conditions set forth by the Argentine Corporations Law.

167

As of December 31, 2021, we have 31,134,420 treasury shares. The acquisition cost of such shares in the market, in accordance with the provisions of Title IV, Chapter III, article 3.11.c of the CNV’s Rules, restricts the amount of the realized and liquid gains that we may distribute to our shareholders.

 

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

Except as identified in this annual report on Form 20-F, no significant change in our financial condition has occurred since the date of the most recent audited financial statements contained in this annual report. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Operating Results—Factors Affecting our Results of Operations”, “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Item 3. Key Information—Risk factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Failure or delay to negotiate further improvements to our tariff structure, including increases in our distribution margin, and/or to have our tariffs adjusted to reflect increases in our distribution costs in a timely manner or at all, affected and may continue to affect our capacity to perform our commercial obligations and could also have a material adverse effect on our ability to perform our financial obligations”.

 

Item 9.

The Offer and Listing

Since April 26, 2007, our Class B common shares and the ADSs have been listed on the BYMA and the NYSE, respectively. The ADSs have been issued by the Bank of New York as depositary. Each ADS represents 20 Class B common shares.

Offer and Listing Details

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the annual high and low market prices for the ADSs on the NYSE and for the shares on the BYMA.

The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low sales prices for our shares on the BYMA and the reported high and low sales prices for the ADSs on the NYSE.

 

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		Buenos Aires Stock Exchange				New York Stock Exchange
		Pesos per Share				U.S. Dollars per ADS
Period		High		Low		High		Low
2020
First Quarter		24.70		13.40		5.99		2.96
Second Quarter		28.65		13.70		4.83		2.83
Third Quarter		28.00		18.65		4.57		2.93
Fourth Quarter		30.55		21.50		4.24		2.88

 

		Buenos Aires Stock Exchange				New York Stock Exchange
		Pesos per Share				U.S. Dollars per ADS
Period		High		Low		High		Low
2021
First Quarter		28.45		25.15		4.00		3.35
Second Quarter		45.75		25.95		5.47		3.44
Third Quarter		65.45		36.60		7.52		4.21
Fourth Quarter		75.55		51.00		7.61		4.84

 

		Buenos Aires Stock Exchange				New York Stock Exchange
		Pesos per Share				U.S. Dollars per ADS
Period		High		Low		High		Low
2021
November		73.25		58.60		7.20		5.37
December		63.85		51.00		5.81		4.84
2022
January		64.00		51.80		5.70		4.62
February		73.35		63.00		7.43		5.69
March		71.35		62.20		7.01		6.25

 

 

THE ARGENTINE SECURITIES MARKETS

Trading on the Mercado de Valores de Buenos Aires

Trading in the Argentine securities market

Pursuant to the provisions of the CML, securities market in Argentina is comprised of several markets that require authorization from the CNV to operate (the “Authorized Markets”), including the BYMA, the Mercado Abierto Electrónico S.A., the Mercado Argentino de Valores S.A., the Mercado de Valores de Córdoba S.A., the Mercado a Término de Rosario S.A., among others. The CML allows the authorized Markets to delegate certain of its duties and rights as a market to other qualified entities, as previously authorized by the CNV. Securities listed on these exchanges include corporate equity, bonds and government securities.

169

On December 29, 2016, the CNV authorized BYMA and on January 2, 2017, IGJ and CNV authorized the creation and operation of BYMA. Most of its capital stock is free float and 30 percent is owned by BYMA.

The BYMA is the largest authorized market in Argentina. Pursuant to Resolution No. 18,629, the CNV authorized the BYMA to operate as an Authorized Market, and allowed BYMA to delegate certain of its rights and duties as a market in the BYMA, including without limitation, the right to authorize the listing of issuers and securities in the BYMA, and the right to publish the daily market gazette.

In Argentina, debt and equity securities traded on an exchange or the over-the-counter market must, unless otherwise instructed by their shareholders, be deposited with Caja de Valores S.A. (“Caja de Valores”). Caja de Valores is the central securities depositary of Argentina and provides central depositary facilities, as well as acting as a clearing house for securities trading and as a transfer and paying agent for securities transactions. Additionally, Caja de Valores handles the settlement of securities transactions carried out by the BYMA and operations the computerized exchange information system mentioned above.

BYMA incorporated 99.96% of Caja de Valores’ equity, and as a result, the operating cycle of the capital market industry is vertically integrated. At the technological level, BYMA acquired the Millennium Stock Exchange platform belonging to the London Stock Exchange group as a sign of its innovative vocation and with the aim of providing the best attention to its participants and investors. Millennium, a leading global technology provider in trading and post-trading software, currently serves the London, Milan, Oslo and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges, among others.

Although companies may list all of their capital on the BYMA or any other Authorized Market, controlling shareholders in Argentina typically retain the majority of a company’s capital stock, resulting in a relatively small percentage of active trading of the companies’ stock by the public on any such Authorized Market.

Securities may also be listed and traded through over-the-counter market brokers who are linked to an electronic reporting system. The activities of such brokers are controlled and regulated by MAE, an electronic over-the-counter market reporting system that functions independently from the BYMA. Under an agreement between theBASE and the MAE, trading in equity and equity-related securities is conducted exclusively on the BASE (now BYMA) and trading in corporate debt securities is conducted on both the S&P MERVAL/BASE (now BYMA) and the MAE. Trading in Argentine Government securities, which are not covered by the agreement, may be conducted on either or both of the BYMA and the MAE. The agreement does not extend to other Argentine exchanges.

Regulation of the Argentine securities market

The Argentine securities market is regulated and overseen by the CNV, pursuant to Law No. 26,831, as well as stockbroker transactions, market operations, the public offering of securities, corporate governance matters relating to public companies and the trading of futures and options. Argentine insurance companies are regulated by a government agency, the Superintendencia de Seguros de la Nación, whereas financial institutions are regulated primarily by the Central Bank.

In order to improve Argentine securities market regulation, the Argentine Government issued Decree No. 677/01 on June 1, 2001, which provided certain guidelines and provisions relating to capital markets transparency and best practices. Further improvements to Argentine securities market regulations were introduced in December 2011 when was modified the Argentine Criminal Code to include insider trading as a criminal offense. In addition, on November 29, 2012, the Argentine Government enacted the CML, which revoked law No. 17,811, and Decree No. 677/01. However, CML incorporated most of the provisions established in those regulations. These provisions were regulated by the CNV through Resolution No. 622/13 and further modifications.

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On May 9, 2018, the Argentine Congress approved the Productive Financing Law No. 27,440, which introduced significant reforms to the CML, the Mutual Funds Law No. 24,083 and the Argentine Negotiable Obligations Law No. 23,576, among others. In this respect, the following key reforms are, among others:

(i)

Promoting access to MiPyMES (micro, small and medium-sized companies) to the capital market, among others;

(ii)

Tender offers’ regulatory framework: modifies the criteria to determine, such as the price and timing for launching a tender offer due to a change in control, among others.

(iii)

The CNV has power to issue regulations in order to determine when an offer may be considered private placement or public;

(iv)

Amendments to the preemptive subscription rights in the public offers;

(v)

Amendments regarding the duties of the CNV and its financial sources, the most important is the removal of the Section 20 of the current CML, which provides that the CNV may inspect any entity subject to its oversight (such as us, our controlling shareholder or any of our affiliates subject to CNV oversight). If after any inspection the CNV determines that a resolution of the Board of Directors of such entity violated the interests of its minority shareholders or any holder of its securities subject to the Argentine public offering regime, it may appoint a vendor (observer) with veto powers. Additionally, the Subsection (i) of the Section 19 of the current CML is removed, as a result a previous administrative summary is required to the CNV could declare that an act under its control is irregular or ineffective. In the other hand, the project includes the ability of CNV to initiate administrative summaries;

(vi)

Reestablishes the jurisdiction of the courts in commercial matters to hear appeals relating to resolutions and fines imposed by the CNV;

(vii)

Main amendments to the Argentine Negotiable Obligations Law No. 23,576: (a) expressly permits the issuance of Dollar-linked notes; (b) financial institutions and issuers engaged in construction, sale and financing of real property, infrastructure works and real estate development, will be authorized to issue notes with indexation clauses; (c) allows issuers to establish a procedure to obtain the consent of the majority of bondholders without the need for bondholders meetings, subject to certain requirements; among others.

Before offering securities to the public in Argentina, an issuer must meet certain requirements established by the CNV with regard to the issuer’s assets, operating history and management, among others, and only securities for which an application for a public offering has been approved by the CNV may be listed on a stock exchange. Despite these requirements imposed by the CNV, CNV approval does not imply any kind of certification as to the quality of the securities or the solvency of the issuer, although issuers of listed securities are required to file unaudited quarterly financial statements and audited annual financial statements and various other periodic reports with the CNV and the stock exchange on which their securities are listed, as well as to report to the CNV and the relevant stock exchange any event related to the issuer and its shareholders that may affect materially the value or trading volume of the securities traded.

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Money Laundering

The concept of money laundering is commonly used to refer to operations that aim to enter funds from criminal activities into the institutional system and thus convert profits from illegal activities into assets of apparently lawful origin.

On April 13, 2000, the Argentine Congress passed Law No. 25,246, subsequently amended by Laws No. 26,087, 26,119, 26,268, 26,683, 26,733, 26,734 and Decree No. 27/2018 (the “Anti-Money Laundering Law”) which typifies money laundering as a crime. Additionally, such law, which amended several sections of the Argentine Criminal Code, has established sanctions for the ones incurring in such illicit activity and has created the Unidad de Información Financiera (“UIF”), which depends on the Ministry of Economy.

The Argentine Criminal Code defines money laundering as a crime, defining it as the exchange, transfer, management, sale or any other use of money or other assets obtained through a crime, by a person who did not take part in such original crime, with the potential result that such original assets (or new assets resulting from such original assets) appear as if obtained through legitimate means, provided that the aggregate value of the assets involved exceed in the aggregate (through one or more related transactions) Ps.300,000.

As previously mentioned, the Anti-Money Laundering Law created the Unidad de Información Financiera (“UIF”), which is in charge of the analysis, supervision and conveyance of information in order to prevent the laundering of assets obtained from: (i) Crimes related to illegal traffic and commercialization of narcotics (Law No. 23,737); (ii) Crimes related to arms trafficking (Law No. 22,415); (iii) Crimes related to the activities of an illegal association as defined in Article 210 bis of the Argentine Criminal Code; (iv) Illegal acts committed by illegal associations (Article 210 of the Argentine Criminal Code) organized to commit crimes with political or racial motivation; (v) Crimes of fraud against the Public Administration (Article 174, Section 5 of the Argentine Criminal Code); (vi) Crime against the Public Administration under Chapters VI, VII, IX and IX bis of Title XI of Book Two of the Argentine Criminal Code; and (vii) Crimes of underage prostitution and child pornography under Articles 125, 125 bis and 128 of the Argentine Criminal Code.

The Anti-Money Laundering Law assigns information and control duties to certain private sector entities, such as banks, agents, stock exchanges and insurance companies, according to the regulations of the UIF, and for financial entities, the Central Bank. These regulations apply to many Argentine companies. These obligations consist mainly of maintaining internal policies and procedures aimed at preventing money laundering and financing of terrorism, especially through the application of “know your customer” (“KYC”) policies.

Financial entities must inform the UIF about any suspicious or unusual transaction, or transactions lacking economical or legal justification, or being unnecessarily complex. In addition, it has established guidelines and internal procedures for unusual or suspicious transactions, which must be implemented by financial institutions and other entities.

Pursuant to the same criteria that underlies the aforementioned law, in 2012, the office of the Attorney General issued the Resolution No.914/12, which created the prosecution office specialized in economic crimes and money laundering (Procuraduría de Criminalidad Económica y Lavado de Activos –PROCELAC-). As the PROCELAC has no competence to apply sanctions, its main role is to collaborate with the Federal Prosecutors in the crime investigation and in receiving complaints in order to initiate preliminary investigations.

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The UIF issued Resolution No. 229/2011, which was replaced by Resolution UIF No. 21/2018 and, subsequently amended by Resolutions No. 156/2018, No. 18/2019 and No. 117/2019 (“AML legislation in the Capital Market Sector”). The AML legislation in the Capital Market Sector establishes certain procedures that must be followed by the authorized agents of the CNV involved in the placement, intermediation and public offering of securities (the “Obliged Subjects in the Capital Market Sector”) in order to prevent, detect and report (within the deadlines established) the acts, transactions or omissions that may arise from the commission of money laundering and terrorist financing crimes in the capital market sector. Additionally, the AML legislation in the Capital Market Sector introduced general guidelines to identify different types of customers (including a distinction between frequent, casual and inactive customers), the requested information, the documentation to be kept and the procedure to detect and report – within the established deadlines – all suspicious transactions.

The main obligations that Obliged Subject shall comply with pursuant to the AML legislation in the Capital Market Sector are the following: a) prepare manuals providing the mechanisms and procedures for the prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism; b) appoint a compliance officer; c) audit regularly; d) provide training programs to their employees; e) enforce measures that would allow the Obliged Subjects in the Capital Market Sector to compile the transactions performed by the customers using a computerized method, as well as technological tools which would enable to analyze or supervise different aspects to identify behaviors and detect potential suspicious operations; f) implement technological tools that would allow to establish in an effective way the control and prevention procedures against money laundering and financing of terrorism; and g) record the analysis and risk management of the suspicious operations that were detected and those that, for been considered suspicious, have been reported.

The Central Bank and the CNV should also comply with provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Law. In this respect, the CNV regulations provide that entities involved in the public offering of securities (other than issuers), including, among others, underwriters of any primary issuance of securities, must comply with the standards set by the UIF. In particular, they must comply with the obligation regarding customer identification and required information, record-keeping, precautions to be taken to report suspicious transactions, policies and procedures to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. With respect to issuers (such as the Company), CNV regulations provide that any person (either individuals or legal entities) performing significant capital contributions or loans must be identified, whether or not a shareholder at the time of the contributions, and must meet the requirements for general participants in the public offering of securities, provided in the CNV regulations and the UIF regulations, especially with regards to the identification of such persons and to the origin and legality of the funds and loans provided.

On the other hand, with the issuance of Resolution No. 21/2018, as amended, the responsibility of the Obliged Subjects in the Capital Market Sector has been included in order to identify and evaluate the risks that they are exposed to and, as a result, to adopt administrative measures for mitigating them, in order to more effectively prevent money laundering. In accordance with this standard, the Obliged Subjects in the Capital Market Sector must have KYC policies, which must be applied according to the risk rating resulting from the implemented risk model. Within this framework, individuals are enabled to implement reputable technological platforms, which allow carrying out long-distance procedures without the need to present documentation in person, without this conditioning the fulfilment of due diligence duties.

In accordance with Annex I of the UIF Resolution No. 154/2018 (which established the supervision and inspection mechanism of the UIF), both the BCRA and the CNV are considered “Specific Controllers”. Therefore, they must collaborate with the UIF in complying with the procedures for the prevention of money laundering and finance of terrorism implemented by the obligated subjects subject to its control. For these purposes, they are empowered to supervise, monitor and inspect such entities. The refusal, obstruction or obstruction of inspections by the obliged subjects may result in penalties by the UIF, CNV or the BCRA. Both UIF Resolution No. 30/2017, as amended, as well as the BCRA regulations require banks to take certain minimum precautions to prevent money laundering. In August 2018, as provided by the UIF Resolution No. 97/2018, the regulation of the BCRA's duty of collaboration with the UIF were readjusted in accordance with the guidelines established in UIF Resolution No. 30/2017 regarding the procedures of supervision followed by financial and exchange entities.

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On October 14, 2016, the UIF issued Resolution No. 135/2016, which strengthened regulations regarding the international exchange of information between similar authorities which may enter into agreements or memorandum of understanding as well as to the foreign public bodies that are members of the Egmont Group of Financial Information Unit or the Asset Recovery Network of the Financial Action Task Force of Latin American (GAFILAT).

On January 11, 2017, the UIF published Resolution No. 4/2017, which established that special due diligence measures must be applied for identifying foreign and domestic investors (who shall comply with the requirements therein set forth to qualify as such) in the Republic of Argentina upon requesting the opening of special investment accounts.

On the other hand, under the Argentine tax amnesty (Law 27,260 and its regulatory Decree No. 895/16) (the “Tax Amnesty Law”) it was established that the information that had been voluntarily disclosed may be used for investigating and sanctioning crimes of money laundering and finance of terrorism. To this end, the UIF is enabled to inform other public intelligence agencies or investigations, based on a previous resolution of the president of the UIF and provide with information that show evidence of the commission of crimes of money laundering and/or financing of terrorism. In the same way, the AFIP is obliged to report to the UIF the suspicious transactions detected in the context of the Tax Amnesty Law and to provide all the information that the UIF requires, not being able to invoke the fiscal secrecy.

In November, 2018 the UIF published Resolution No. 134/18, which updates the list of persons that should be considered “politically exposed persons” (“PEP”) in Argentina, considering the functions they perform or have performed, as well as its relationship of closeness or affinity with third parties who perform or have performed in such functions. Also, during 2019, the UIF issued Resolution No. 15/2019, which modified the PEP list and Resolution 128/19 established that foreign PEPs will be considered high risk and therefore subject to reinforced due diligence measures, with some exceptions.

On December 26, 2018, the UIF published Resolution No. 154/18, which amended the current supervision procedures through new designs adapted and according to international standards promoted by the GAFI based on risks.

For more information, you should seek advice from your legal counsel and read the applicable rules mentioned herein, including their amendments, which can be found at the following websites: www.infoleg.gov.ar, the UIF’s website: www.uif.gov.ar and the Central Bank’s website: www.bcra.gov.ar. The information contained on these websites is not part and shall not be deemed incorporated into, this annual report.

Corporate Criminal Liability Law

On March 1, 2018, the Corporate Criminal Liability Law No. 27,401 (“the Corporate Criminal Liability Law”) came into effect, after having been enacted by the Argentine Congress on November 8, 2017, providing for the criminal liability of corporate entities for offenses against the public administration and cross-border bribery committed by, among others, its shareholders, attorneys-in-fact, directors, managers, employees, or representatives. A company found liable under this law may be subject to various sanctions, including, among others, fines from two to five times the undue benefit obtained or that could have been obtained and the partial or total suspension of activities for up to ten years. In addition, this law extended the criminal liability under the Argentine Criminal Code to actions committed outside Argentina by Argentine citizens or companies domiciled in Argentina.

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On April 6, 2018, the Argentine Executive Power issued Decree No. 277/18, which regulates the Corporate Criminal Liability Law, providing that the Anticorruption Office of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights will establish the guidelines to comply with the Corporate Criminal Liability Law’s provisions related to the Integrity Program. On October 4, 2018, the Anticorruption Office issued Resolution No. 27/2018, which approved the “Integrity’s Guidelines for the best compliance of sections 22 and 23 of the Corporate Criminal Liability Law”.

Upon the enactment and entry into force of the Corporate Criminal Liability Law, our Board of Directors assessed the level of compliance with the Integrity Program set forth in sections 22 and 23 of such law, which seeks to implement a set of internal proceedings, mechanisms and actions for integrity, supervision and control, geared at preventing, detecting and correcting the irregularities and illegal acts covered by such law.

The Integrity Program set forth by law has mandatory and optional requirements, and we have defined the need to comply with all of them.

Furthermore, the Integrity Program is periodically monitored by the Board of Directors to identify the existence of improvement opportunities or necessary updates. The Board of Directors has defined that our legal affairs department will be responsible for the implementation of the Integrity Program.

Item 10.

Additional Information

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

Set forth below is a brief summary of certain significant provisions of our by-laws and Argentine law. This description does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to our by-laws, which have been filed as an exhibit to this annual report. For a description of the provisions of our by-laws relating to our Board of Directors and statutory auditors, see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.”

Description of Capital Stock

We are a public service company incorporated on July 21, 1992 as a sociedad anónima, a limited liability corporation, duly incorporated under the laws of Argentina for a 95−year period and registered on August 3, 1992 with the Public Registry of Commerce of the City of Buenos Aires under No. 7041 of Book 111, Volume A of Sociedades Anónimas.

As of the date of this annual report, our capital stock consists of 906,455,100 common shares, represented by 462,292,111 book-entry Class A common shares, with a par value of one Peso each and the right to one vote per share, 442,210,385 book-entry Class B common shares, with a par value of one Peso each and the right to one vote per share, and 1,952,604 book-entry Class C common shares, with a par value of one Peso each and the right to one vote per share. Under our by-laws, we are required to ensure, unless the ENRE approves otherwise, that Class A common shares represent 51% of our outstanding capital stock and that new Class A, Class B and Class C common shares are issued pro rata to the percentage of the outstanding capital stock represented by them prior to a capital increase, unless a general or special shareholder’s meeting approves otherwise. All of our outstanding shares are currently fully paid.

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Our shareholders authorized a capital increase of 83,161,020 common shares on June 7, 2006 composed of 42,412,120 Class A common shares, 32,432,797 Class B common shares and 8,316,102 Class C common shares. Our Class B common shares have been listed on the BYMA since 1995 although they have never been traded effectively on that exchange or any other market. Holders of Class A common shares may convert any Class B common shares they may hold into Class A common shares, on a one−for−one basis, if such conversion would be required to maintain at all times 51% of our outstanding capital stock. Our Class A common shares have been pledged in favor of the Argentine Government to secure our obligations under our concession and may not be transferred, not even to shareholders of the same class, without the prior approval of the ENRE.

Upon the closing of our IPO, substantially all our Class C common shares were converted into Class B common shares. The rights previously attributable to our Class C common shares were combined with those attributable to our Class B common shares, and holders of our remaining Class C common shares vote jointly as a single class with the holders of our Class B common shares in the election of directors.

Corporate Purpose

Article 4 of our by-laws establishes that our corporate purpose is to engage in the distribution and sale of electricity within our concession area. We can also acquire the capital stock of other electricity distribution companies, subject to regulatory approval, lease our network to provide power line communication or other voice, data and image transmission services, and render operating, advisory, training, maintenance, consultancy, management services and know-how related to the distribution of electricity both in Argentina and abroad. These activities may be conducted directly by us or through subsidiaries or affiliates. In addition, we may act as trustees of trusts created under Argentine law to the extent they are related to credit facilities granted to vendors and service providers acting in the distribution and sale of electricity who have guarantees granted by reciprocal guaranty companies owned by us.

Shareholders’ Liability

Under the Argentine Corporations Law, shareholder liability for a company’s losses is limited to the value of the shareholder’s shareholding in the company. However, shareholders who have a conflict of interest with the company with respect to certain matters and who do not abstain from voting on such matters may be held liable for damages to the company, provided that their votes were involved in the adoption of the relevant decision. In addition, shareholders who voted in favor of a resolution that is subsequently declared void by a court as contrary to Argentine law or the company’s by-laws (or regulations, if any) may be held jointly and severally liable for damages to the company, other shareholders or third parties resulting from the resolution. See also “Item 3. Key Information—Risk factors—Risks related to our ADSs and Class B common shares—Our shareholders may be subject to liability for certain votes of their securities.”

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Appraisal Rights

Whenever our shareholders approve:

·

a merger or spin-off in which we are not the surviving corporation, unless the acquirer shares are authorized for public offering or listed on any stock exchange;

·

a transformation of our corporate legal status;

·

a fundamental change in our by-laws;

·

a change in our domicile outside Argentina;

·

a voluntary termination of the public offering or listing authorization;

·

a decision in favor of our continuation upon delisting or cancellation of our public offering authorization; or

·

a total or partial recapitalization following a mandatory reduction of our capital or liquidation.

Any shareholder that voted against such action or did not attend the relevant meeting may exercise appraisal rights, that is, the rights to withdraw as our shareholder and have its shares cancelled in exchange for the book value of its shares, determined on the basis of our latest Statement of Financial Position, or that should have been prepared, in accordance with Argentine laws and regulations, provided that such shareholder exercises its appraisal rights within the time frame set forth below.

Appraisal rights must be exercised within five days following the meeting at which the relevant resolution was adopted, in the event of a dissenting shareholder that voted against such resolution, or within 15 days following such meeting in the case of a dissenting shareholder that did not attend the meeting and who can prove that it was a shareholder at the date of the meeting. In the case of mergers or spin-offs involving an entity authorized to make public offering of its shares, appraisal rights may not be exercised if the shares to be received as a result of the transaction are listed in any stock exchange. Appraisal rights are terminated if the resolution giving rise to such rights is overturned at another shareholders’ meeting held within 60 days as from the meeting at which the resolution was adopted.

Payment of appraisal rights must be made within one year of the date of the shareholders’ meeting at which the resolution was adopted, except where the resolution was to delist our capital stock, in which case the payment period is reduced to 60 days from the date of the relevant resolution.

Because of the absence of legal precedents directly on point, there is doubt as to whether holders of ADSs would be able to exercise appraisal rights either directly or through the depositary with respect to our Class B common shares represented by ADSs.

Redemption or Repurchase

According to the CML, a “sociedad anónima” may acquire its own shares, provided that the public offering and listing thereof has been authorized, subject to the following terms and conditions and other regulations that may be issued by the CNV. The conditions are: (a) the shares to be acquired should be fully paid; (b) there shall be a resolution of the Board of Directors to such effect, (c) the acquisition shall be made out of net profits or voluntary reserves; (d) the total amount of shares acquired by the company, including previously acquired shares, shall not exceed 10% of the capital stock or such lower percentage determined by the CNV. The shares acquired in excess of such limit shall be disposed of within 90 days after the date of the acquisition originating the excess.

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The shares acquired by the company shall be disposed of by the company within a maximum term of three years counted as from the date of the acquisition thereof. Upon disposition of the shares, the company shall make a preemptive rights offering of such shares. The offer is not mandatory if the shares are issued in connection with a compensation plan or program for the company’s employees or if the shares are distributed among all shareholders in proportion to their shareholding. If shareholders do not exercise in whole or in part, their preemptive rights, the sale shall be made in a stock exchange.

In 2008, we acquired 9,412,500 Class B treasury shares with a nominal value of Ps.1.0 in nominal currency, equivalent to Ps.6.9 in current currency. The amount disbursed to acquire these shares totaled Ps.6.1 million in nominal currency, equivalent to Ps.41.9 million, which was deducted from unappropriated retained earnings of the equity attributable to the owners of the Company at that date. As of December 31, 2017, the Company owned 7,794,168 shares, and 1,618,332 shares were delivered as additional remuneration in favor of executive directors and managers for special processes developed during the year 2016 (See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—The Company’s Share-based Compensation Plan”).

 

On November 18, 2014, we held the general annual meeting which resolved by majority of votes to extend for another three years the term for holding the treasury shares acquired within the scope of Section 68 of Law No. 17,811 (text consolidated by Decree No. 677/01). All the shares issued have been fully paid-in. On April 18, 2017, the Company held the Annual General Meeting that resolved by majority vote to approve the allocation of own shares in portfolio to the implementation of the long-term incentive plan in favor of personnel dependent on company under the terms of article 67 of the CML.

On May 10, 2018, December 4, 2018 and April 8, 2019 the Company’s Board of Directors approved the allocation of own shares in portfolio under the terms of article 67 of the CML. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Share Buy-Back Program” above.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 the Company owned 31,134,420 and 31,380,871 shares, respectively, held as treasury stock. In April, 2021, 246,451 shares were delivered as additional remuneration to executive directors and managers in connection with the compensation plan.

 

Preemptive and Accretion Rights

Under Argentine law, shareholders of any given class of common shares have preemptive rights, on a pro rata basis, to subscribe shares of the same class owned by them, and accretion rights, on a pro rata basis, to subscribe additional shares of its class or other classes of shares not subscribed by other shareholders of the same class. Preemptive rights and accretion rights may be waived only by each shareholder on a case-by-case basis. Pursuant to the Argentine Corporations Law, in exceptional cases and on a case by case basis when required for the best interest of the relevant company, its shareholders at an extraordinary meeting with a special majority may decide to limit or suspend preemptive rights, provided that the resolution is included in the meeting’s agenda and the shares to be issued are paid in kind or are issued to cancel preexisting obligations.

In the event of a capital increase, our by-laws provide that holders of Class A, Class B and Class C common shares have preemptive rights, on a pro rata basis, to subscribe new Class A, Class B or Class C common shares, as the case may be, in order to maintain their pro rata interest in our capital stock, unless otherwise decided at our general or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. The holders of our Class A common shares, in any capital increase, must exercise their preemptive rights to maintain at least 51% of our capital stock outstanding after giving effect to the capital increase, unless otherwise authorized by the ENRE or to the extent any other legal mechanism is used to secure the 51% ownership of our capital stock. In order for the participant employees of the PPP to participate in such an offering, all of our Class C common shares (including shares of PPP participants who will not participate in such an offering) shall be converted into Class B common shares.

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Pursuant to Argentine law, if approved by an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, companies authorized to make a public offering of their securities may shorten the period during which preemptive rights may be exercised from 30 to 10 days following the publication of the offering in the Argentine Official Gazette and a newspaper of wide circulation in Argentina. Preemptive rights are exercisable following such publication (which must be made for three days) for a period of 30 days, provided the period is not reduced in the manner described above.

Shareholders who have exercised their preemptive rights have the right to exercise accretion rights, on a pro rata basis, with respect to any unsubscribed shares. Shares not subscribed by shareholders by virtue of preemptive or accretion rights may be offered to third parties. Pampa and certain of our selling shareholders have assigned their preemptive and accretion rights to the international underwriters. Holders of ADSs may be restricted in their ability to exercise preemptive rights if a prospectus under the Securities Act relating thereto has not been filed or is not effective or an exemption is not available.

Voting Rights

Under our by-laws, each class of common shares entitles its holder to one vote per share at any meeting of our shareholders. Pursuant to the Argentine Corporations law, a shareholder is required to abstain from voting any resolution in which his direct or indirect interest conflicts with that of, or is different from, the Company. In the event that such shareholder votes on such resolution, and such resolution would not have been approved without such shareholder’s vote, the resolution may be declared void by a court and such shareholder may be held liable for damages to the Company, other shareholders and third parties.

Registration Requirements of Foreign Companies Holding Class B Shares

Under Argentine regulations, foreign companies that hold shares directly (and not indirectly through ADSs) in an Argentine company must register with the IGJ to exercise certain shareholder rights, including voting rights. The registration requires the filing of certain corporate and accounting documents in order to demonstrate that the foreign shareholder is not a special purpose vehicle organized solely to conduct business in Argentina that it is entitled to conduct business in its place of incorporation and meets certain foreign assets requirements.

Liquidation Rights

In case of liquidation or dissolution, our assets will be applied to satisfy our outstanding liabilities and then be proportionally distributed among holders of our common stock without distinction of classes.

Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meetings

Shareholders’ meetings may be either ordinary meetings or extraordinary. We are required to convene and hold an ordinary meeting of shareholders within four months of the close of each fiscal year to consider the matters specified in the first two paragraphs of Section 234 of the Argentine Corporations Law, such as the approval of our financial statements, allocation of net income for such fiscal year, approval of the reports of the Board of Directors and the statutory audit committee and election, performance and remuneration of directors and members of the statutory audit committee. In addition, pursuant to the CML, at an ordinary shareholders’ meetings, our shareholders must consider (i) the disposition of, or creation of any lien over, our assets as long as such decision has not been performed under the ordinary course of our business and (ii) the execution of administration or management agreements and whether to approve any agreement by virtue of which the assets or services provided to us are paid partially or totally with a percentage of our income, results or earnings, if the payment is material when measured against the volume of the ordinary course of business and our shareholders’ equity. Other matters which may be considered at an ordinary meeting convened and held at any time include the responsibility of directors and members of the statutory audit committee, capital increases and the issuance of certain corporate bonds. Extraordinary shareholders’ meetings may be called at any time to consider matters beyond the authority of an ordinary meeting including, without limitations, the amendment of our by-laws, issuance of debentures, early dissolution, merger, spin off, reduction of capital stock and redemption of shares, transformation from one type of entity to another, appointment, removal and retribution of the liquidators and limitation or suspension of shareholders’ preemptive rights.

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Special Shareholders Meetings of Classes of Shares

In the event a shareholder’s meeting is held to adopt any resolution affecting the rights of a class of shares, the consent or ratification of shareholders of that class is required and a special shareholder’s meeting shall be held. The special shareholder’s meetings shall be governed by the rules provided for the ordinary shareholder’s meetings.

Notices of Meetings

Notices of shareholders’ meetings are governed by the provisions of Argentine Corporations Law. Furthermore, notice of shareholders’ meetings must be published for five days in the Official Gazette, in an Argentine newspaper of wide circulation and in the bulletin of the BASE, at least 10 but not more than 30 days prior to the date on which the meeting is to be held. Such notice must include information regarding the type of meeting to be held, the date, time and place of such meeting and the agenda. If quorum is not available at such meeting, a notice for a second meeting, which must be held within 30 days of the date on which the first meeting was called, must be published for 3 days, at least 8 days before the date of the second meeting. Notices of shareholders’ meetings may be published simultaneously for the second meeting to be held on the same day as the first meeting, only in the case of ordinary meetings and special shareholder’s meetings of a relevant class of shares. Shareholders’ meetings may be validly held without notice if all shares of our outstanding capital stock are present and resolutions are adopted by unanimous vote of shares entitled to vote.

Quorum and Voting Requirements

The quorum for ordinary meetings of shareholders on first call is a majority of the shares entitled to vote, and action may be taken by the affirmative vote of an absolute majority of the shares present that are entitled to vote on such action. If a quorum is not available at the first meeting a second meeting may be held at which action may be taken by the holders of an absolute majority of the shares present, regardless of the number of such shares. The quorum for an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on first call is 70% of the shares entitled to vote, and if such quorum is not available, a second meeting may be held, for which the quorum is 35% of the shares entitled to vote.

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Action may be taken at extraordinary shareholders’ meetings by the affirmative vote of an absolute majority of shares present that are entitled to vote on such action, except that: the approval of a majority of shares with voting rights (for these purposes non−voting preferred shares shall have voting rights), without application of multiple votes, is required at both the first and second meeting for: (i) the transfer of our domicile outside Argentina, (ii) a fundamental change of the corporate purpose set forth in our bylaws, (iii) our anticipated dissolution, (iv) the total or partial redemption of shares, or (v) the transformation of our corporate legal status, in which cases resolutions shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares with the right to vote. Preferred shares will be entitled to one vote in these circumstances. Moreover, pursuant to our by-laws, the extension of the company’s duration, the withdrawal from public offering or delisting, the total or partial recapitalization, the merger or spin-off (including if we are the surviving entity) or the termination of the Concession Agreement for the distribution and sale of electricity, on first and second calls, shall be taken by the affirmative vote of shares representing at least 80% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, whether present or not at the shareholder’s meeting, without application of multiple votes, if applicable. An amendment to our by-laws requires the prior approval of the ENRE. Shareholder’s meetings shall approve amendments “ad-referendum” of the ENRE.

Shareholders’ meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or the members of the statutory audit committee whenever required by law or whenever they deem it necessary. Also, the board or the members of the statutory audit committee are required to call shareholders’ meetings upon the request of shareholders representing an aggregate of at least five percent of our outstanding capital stock in which case the meeting must take place within 40 days of such shareholders’ request. If the board or the statutory audit committee fails to call a meeting following such a request, a meeting may be ordered by the CNV or by the courts. In order to attend a meeting, a shareholder must also deposit with us a certificate of book-entry shares registered in its name and issued by Caja de Valores. at least three business days prior to the date on which the meeting is to be held. If so entitled to attend a meeting, a shareholder may be represented by proxy. Proxies may not be granted to our board, members of the statutory audit committee, officers or employees.

Election of Directors

Our Board of Directors must have 12 acting directors and the number of alternate directors that the shareholders may resolve in a general annual ordinary meeting or at a class annual ordinary meeting, such number not to exceed the number of acting directors. All directors are elected to serve for one fiscal year. Holders of Class A common shares are entitled to elect, at a general annual ordinary meeting or at an annual ordinary meeting of Class A holders 7 directors, two of which must be independent in accordance with CNV regulations and our by-laws. Holders of Class B common shares are entitled to elect, at a general annual ordinary meeting or at an annual ordinary meeting of Class B holders, 4 directors one of which must also be independent in accordance with CNV regulations and our by-laws. Holders of Class C common shares are entitled to elect, at a general annual ordinary meeting or at an annual ordinary meeting of Class C holders 1 director until the percentage of our capital stock represented by Class C common shares decreases below 6% at which moment holders of Class C common shares will be required to vote together with holders of Class B common shares to elect, as a common class, 5 directors. Upon the closing of the Argentine offering (to the extent consummated), substantially all Class C common shares will have been converted into Class B common shares and a nominal amount of Class C common shares will remain outstanding. Accordingly, any rights previously attributable to the Class C common shares will have been combined with those attributable to the Class B common shares, and holders of the remaining Class C common shares will vote jointly as a single class with the holders of Class B common shares in the election of directors.

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Form and Transfer

Our current capital stock is represented by book-entry shares. Our shareholders are required to hold their shares through book-entries directly made by Caja de Valores in the stock registry of the company carried by Caja de Valores or through book-entries with brokers, banks and other entities approved by the CNV that have accounts with Caja de Valores, or with the participants of the Caja de Valores. Caja de Valores is in charge of maintaining a stock registry on our behalf based on information received from shareholders that chose to hold their shares directly by registration on the stock registry of the company and from participants of the Caja de Valores, and in accordance with Argentine law only those holders listed in the stock registry either directly or through participants of the Caja de Valores will be recognized as shareholders. Shares held by participants of the Caja de Valores -have the same rights as shares recorded in our shareholders’ register.

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

We are party to various contracts in the ordinary course of business. “See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Contractual Obligations”

EXCHANGE CONTROLS

The following is a summary of the main measures taken by the Central Bank with the purpose of regulating inflows and outflows in the MLC to maintain the exchange rate stability and protect international reserves in view of the high degree of uncertainty and volatility in the exchange rate by tightening exchange controls and restrictions on the inflow and outflow of foreign exchange. In this regard, as of the date of this annual report, the Central Bank has issued a series of communications, which introduced additional restrictions to access the MLC associated, among other factors, to the carry out of transactions with securities and other external liquid assets, holding and disposal of liquid foreign assets and repayment of external indebtedness.

In this regard, in order to access the MLC for the making of any payment abroad, local residents must (i) have their foreign-currency holdings in the country deposited in accounts with local financial institutions and (ii) not have available liquid external assets for an amount equivalent to or higher than U.S.$.100,000.

The term “liquid external assets” comprise, among others: holdings of foreign currency notes and coins, holdings of gold in the form of good delivery bars or coins, demand deposits in foreign financial institutions and other investments allowing for the immediate availability of foreign currency (for example, investments in foreign public securities, funds in investment accounts deposited with investment managers located abroad, crypto assets, funds deposited in payment service providers’ accounts, etc.). Funds deposited abroad which may not be freely used by the customer as they are reserve or guarantee funds constituted under foreign financing agreements, or funds kept as collateral for foreign transactions with derivatives entered into abroad are exempted from such definition. Other exceptions apply including, among others, funds deposited in foreign bank accounts disbursed under external financial indebtedness for an amount not to exceed the amount of the debt service payments corresponding to the following 365 (three hundred and sixty-five) calendar days. Certain repatriation obligations were also imposed under the referred regulations.

Moreover, local residents are required to file an affidavit certifying: (i) that, the customer has not performed security sales transactions with settlement in in foreign currency, transferred securities to depository institutions abroad, exchange securities for other external liquid assets nor purchased foreign securities in the country with pesos during the 90 (ninety) calendar days preceding the access to the MLC and that it undertakes not to carry out those transactions during the following 90 calendar days; and (ii) in the case of legal entities, (a) the identity of the individuals or legal entities exercising direct control over the customer, and (b) that, on such date and during the previous 90 (ninety) calendar days, the customer has not transferred in the country any local currency funds or other liquid local assets, to any individual or legal entity exercising direct control over them, except for those directly associated to regular transactions between residents for the acquisition of goods and/or services.

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In addition, to access the MLC the client must not be included in (i) the AFIP’s database of apocryphal invoices or documents; and (ii) the list of individual tax IDs (CUIT) registering inconsistent transactions provided and updated by the Central Bank. If the client is included in the referred list, the intervening financial institution must reinforce the control measures to ensure the reasonableness and genuineness of the transactions.

Payments of imports and other purchases of goods abroad

Access to the MLC for the payment of imports of goods is subject to several limitations.

In addition to the documentation requirements established in connection with import payments, in case -due to the type of imported good- the import is subject to the approval (“SALIDA” status) of a declaration in the Integral Import Monitoring System (“SIMI”), access to the MLC for the payment of imports shall be subject to compliance of any of the following conditions: (i) the import is associated to a category A SIMI declaration with SALIDA status; (ii) the import is associated to a SIMI declaration with SALIDA status registered as of March 3, 2022, (iii) the import is associated to a category B SIMI declaration with SALIDA status and payment is not made earlier than the expiration of a 180 day terms as from the nationalization of the goods; (iv) the import is associated to a category B SIMI declaration with SALIDA status and the goods qualify as capital assets; (v) the import is associated to a category B SIMI declaration with SALIDA status and the imported goods are related to Covid 19 detection and treatment; (vi) the import is associated to a category B SIMI declaration with SALIDA status and the imported goods are subject to non-automatic import licenses; (vii) the import is associated to a category B SIMI declaration with SALIDA status and the import is made by the public sector, companies controlled by the Argentine Government or public trusts. Obtention of A SIMI declarations shall be limited to an annual amount limitation equal to the lower of: (i) the FOB value of the importer’s 2021 imports plus 5% and (ii) the FOB value of the importer’s 2020 imports plus 70%. If the importer has not registered imports during 2020/2021 or the amount resulting from the aforementioned calculation is lower, the applicable annual limitation shall be of US$ 50,000. The category A SIMI declaration amounts that may be requested from time to time shall be equal to the proportional value of the annual cap accrued as of the application date plus 20% of the annual cap. In no case may the annual cap be exceeded. All the FOB value of imports registered between January 1, 2022 and March 3, 2022 shall be deducted from the annual cap.

In addition to the aforementioned conditions, until December 31, 2022, Central Bank’s prior authorization shall be required to access the MLC to make import payments or to repay the principal of debts originating from the import of goods by companies, except in the following cases:

(a)

The participating institution has an affidavit from the customer declaring that the total amount of payments related to its imports of goods made through the MLC on or after January 1, 2020, including the payment for which authorization is being requested does not exceed by more than U.S.$250,000 (or its equivalent) (i) the amount for which the importer would have access to the MLC upon computing all imports of goods recorded in its name in the SEPAIMPO system officially validated between January 1, 2020 and the day preceding the access to the MLC, plus (ii) the amount of payments cleared through the MLC on or after July 6, 2020 for imports of goods entered through a Private Application or Courier or transactions under the scope of Sections 10.9.1 to 10.9.3 of the restated text of the Central Bank regulations shipped on or after July 1, 2020 or, if previously shipped, have not arrived to Argentina prior to such date, plus (iii) the amount of payments made in the context of (c) to (f) and (h) to (i) below, not related to imports falling within the scope of clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, plus (iv) the amount of payments associated with goods donated to the Argentine Ministry of Health to strengthen the Argentine medical or health care capacity, less (v) the amount of advance payments of imports pending customs registration made between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. Additionally, and before executing payments for the import of goods, entities should verify that the affidavit requested to the customer is compatible with the Central Bank’s existing data.

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(b)

Deferred payments of imports of goods shipped on or after July 1, 2020 or that have been shipped prior thereto but have not arrived in Argentina prior to such date.

(c)

Payment related to a transaction not falling within the scope of section (b) above, provided that applied towards the payment of a commercial debt for imports of goods to (or guaranteed by) an export credit agency or a foreign financial institution, to the extent that the debt with such creditors arose prior to July 1, 2020 or from guarantee contracts prior to that date. In the case of payments for imports registered before January 1, 2020, the entity must have an affidavit from the customer stating that the portion of such imports paid has not been previously computed for the purpose of making payments under clause (a).

(d)

Import payments made by: (i) the public sector, (ii) all business organizations, irrespective of their legal forms, where the Argentine Government holds a majority stake in the capital or voting of corporate actions, or (iii) the trusts created out of contributions from the national public sector.

(e)

A payment with pending customs clearance registration to be made by a legal entity responsible for supplying critical medicines to be entered upon a private request from the beneficiary of such medical coverage.

(f)

A payment of imports with pending customs clearance registration for the purchase of kits used in detection of COVID-19 or other goods with tariff items listed in Decree No. 333/2020 as supplemented.

(g)

An advance payment of imports intended to purchase capital goods, with an affidavit from the customer stating that, including the payment whose course is being requested, the amount pending regularization for payments made under this item as of December 1, 2021 does not exceed the equivalent amount of U.S.$1,000,000 (United States Dollars One Million Dollars). In the event that the amount indicated is exceeded, the following conditions must be verified: (i) the amount of the advance payments made under this clause does not exceed 30% of the total amount of the goods to be imported; and (ii) such amount, on demand and of commercial debt without customs entry record made under this clause, does not exceed 80% of the total amount of the goods to be imported.

(h)

Payment of principal under commercial debts for the import of goods provided that the customer has a “Certification of Increase of Exports of Goods in 2021” for the same value of the amount to be paid.

(i)

The customer has a certification issued within the previous 5 (five) business days within the framework of Section 3.19 of the restated text of the Central Bank regulations, for the equivalent of the amount to be paid.

(j)

In the case of payments of import medicine supplies or other health or medical care goods or supplies required manufacture the same in the country, the entity has an affidavit from the customer stating that, including the advance import payment for which authorization is requested, it does not exceed by more than U.S.$3,000,000 (United States Dollars Three Million Dollars) (or its equivalent in other currencies) the amounts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e) above.

 

 

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Prior to processing payments of imports of goods, the participating institution shall, in addition to requesting the affidavit from the customer, confirm that such affidavit is consistent with data held by the Central Bank based on the online system implemented for such purposes.

(a)

Demand import payments or commercial debts without customs registration, complying with the following conditions: (i) the transaction corresponds to the import of supplies for the manufacture of goods in Argentina; (ii) the payments made under this clause do not exceed, in the current calendar month and for all financial entities, the average amount of the imports of supplies during the last twelve (12) closed calendar months, net of the delayed non-regularized amount for import payments with pending customs entry record; and (iii) in those cases in which a SIMI declaration is required for the registration of the customs entry of goods, any of the conditions set forth in Sections 10.3.2.7(i), 10.3.2.7(ii) or 10.3.2.7(vi) of the restated text of the Central Bank regulations are met.

The aforementioned amounts will be increased in an amount equal to 50% of the amounts entered and settled by the importer through the MLC under advance export payments or external prefinancing of exports with a minimum tenor of 180 days.

Access for the remaining 50% shall also be allowed to the extent that the additional part corresponds to payments for imports of capital goods and/or supplies required for the production of exportable goods. In the latter case, the entity must have an affidavit from the customer regarding the type of good involved and its status as an input in the production of goods to be exported.

The access to make the corresponding payment must be made within 5 (five) business days of the settlement of the advance or pre-financing from abroad. The entity through which the settlement was made may send the corresponding certification to the entity/s through which the customer wishes to access the foreign exchange market.

Payments of principal of and interest on external financial indebtedness

Access to the MLC for the cancellation of principal and interest services under debt securities registered outside Argentina and other foreign financial indebtedness is allowed, provided that the following requirements are met:

(a)

The debtor shall evidence that an amount equivalent to the principal amount of the external financial indebtedness has been previously entered and settled in the MLC. This condition will be deemed met in the following cases:

(i)

funds disbursed as from September 1, 2019, which have been previously entered and settled in the MLC;

(ii)

external indebtedness originated from September 1, 2019 onwards, that do not imply any disbursement as a result of being refinancing of external financial debts that would have had access to the MLC, provided that the refinancing does not anticipate payment of the original debt;

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(iii)

the amount of transaction and/or issuance expenses and other expenses debited abroad in connection with the relevant banking transactions;

(iv)

the difference between the actual issue amount and the principal amount of issues of debt securities publicly registered abroad placed under par;

(v)

capitalization of interest as contemplated in the relevant credit agreement;

(vi)

the portion of issues of debt securities publicly registered abroad, made as from October 9, 2020, with an average life of at least 2 (two) years, delivered to creditors of external financial indebtedness and/or foreign currency denominated debt securities publicly registered in Argentina maturing between October 15, 2020 and December 31, 2022 to reach the refinancing standards set forth in Section 3.17 of the restated text of the Central Bank regulations;

(vii)

the portion of issues of debt securities publicly registered abroad, made as from January 7, 2021, delivered to creditors to refinance existing financial indebtedness with an extension of their average life, corresponding to the refinanced principal amount, interest accrued until the refinancing date, and, provided that the new debt securities do not have any principal payments during the first 2 (two) years, an amount equivalent to the interest that would accrue in the first 2 (two) years on the indebtedness subject to refinancing and/or the extension of the maturity of the refinanced principal amount and/or the interest that would accrue on the refinanced amounts; and

(viii)

the portion subscribed with foreign currency in Argentina of issues of debt securities publicly registered abroad, made as from February 5, 2021, to the extent that all the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the debtor evidences that before the issue of the debt securities it made exports or that the placement proceeds were used to satisfy external commitments (if the debtor is unable to comply with at least one of these conditions, the issue must have obtained the Central Bank’s prior approval); (ii) the average life of the debt securities is at least five (5) years; (iii) the first payment of principal takes place no earlier than three (3) years after the issue date; (iv) the local subscription does not exceed 25% of the total subscription amount; and (v) as of the MLC access date, all the funds subscribed abroad and in Argentina must have been settled in the MLC.

(b)

If applicable, evidence should be provided that the transaction was reported in the most recent filing made under the Survey of External Assets and Liabilities Regime.

(c)

Access to the MLC occurs on a date that is not earlier than 3 (three) business days before the maturity date of the applicable principal or interest payment. The Central Bank’s previous consent will be required to access the MLC on an earlier date, unless the debtor falls under the scope of any of the following events, and all the conditions set forth in each case are met:

(i)

Prepayment of principal and interest simultaneously with the settlement of new external financial indebtedness:

·

The prepayment must be made simultaneously with funds settled under a new financial indebtedness disbursed as from October 17, 2019.

 

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·

The new indebtedness has a longer average life than the average life of the outstanding balance being prepaid.

·

The aggregate principal payments of the new indebtedness shall at no time exceed the aggregate principal payments of the debt being cancelled.

(ii)

Prepayment of interest under a process of debt securities exchange:

·

The prepayment must be made in the context of a process of a debt securities exchange issued by the client;

·

The prepaid amount corresponds to interest accrued as of the exchange closing date;

·

The average life of the new debt securities is longer than the remaining average life of the exchanged securities; and

·

The cumulative amount of the principal payments under the new securities may not exceed at any time the amount of the principal payments under the exchanged title.

(iii)

Prepayment under a refinancing process carried out pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.17 of the restated text of the Central Bank regulations:

·

Prepayment of principal and/or interest occurs in the context of a debt refinancing process that satisfies the conditions set forth in Section 3.17;

·

Access to the MLC occurs within 45 (forty-five) calendar days before the maturity date;

·

The interest amount paid does not exceed the amount of interest accrued on the refinanced indebtedness until the refinancing’s closing date; and

·

The cumulative amount of principal payments under the new indebtedness does not exceed the cumulative amount of the principal payments under the refinanced indebtedness.

Moreover, to the extent that the Central Bank’s previous consent is required to access the MLC exchange market to repay principal and/or interest under external financial indebtedness upon maturity, this requirement will not apply provided that all the following conditions are met: (i) the funds have been used to finance projects under the Gas.Ar Plan; (ii) the proceeds have been transferred and settled through the MLC as from November 16, 2020; and (iii) the indebtedness has an average life of at least 2 (two) years.

Until December 31, 2022, access to the MLC for the payment of principal under indebtedness with related parties is subject to Central Bank approval, unless the customer has a “Certification of Increase of Exports of Goods in 2021” issued for the same value of the amount to be paid. Moreover, to the extent that the Central Bank’s previous consent is required to access the MLC to repay principal under external financial indebtedness with related parties, the authorization shall not be required provided that all the following conditions are met: (i) the funds have been entered and settled through the MLC as from October 2, 2020; and (ii) the indebtedness has an average life of at least 2 (two) years.

 

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Access to the MLC to repay principal payments maturing on or before December 31, 2022 must comply with the provisions of Section 3.17 of the restated text of the Central Bank regulations.

In line with the rules established by the Central Bank, the CNV issued General Resolution No. 861 to facilitate debt refinancing transactions through the capital markets. In this regard, it provided that whenever the issuer intends to refinance debts through an exchange offer or new issues of negotiable obligations, in both cases offered in exchange or as consideration for negotiable obligations previously issued by the company and placed privately and/or existing claims against it, the requirement of placement by public offering will be deemed met when the new issue is subscribed through this method, by creditors of the company who are holders of negotiable obligations without public offering and/or existing claims representing a percentage of not more than thirty percent (30%) of the total amount effectively placed, and the remaining percentage is subscribed or paid in cash or in kind, by delivering negotiable obligations originally placed by public offering, or other securities publicly offered and listed and/or traded in markets authorized by the CNV, issued by the same company, by persons domiciled in Argentina or in countries not included in the list of non-cooperating jurisdictions for purposes of fiscal transparency, as contemplated in Section 24 of the Exhibit to Decree No. 862/2019 or any rules that may succeed it. Moreover, it established those certain requirements should be met to comply with the requirement of placement by public offering.

For more information regarding Argentina’s foreign exchange policies, you should seek advice from your legal counsel and read the applicable rules mentioned herein, including their amendments, which can be found at the following websites: www.infoleg.gov.ar and the Central Bank’s website: www.bcra.gov.ar. The information contained on these websites is not part and shall not be deemed incorporated into, this annual report.

Taxation

The following summary contains a description of the principal Argentine and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase common shares or ADSs. The summary is based upon the tax laws of Argentina and regulations thereunder and on the tax laws of the United States and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date hereof, which are subject to change. Investors should consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of the Acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares or ADSs.

Although there is no income tax treaty between Argentina and the United States, the tax authorities of the two countries have had discussions that may culminate in such a treaty. No assurance can be given, however, as to whether or when a treaty will enter into force or how it will affect the U.S. holders of common shares or ADSs.

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Argentine Tax Considerations Capital gains tax

Resident individuals.

The Law No. 27,430 provides for the taxation of Argentine resident individuals’ income from the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares will be subject to income tax rate of 15%.

On December 29, 2017, the Executive Power promulgated and put into effect through Decree 1112/2017 a tax reform enacted in the National Congress through Law No. 27,430 (the “Tax Reform”), which establishes an exemption for individuals tax residents on the sale of shares that are publicly traded in stock exchanges under the supervision of the Argentine Securities and Exchange Commission (the “CNV”).

The Solidarity Law abrogated, as from fiscal year 2020, the provisions of Article 95 and part of the provisions of Article 96 of the ITL that established a cedular tax on interest payments resulting from the placement of capital in Argentine securities.

Furthermore, Article 33 of the Solidarity Law restored the validity of the Article 36 bis Exemption that exempts from, among others, income tax the results derived from the sale, exchange, conversion or other disposition of notes and the interest received by individuals and undivided estates that are considered residents in Argentina for tax purposes if the notes comply with the Exemption Requirements and Conditions.

Finally, section 26(u) of reside in non-cooperative jurisdictions provides an income tax exemption for capital gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of notes that complies with certain requirements, as described above.

Consequently, Argentine tax resident individuals and undivided estates located in Argentina will not be subject to income tax on the exchange of the Existing Notes if the provisions explained above apply 

Foreign beneficiaries.

Pursuant to the Law No. 27,430, all income resulting from the purchase and sale, exchange or other disposition of shares and other securities earned by foreign beneficiaries will be exempt of the Income Tax, if they are listed on stock exchanges or securities markets and/or have an authorization for public offering under the supervision of the CNV and the foreign beneficiaries do not reside in or the funds not arising from “non-cooperating jurisdictions”. In case that the disposition does not meet the former requirements, the income obtained by foreign individual and legal entities will be taxable at a 13,5% rate on the gross price or 15% rate on the net capital gain (with the possibility of upgrading the cost of acquisitions from January 1, 2018 and onwards, considering the variation of the Internal Wholesale Price Index). In addition, Pursuant to Law No. 26,893, capital gains obtained by non-Argentine residents from the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares and other equity interests, bonds and other securities of Argentine companies were subject to capital gains tax until December 30, 2017, even if those transactions were entered into between nonresidents.

The non-cooperating jurisdictions list is prepared and published by the Argentine Executive Power. The United State of America is currently not a non-cooperating jurisdiction.

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In the case the foreign beneficiaries reside in or the funds arise from “non-cooperating jurisdictions”, the exemption will not apply and income will be subject to income tax rate of 35% applied on a presumed net gain of the sale price.

The Tax Reform, effective as of January 1, 2018, specifies that in case of share certificates issued abroad that represent shares issued by Argentine companies (i.e., ADSs), the “source” is defined by the location of the original issuer of the shares. However, the tax will not be due if the publicly traded exemption described above applies in respect of the underlying shares.

Local entities.

Decree No. 1,076/92, as amended by Decree No. 1157/1992, ratified by Argentine Law No. 24,307, eliminated the Article 36 bis Exemption for holders of negotiable obligations subject to Title VI of the ITL. As a result, Argentine Entities will be subject to income tax on interest arising from the New Notes and capital gains derived from the sale, exchange, conversion or other disposition of the New Notes.

Pursuant to Law 27,630 the income tax rate applicable to Argentine Entities is amended, establishing a progressive tax rate system from 25% to 35% depending on the accumulated taxable net income detailed below:

Net accumulated profit		Pay  AR$	%	On surplus ir Ar$
over $	to $
$0	$7.604.948,57	$ 0,00	25%	$0,00
$7.604.948,57	$76.049.485,68	$1.901.237,14	30%	$7.604.948,57
$76.049.485,68	onwards	$22.434.598,28	35%	$76.049.485,68

 

Losses from the sale of the Company's common shares or ADSs may be applied to offset such gains. The aforementioned amounts shall be updated annually, as from 01/01/2022, considering the annual variation of the consumer price index (CPI) provided by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC), a decentralized agency under the Ministry of Economy, corresponding to the month of October of the year prior to the adjustment, with respect to the same month of the previous year. The amounts determined by application of the described mechanism will be applicable for the fiscal years that begin after each update.

The Article 36 bis Exemption and the exemption under subsection u) of the Article 26 of the ITL are not applicable to Argentine taxpayers subject to the tax adjustment for inflation rules in Argentina in accordance with Title VI of the ITL (in general, such taxpayers are legal entities organized under Argentine laws, local branches of foreign legal entities based in Argentina, sole proprietorships or natural persons engaged in certain commercial activities in Argentina, among others) (“Argentine Entities”). Hence, such taxpayers would be subject to capital gains tax on the exchange of the Existing Notes for the New Notes and for accrued and unpaid interest on the Existing Notes.

Pursuant to Law 27,630 the income tax rate applicable to Argentine Entities is amended, establishing a progressive tax rate system (rates from 25% to 35% depending on the accumulated taxable net income) and the application of a vat% withholding rate to any dividend or profit made by said subjects to Argentine resident individuals and Foreign Beneficiaries generated as from January 1, 2018, inclusive, disregarding the tax period when the respective dividend or profit is made available for said shareholders. Said modifications will take effect from the fiscal periods beginning as of January 1, 2021.

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Dividends tax

With 27.430 Law and after the amendments introduced by 27.541 Law and 27.630 Law, the net income of individuals, undivided estates and Beneficiaries Abroad derived from dividends and profits distributed by Argentine Entities began to be taxed. The applicable rate is 7%.

Such tax must be withheld by the entities paying such dividends and profits.

General Resolution (AFIP) No. 5060 adjusts the rate applicable to the dividend and profit withholding regime within the framework of the amendments introduced in the income tax by Law 27,630, among other matters.

For the preceding fiscal years, the 30% rate was applicable to capital gains obtained by Argentine entities, while the rate for dividends and similar profits distributed by such entities will be 7%, regardless of the fiscal period in which such dividends and profits are made available.

Article 20 of the Income Tax Law defines as low or no-tax countries those whose tax rate is lower than 60% of the Argentine corporate rate. By replacing a single rate with a progressive scale, Law 27,630 defines that for purposes of determining this limit, the lowest rate of the scale (i.e. 25%) must be considered.

Through 27,638 Law, applicable as from the tax period 2021 and subsequent periods, an exemption is established with respect to interest or the denomination of the yield resulting from the placement of capital in instruments issued in local currency intended to promote productive investment, established by the National Executive Power, provided that it is so provided in the regulation that governs them, and to the extent that they are not included in the first paragraph of article 26 paragraph h) of the Income Tax Law.

On the other hand, Decree 621/2021 provides a definition of those instruments in local currency included in the second paragraph of paragraph h) of Article 26 of the Income Tax Law, incorporating an article after Article 80 of the regulatory decree of the Income Tax Law.With respect to dividends paid to shareholders residing abroad, such withholding may be reduced by a tax treaty between Argentina and their country of residence. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation—Tax Treaties” below.

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Capital reductions and other distributions

Capital reductions and redemptions of our shares and ADSs are not subject to income tax up to an amount equivalent to the contributed capital corresponding to the shares and ADSs to be redeemed. Any distribution exceeding this amount, however, will be considered as a dividend for tax purposes and subject to withholding tax as described above.

Other Income Tax provisions

Transfer pricing

The Transfer Pricing regime includes import and export controls of any product with the intervention of an international intermediary, that is not the importer at destination or exporter at origin, respectively.

In addition, for exports of goods with known prices and with the intervention of an intermediary (either related, or located in “non-cooperating” or low or no tax jurisdictions), the Law requires the Argentine exporter to file with AFIP the agreements supporting the transactions.

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The Tax Reform re-establishes the adjustment for inflation procedures in the Income Tax Law with the following rules: (i) inflation adjustment of new acquisitions and investments carried out from January 1, 2018 and onwards, considering the variation of the Internal Wholesale Price Index (in Spanish, Índice de Precios Internos al Consumidor Nivel General or IPC) supplied by the INDEC; and (ii) the application of an integral inflation adjustment mechanism when, the variation of the IPC is higher than 100% for the 36-month period before the end of the fiscal period or else, with respect to the first, second and third fiscal year of effectiveness, this procedure will be applicable in case the accumulated variation of the IPC, calculated from the beginning of the first of them and until the end of each year, exceeds fifty-five percent (55%), thirty percent (30%) and fifteen percent (15%) for the first, second and third year of application, respectively.

Solidarity and Extraordinary Contribution

As from the enactment of Law 27,605, an extraordinary contribution was created, on an emergency basis and for one time only, which is mandatory and applies to the assets existing as of December 18, 2020 belonging to certain individuals and undivided estates (the "Extraordinary Contribution").

Among the subjects reached by this Extraordinary Contribution are: (a) individuals and undivided estates resident in the country as well as those individuals of Argentine nationality whose domicile or residence is in "non-cooperating jurisdictions" or "low or no tax jurisdictions" under the terms of the Income Tax Law, for the totality of their assets in the country and abroad; and (b) individuals and undivided estates resident abroad (except those mentioned in the previous point) for the totality of their assets in the country.

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In order to determine the residence of the taxpayer of the Extraordinary Contribution, the situation of such taxpayer as of December 31, 2019 must be considered and the residence criteria established in the Income Tax Law must be used.

In both cases, taxpayers will be exempt from this Extraordinary Contribution when the value of all their assets, included and valued according to the terms established in the Personal Property Tax Law, regardless of their treatment before such tax and without deduction of any non-taxable minimum, does not exceed Ps. 200,000,000, inclusive. When such amount is exceeded, the totality of the taxpayer's assets shall be subject to the Extraordinary Contribution.

For the taxpayers mentioned in point a), the taxable amount of this Extraordinary Contribution will be determined considering the total of the assets in the country and abroad owned by them, including contributions to trusts, trusts or private interest foundations and other similar structures, participation in companies or other entities of any kind without fiscal personality and direct or indirect participation in companies or other entities of any kind, existing at the date of entry into force of this law.

The Extraordinary Contribution to be paid will be determined based on a scale and rates that vary between 2 and 5.25%, depending on (i) the total value of the assets and (ii) the place where they are located. The differential of the assets located abroad with respect to those located in the country will be eliminated in the event of the repatriation of part of such assets within a certain term and as long as the funds remain until December 31, 2021 deposited in an account in the name of its owner or assigned, once such deposit has been made, to any of the destinations established by the National Executive Power ("PEN").

The application, collection and control of this Extraordinary Contribution will oversee the AFIP, and the provisions of the Tax Procedures Law (Law 11,683, text as amended in 1998 and its amendments) and the Criminal Tax Regime of Title IX of Law 27,430 and its amendments will be supplementary applicable.

Finally, it should be noted that the regulation of the Extraordinary Contribution by the PEN is still pending at the date of preparation of this document.

Although the Extraordinary Contribution was conceived as a one-time tax to be paid on assets existing as of December 18, 2020, it is important to mention that in Argentina there are precedents of taxes that have been created on an exceptional basis and for a limited period, which later have been extended for additional periods (e.g., Tax on Credits and Debits in Bank Accounts).

Value Added Tax

All financial transactions and operations related to the issuance, placement, purchase, sale, transfer, payment of principal and/or interest, or the redemption of the New Notes and the Existing Notes placed through public offering and their guarantees are exempt from Value Added Tax provided that their issuance complies with all the Exemption Requirements and Conditions. Interest under the Private Notes would also be exempt from Value Added Tax when the notes comply whit the requirements mentioned before.

Furthermore, even if the Exemption Requirements and Conditions are not met, the sale or transfer of New Notes will be exempt from this tax pursuant to Article 7(b) of the Value Added Tax Act, in accordance with the amendments effected by Decree No. 280/1997. The above-mentioned exemptions operate in relation to transactions carried out in Argentina with respect to both Argentine and foreign securities; while those carried out abroad are outside the scope of the tax.

Personal assets tax

Under the Personal Assets Tax Act No. 23,966, as amended (the “Personal Assets Tax Act”), and Regulatory Decree No. 127/1996, individuals and undivided estates resident in Argentina are subject to a Personal Assets Tax (the “Personal Assets Tax”) on their assets located both in the country or abroad (such as the New Notes) held at December 31 of each year, unless an exemption applies. Individuals and undivided estates not residing in Argentina are only liable for this tax upon their assets located in Argentina (such as the New Notes) held at December 31 of each year, unless an exemption applies. Securities, such as the New Notes, are only deemed to be located in Argentina when issued by an entity residing in Argentina, such as the Issuer.

The Personal Assets Tax is calculated by reference to market value, in the case of negotiable securities listed on any market, or to the acquisition cost plus the interest accrued and unpaid and exchange rate differences, in the case of negotiable securities not listed on public markets, in both cases as of December 31 of each year. Assets are taxable when the aggregate value thereof exceeds the total amount of Ps.6,000,000 in the 2021 tax period and subsequent tax periods.

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The applicable tax rates for individuals and undivided estates resident in Argentina and holding assets subject to taxation for an amount exceeding the minimum threshold are shown below (except for the holding of shares or other participations in companies regulates by the General Companies Law):

(i) On total assets located in Argentina subject to taxation:

 

Aggregate value of assets exceeding the minimum threshold		Pay AR$	plus %	Over the exceeding amount of AR$
More than AR$	To AR$
0	3,000,000, inclusive	0	0.50 %	0
3,000,000	6,500,000, inclusive	15,000	0.75 %	3,000,000
6,500,000	18,000,000, inclusive	41,250	1.00 %	6,500,000
18,000,000	100,000,000 inclusive	156,250	1.25 %	18,000,000
100,000,000	300,000,000 inclusive	1,181,250	1.50%	100,000,000
300,000,000	onwards	4,181,250	1.75%	300,000,000

Source: Article 3, Law No. 27,667.

(ii) On total assets located abroad subject to taxation:

Aggregate value of assets located in Argentina and abroad		Aggregate value of assets located abroad exceeding the minimum threshold not computed against the assets located in Argentina must pay %
Over Ps.	Up to Ps.
0	3,000,000, inclusive	0.70%
3,000,000	6,500,000, inclusive	1.20%
6,500,000	18,000,000, inclusive	1.80%
18,000,000		2.25%

Source: Article 4, Law No. 27,667.

As from fiscal years starting on January 1, 2022, inclusive, the amounts of the minimum threshold and the amounts of the tables above, shall be updated annually considering the annual variation of CPI provided by the INDEC, corresponding to the month of October of the year prior to the adjustment, with respect to the same month of the previous year

In addition, the Argentine executive branch is authorized to establish lower tax rates applicable to financial assets located abroad, in case the taxpayer repatriates part of the total value of its financial assets located abroad (which includes the repatriation of funds obtained through the sale of financial assets located abroad and of foreign currency held abroad).

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Additionally, the law established a definition for the concept “financial assets located abroad” by listing different types of assets such as deposits in foreign currency in banks and/or foreign financial or similar institutions and corporate shares or equivalent (private securities, shares, quotas and other participations) of all types of entities.

Through the enactment of 27,638 Law, applicable as from the tax period 2021 and subsequent periods, certain tax exemptions are established, among which are negotiable obligations issued in local currency that comply with the Exemption Requirements and Conditions.

Regarding assets located in Argentina, individuals and undivided estates resident abroad will be subject to the 0.50% rate, it being stipulated, however, that the income tax will not apply when its amount is equivalent to or less than AR$ 255.75. Personal assets tax applies to the market value of the New Notes (or the acquisition costs plus accrued and unpaid interest and exchange rate differences in the event the New Notes are no longer listed) as of December 31 of every calendar year.

Although the New Notes directly held by individuals residing abroad and undivided estates located abroad would technically be subject to the Personal Assets Tax, under current legislation the procedure for payment of the tax has not been established in relation to the New Notes held by such taxpayers, unless the notes are owned jointly by Argentine residents or held in escrow or otherwise, deposited, or managed by Argentine residents on a jointly basis, in which case such Argentine residents are required to pay Personal Assets Tax accordingly.

Although Personal Assets Tax applies only to securities held by individuals or undivided estates resident in Argentina or abroad, as described above, the Personal Assets Act sets forth a legal presumption, regardless of any evidence to the contrary, whereby securities issued by Argentine private issuers directly owned by a foreign legal entity that (i) is a resident in a jurisdiction not requiring registration of private shares or securities, and (ii) either (a) under its corporate charter, or under the regulatory system applying to such foreign entity, may only carry on investment activities outside the jurisdiction where it was organized, or (b) may not enter into certain transactions permitted under its corporate charter or under the regulatory framework in its jurisdiction of incorporation, are deemed to be owned by an individual domiciled, or an undivided estate located, in Argentina, and therefore subject to Personal Assets Tax.

In such case, the law provides that the issuer (the “Substitute Obligor”) has the duty to pay Personal Assets Tax at twice the rate stated above. The Personal Assets Tax Act empowers the Substitute Obligor to seek reimbursement of any tax amount so paid, including by way of withholding or foreclosing directly on the assets originating such payment.

The above legal presumption does not apply to the following foreign entities that are direct holders of securities such as the New Notes: (a) insurance companies; (b) open-end mutual funds; (c) pension funds; and

(d) banks or financial institutions whose headquarters are located in countries whose central banks or equivalent bodies have adopted the international banking supervision standards established by the Basel Committee. Similarly, Decree 812/1996 dated July 24, 1996 provides that the legal presumption analysed above shall not apply to private shares and securities, such as the New Notes, whose public offering has been authorized by the CNV and which may be traded in markets or stock exchanges located in Argentina or abroad. In order to ensure that this legal presumption will not apply, and therefore that the Argentine private issuer will not be liable as a Substitute Obligor in connection with the New Notes, the issuer shall keep in its records a duly certified copy of the CNV resolution authorizing the public offering of the private shares or debt securities (in this case, the New Notes) and evidence that such certificate or authorization was in effect on December 31 of the year in which the tax obligation arose as required by General Resolution (AFIP) No. 2,151 dated October 31, 2006.

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Bank Debits and Credits Tax

Act No. 25,413, as amended, establishes, with exceptions, a tax applicable to debits and credits in accounts opened with institutions governed by the Argentine Financial Entities Law No. 21,526 and on other transactions replacing the use of such current accounts.

The general rate is 0.6% on each debit and credit. Rates of 1.2% or 0.075% may be applied to certain specially planned transactions.

Pursuant to Decree No. 409/2018 (published in the Official Gazette of Argentina on May 7, 2018), 33% of the tax paid levied on the debits and credits at the 0.6% tax rate and 33% of the tax paid on transactions levied at a 1.2% rate will be considered as a payment on account of federal taxes2 and/or on account of the Special Tax for Cooperatives. The remaining amount may be deducted from the income tax base. If a lower rate were applicable the tax credit would be 20%.

For micro, small and medium-sized companies registered as such in accordance with the provisions of Argentine legislation, the percentage of prepayment of the income tax may be higher, as applicable.

Regarding debits and credits verified in accounts opened in Argentine financial entities, the Solidarity Law provides that, for taxable events occurred as of December 24, 2019, when cash withdrawals are made under any form, debits incurred in such accounts will be subject to the double of the tax rate set forth for each case, over the amount of the relevant withdrawal. This rate increase will not apply to accounts whose holders are individuals or legal entities that evidence their condition as “micro” and “small” companies.

Article 10 subsection (s) of the Annex to Decree No. 380/2001 as amended, sets forth that debits and credits from and into special current accounts (Communication “A” 3250 of the Argentine Central Bank ) are not subject to this tax if the holders of such accounts are foreign entities and the accounts are exclusively used in connection with financial investments in Argentina.

In order to obtain certain exemptions and/or reductions in the rate of this tax, it may be necessary to register the bank accounts with the tax authority (AFIP-DGI) in accordance with the provisions of General Resolution AFIP No. 3900/2016.

Act No. 27,432 (promulgated and published in the Official Gazette on December 29, 2017) extended this tax until December 31, 2022, inclusive.

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Decree 796/2021 incorporates several amendments to the regulation of the tax on bank credits and debits (Decree No. 380/2001), among which, we highlight that it provides that the tax exemptions will not be applicable when the movement of funds are linked to the purchase, sale, swap, brokerage and/or any other transaction on cryptoassets, cryptocurrencies, digital currencies, or similar instruments.

Tax for an Inclusive and Solidary Argentina

The Solidarity Law established on an emergency basis and for the term of five fiscal periods from the date this Law entered into force in December 2019, a national tax applicable to certain transactions of purchase of banknotes and foreign currency in foreign currency and other transactions of exchange of foreign currency and procurement of services carried out by Argentine residents (individual or Argentine Entities, undivided estates and other liable entities). The applicable rate is generally 30%. Investors should take into consideration the rules applicable to their specific situation.

In addition, General Resolution (AFIP) N° 4815/2020 established on the operations subject to said tax and for the taxpayers defined in Article 36 of the Solidarity Law that qualify as Argentine residents, in the terms of Article 116 and subsequent of the ITL, the application of a thirty-five percent (35%) collection on the amounts in AR$ that, for each case, are detailed in Article 39 of the Solidarity Law.

Said collection will have the character of payment on account and will be computable in the annual income tax return or, where appropriate, the annual Personal Assets Tax return, corresponding to the fiscal period in which they were incurred.

Additionally, this general resolution establishes a refund regime for those subjects to whom the established collection has been applied and who are not taxpayers of income tax or, where appropriate, Personal Assets Tax.

Turnover Tax

The turnover tax is a local tax; therefore, the rules of the relevant provincial jurisdiction should be considered, which may levy this tax on the customary purchase and sale, exchange or other disposition of common shares and ADSs, and/or the collection of dividends at an average rate between 6% and 10%, unless an exemption is applicable. In the particular case of the City of Buenos Aires, any transaction involving common shares and/or the collection of dividends and revaluations is exempt from this tax.

Provincial Collection Regimes on Credits in Bank Accounts

Different provincial revenue agencies (such as Corrientes, Córdoba, Tucumán, Buenos Aires and Salta, among others, as well as the City of Buenos Aires) have established collection regimes for the turnover tax that may be applicable to the credits arising from bank accounts opened at Argentine financial institutions, whatever their nature or type, and embracing all their branches, regardless of the territory where they are based. These regimes apply to those taxpayers enrolled with the revenue agency of each jurisdiction. The applicable rates depend on each agency, in a range that goes up to 5.0%.

For taxpayers subject to these advanced payment regimes, any payment applicable qualifies as an advanced payment of the turnover tax.

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In relation to these regimes, when signing the Fiscal Consensus, the Argentine provinces and the City of Buenos Aires undertook to establish an automatic refund mechanism to the taxpayer of the positive balance generated by withholdings and collections accumulated during a reasonable period which may not exceed in any circumstances six months from the filing of the request made by the taxpayer, provided that the conditions and the procedure established by the local jurisdictions for this refund are satisfied and followed. Likewise, by means of the agreement signed on December 4, 2020, between the Executive Power and the representatives of certain Argentine jurisdictions, the Argentine jurisdictions assumed the commitment to seek the necessary measures for the purposes of applying mechanisms of automatic refund, compensation or credit transfer of the positive balance generated by the withholdings and collections, provided that the taxpayers comply with the specific requirements of the case in question.

Investors will have to confirm the existence of these mechanisms depending on the jurisdiction involved.

Value added tax

The sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares or ADSs and the distribution of dividends are exempted from the value added tax.

Transfer taxes

The sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares or ADSs is not subject to transfer taxes.

Stamp taxes

Stamp taxes may apply in the City of Buenos Aires and in certain Argentine provinces in case transfer of our common shares or ADSs is performed or executed in such jurisdictions by means of written agreements.

Other taxes

Commissions paid on brokerage transactions for the sale of our common shares on the BYMA are subject to VAT at a rate of 21%.

There is no inheritance, gift, succession or VAT applicable to the ownership, transfer, exchange or disposition of our common shares or ADSs, except for the inheritance tax applicable only to corporations or individuals with tax domicile in the Province of Buenos Aires with a fixed amount tax plus a tax rate between 1% and 9% depending on the relationship and the amount of inheritance).

Law No. 27,541 also amended the regulations regarding employers' contributions to Social Security. Edenor is subject to this modification, as a consequence we paid a 20.40% rate on the total amount of the payroll for December 2019, compared to the 18% rate previously applied.

Tax treaties

Argentina has signed tax treaties for the avoidance of double taxation with Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Uruguay (through an information exchange treaty that contains clauses for avoidance of double taxation). In addition, Argentina has signed tax treaties with Turkey, Luxembourg, Japan, Austria and China, but they are still pending to approval by the Argentine Congress. Additionally, tax treaties are being negotiated with Colombia and Israel, and amendments to the current tax treaty with Germany. An amendment to the current tax treaty with France is pending of approval by the Argentine Congress. There is currently an agreement between Argentina and the United States on the exchange of Country-by-Country Reports, but there is to date no tax treaty or convention in effect between both countries. It is not clear when, if ever, a treaty will be ratified or entered into effect. As a result, the Argentine tax consequences described in this section will apply, without modification, to a holder of our common shares or ADSs that is a U.S. resident. Foreign shareholders located in certain jurisdictions with a tax treaty in force with Argentina may be exempted from the payment of the personal asset tax.

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Value Added Tax (VAT)

Investments Tax Returns

The return of tax credits originated in investments in fixed assets will be given, in case that, 6 months after their payment, have not been absorbed by fiscal debits generated by the activity.

 

Tax on Fuels

The Fuel tax scheme is modified, incorporating a tax on carbon dioxide emissions. The same tax pressure existing before the reform will be maintained.

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

This summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences for a U.S. holder (as defined below) of acquiring, owning, and disposing of ADSs. This summary applies to a holder only if such holder holds the ADSs as capital assets for tax purposes. This summary does not address the Medicare tax on net investment income, the alternative minimum tax or under special timing rules prescribed under section 451(b) of the Code. This summary also does not apply to investors that are members of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

·

a dealer in securities or currencies;

·

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for securities holdings;

·

a bank;

·

a life insurance company;

·

a tax-exempt organization;

·

an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or a partner therein;

·

a person that holds ADSs that are a hedge or that are hedged against interest rate or currency risks;

·

a person that holds ADSs as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for tax purposes;

·

a person whose functional currency for U.S. tax purposes is not the U.S. Dollar; or

·

a person that owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of any class of our stock.

This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. Investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the consequences of purchasing, owning, and disposing of ADSs in their particular circumstances, including the possible application of state, local, non-U.S. or other tax laws. For purposes of this summary, an investor is a “U.S. holder” if such investor is a beneficial owner of an ADS and is:

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·

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

·

a U.S. domestic corporation; or

·

otherwise subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis with respect to income from the ADS.

In general, if an investor is the beneficial owner of ADSs, such investor will be treated as the beneficial owner of the common stock represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no gain or loss will be recognized if such investor exchanges an ADS for the common stock represented by that ADS.

Dividends

The gross amount of distributions that investors receive (prior to deduction of Argentine taxes) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation as foreign source dividend income, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. We do not expect to maintain calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. U.S. Holders therefore should expect that distributions generally will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid in Argentine Pesos will be included in an investor’s income in a U.S. Dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of the depositary’s receipt of the dividend, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. Dollars. A U.S. holder will have a tax basis in such Pesos for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the U.S. Dollar value on the date of such receipt. Any subsequent gain or loss in respect of such Pesos arising from exchange rate fluctuations will be ordinary income or loss and will be treated as income from U.S. sources for foreign tax credit purposes. If such a dividend is converted into U.S. Dollars on the date of receipt, investors generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income.

Subject to certain exceptions for short-term (60 days or less) positions, the U.S. Dollar amount of dividends received by an individual U.S. holder in respect of ADSs generally will be subject to taxation at a maximum rate of 20% if the dividends are “qualified dividends.” Dividends paid on the ADSs will be treated as qualified dividends if (i) the ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States and (ii) we were not, in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and are not, in the year in which the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”). The ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and will qualify as readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States so long as they are so listed. Based on our audited financial statements and relevant market and shareholder data, we believe that we were not treated as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to our 2020 and 2021 taxable years. In addition, based on our current expectations regarding the value and nature of our assets, the sources and nature of our income, and relevant market and shareholder data, we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC for our 2022 taxable year.

Because the common shares are not themselves listed on a U.S. exchange, dividends received with respect to the common shares may not be treated as qualified dividends. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in the light of their own particular circumstances.

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Distributions of additional shares in respect of ADSs that are made as part of a pro-rata distribution to all of our shareholders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless a U.S. Holder that receives the distribution has the right to receive cash or property, in which case the U.S. Holder will be treated as if it received cash equal to the fair market value of the distribution.

In the event of a distribution of bonds or other property, U.S. holders of ADSs or Class B common shares should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of receipt of such bonds or other property (or, in the case of a holder of ADSs, the receipt of the proceeds of the sale or other disposition by the depositary of such bonds or other property).

Sale or other disposition

Upon a sale or other disposition of ADSs, an investor will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. Dollar value of the amount realized and such investor’s tax basis, determined in U.S. Dollars, in the ADSs. Generally, such gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs will be treated as U.S. source capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the ADSs were held for more than one year. The ability to offset capital losses against ordinary income is limited. Long-term capital gain recognized by an individual U.S. holder generally is subject to taxation at a reduced rate.

Foreign tax credit considerations

Investors should consult their own tax advisors to determine whether they are subject to any special rules that limit their ability to make effective use of foreign tax credits. If no such rules apply, a U.S. holder may be able to claim a credit against its U.S. federal income tax liability for Argentine income taxes withheld at the appropriate rate applicable to the U.S. holder from cash dividends on the ADSs, if the tax is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as imposed on the U.S. holder, so long as the U.S. holder has owned the ADSs (and not entered into specified kinds of hedging transactions) for at least a 16-day period that includes the ex-dividend date. Dividend distributions with respect to the ADSs generally will be treated as “passive category” income from sources outside the United States for purposes of determining a U.S. Holder’s U.S. foreign tax credit limitation. If a gain realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs is subject to withholding tax, a U.S. holder may not be able to credit the tax against its U.S. federal income tax liability unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable conditions and limitations) against tax due on other income treated as derived from foreign sources. It is unclear whether the Argentine personal assets tax (as described in “—Argentine Tax Considerations”) is treated as an income tax for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Argentine personal assets tax is not treated as an income tax for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder would be unable to claim a foreign tax credit for any Argentine personal assets tax withheld. A U.S. holder may be able to deduct such tax in computing its U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to applicable limitations. The calculation of foreign tax credits and, in the case of a U.S. holder that elects to deduct foreign taxes, the availability of deductions, involve the application of complex rules that depend on a U.S. holder’s particular circumstances. Investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the creditability or deductibility of such taxes.

U.S. Information reporting and backup withholding rules

Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries are subject to information reporting unless the holder is an exempt recipient and may also be subject to backup withholding unless the holder (1) provides its taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding or (2) otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Investors may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim or refund with the Internal Revenue Service and filing any required information.

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A holder that is a foreign corporation or a non-resident alien individual may be required to comply with certification and identification procedures in order to establish its exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.

Specified Foreign Financial Assets

Certain U.S. holders that own “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of U.S.$50,000 on the last day of the taxable year or U.S.$75,000 at any time during the taxable year are generally required to file an information statement along with their tax returns, currently on Form 8938, with respect to such assets. “Specified foreign financial assets” include any financial accounts held at a non-U.S. financial institution, as well as securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer that are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad and to certain married individuals. Regulations extend this reporting requirement to certain entities that are treated as formed or availed of to hold direct or indirect interests in specified foreign financial assets based on certain objective criteria. U.S. holders who fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties. In addition, the statute of limitations for assessment of tax would be suspended, in whole or part. Investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of these rules to their particular circumstances.

 

Description of American Depositary Shares

American Depositary Receipts

The Bank of New York is the depositary for the American Depositary Shares, also referred to as ADSs. Each ADS represents 20 Class B common shares (or a right to receive 20 Class B common shares) deposited with the principal Buenos Aires office of Banco Río de la Plata S.A., as custodian for the depositary in Argentina. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s office at which the ADRs are administered is located at 101 Barclay Street, 22W, New York, NY 10280.

The depositary is required to keep books at its corporate trust office for the registration of ADSs and transfers of ADSs which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the holders of ADSs, provided that such inspection shall not be for the purpose of communicating with holders in the interest of a business or object other than the business of Edenor or a matter related to the deposit agreement or the receipts.

Investors hold ADSs directly either by having an American Depositary Receipt, also referred to as an ADR, which is a certificate evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in the investor’s name, or by having ADSs registered in the investor’s name in the Direct Registration System. Investors also hold ADSs indirectly by holding a security entitlement in ADSs through the investor’s broker or other financial institution. If investors hold ADSs directly, they are ADS registered holders. This description assumes that such investors are ADS registered holders. If investors hold the ADSs indirectly, the investors must rely on the procedures of their broker or other financial institution to assert their rights as ADS registered holders described in this section. Investors should consult with their broker or financial institution to learn what those procedures are.

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The Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, also referred to as DTC, pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the registered holders of uncertificated ADSs.

We do not treat ADS holders as one of our shareholders and ADS holders do not have shareholder rights. Argentine law governs shareholder rights. The depositary is the holder of the common shares underlying the ADSs. Holders of ADSs have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary, the ADS holder, and the beneficial owners of ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADSs.

The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, investors should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR.

Dividends and Other Distributions

How will investors receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?

The depositary has agreed to pay to ADS holders the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on common shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses described below. ADS holders will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of common shares your ADSs represent.

Cash

The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the common shares into U.S. Dollars; if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. Dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any Government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADR holders to whom it is possible to do so. It may hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADR holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.

Before making a distribution, the depositary will deduct any withholding taxes that must be paid. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation”. It will distribute only whole U.S. Dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, holders of ADSs may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.

Shares

The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any common shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will try to sell common shares, in lieu of delivering fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary may also sell a portion of the distributed common shares to pay its fees and expenses in connection with the distribution. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new common shares.

203

Rights to Purchase Additional Common Shares

If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional common shares or any other rights, the depositary may make these rights available to holders of ADSs. If the depositary decides it is not legal and practical to make the rights available but that it is practical to sell the rights, the depositary will use reasonable efforts to sell the rights and distribute the proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, holders of ADSs will receive no value for them.

If the depositary makes rights to purchase common shares available to holders of ADSs, it will exercise the rights and purchase the common shares on their behalf. The depositary will then deposit the shares and deliver ADSs to the investor. It will only exercise rights if the investor pays it the exercise price and any other charges the rights require the investor to pay.

U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs representing common shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.

Other Distributions

The depositary will send to holders of ADSs anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to holders of ADSs unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed property to pay its fees and expenses in connection with the distribution.

The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADR holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, common shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, common shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means that holders of ADSs may not receive the distributions we make on our common shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to holders of ADSs.

Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

How are ADSs issued?

The depositary will deliver ADSs if the investor or the investor’s broker deposits common shares or evidence of rights to receive common shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names the investor requests.

204

How do ADS holders cancel ADSs and obtain shares?

If an investor surrenders ADSs to the depositary, upon payment of the investor’s fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the common shares and any other deposited securities underlying the surrendered ADSs to the investor or a person the investor designates at the office of the custodian. Or, at the investor’s request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible.

How do ADS holders interchange between certified ADSs and uncertified ADSs?

Investors may surrender their ADRs to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging their ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The depositary will cancel that ADR and will send to the ADS registered holder a statement confirming that the ADS registered holder is the registered holder of uncertificated ADSs. Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a registered holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to the ADS registered holder an ADR evidencing those ADSs.

Voting Rights

How do holders of ADSs vote?

Holders of ADSs may instruct the depositary to vote the number of common shares their ADSs represent. If we ask for the instructions of the holders of the ADSs, the depositary will notify the holders of the ADSs of shareholders’ meetings and the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to the holder of the ADSs. Those materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how holders of ADSs may instruct the depositary to vote the shares or other deposited securities underlying their ADSs as the holder of the ADSs directs by a specified date. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them on or before the date specified.

The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to Argentine law and the provisions of our by-laws or similar documents, to vote or to have its agents vote the number of common shares or other deposited securities represented by the ADSs as the holder of the ADSs instructs. Otherwise, the holder of the ADSs will not be able to exercise their right to vote unless they withdraw the shares underlying their ADSs. In the absence of the instruction of the holder of the ADSs, our company may request the depositary to vote as we instruct at the corresponding meeting. The holder of the ADSs may otherwise not know about the meeting far enough in advance to withdraw the shares. We will use our best efforts to request that the depositary notify holders of ADSs of upcoming votes and ask for the instructions of holders of ADSs.

If we timely ask the depositary to solicit the instructions of holders of ADSs and the depositary does not receive voting instructions from the holder of the ADSs by the specified date, the depositary will consider the holder of the ADSs to have authorized and directed it to vote the number of deposited securities represented by their ADSs in favor of all resolutions proposed by our Board of Directors or, if not so proposed, to vote in the same manner as the majority of all other shares voted in respect of this resolution. The depositary will vote as described in the preceding sentence unless we notify the depositary that:

·

we do not wish the depositary to vote those deposited securities;

·

we think there is substantial shareholder opposition to the particular question; or

·

we think the particular question would have an adverse impact on our shareholders.

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Fees and Expenses

 

Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers

If we:

Then:

Change the nominal or par value of our common shares ·                  Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities ·                  Distribute securities on the common shares that are not distributed to the holders of ADSs Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action

The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities. The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADRs or ask the holder of ADSs to surrender their outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.

 

Limitations on Obligations and Liability

Limits on Our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADRs

The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:

·

are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith;

·

are not liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond our control from performing our obligations under the deposit agreement;

·

are not liable if either of us exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;

·

have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADRs or the deposit agreement on behalf of holders of ADSs or on behalf of any other party; and

·

may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party.

In the deposit agreement, we agree to indemnify the depositary for acting as depositary, except for losses caused by the depositary’s own negligence or bad faith, and the depositary agrees to indemnify us for losses resulting from its negligence or bad faith.

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       Requirements for Depositary Actions

Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of an ADR, make a distribution on an ADR, or permit withdrawal of common shares, the depositary may require:

·

payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other Governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any common shares or other deposited securities;

·

satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and

·

compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents.

The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.

The Right of Holders of ADSs to Receive the Common Shares Underlying their ADRs

Holders of ADSs have the right to surrender their ADSs and withdraw the underlying common shares at any time except:

When temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of common shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our common shares.

When holder of ADSs seeking to withdraw common shares owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges.

When it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or Governmental regulations that apply to ADRs or to the withdrawal of common shares or other deposited securities.

This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

Pre-Release of ADSs

The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying common shares. This is called a Pre-Release of the ADSs. The depositary may also deliver common shares upon the receipt and cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are surrendered before the Pre-Release transaction has been terminated). A Pre-Release is terminated as soon as the underlying common shares are delivered to the Depositary. The depositary may receive ADSs instead of common shares to satisfy a Pre-Release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (a) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its user (i) owns the common shares or ADSs to be deposited; (ii) transfers all beneficial right, title and interest in such common shares or ADSs, as the case may be, to the Depositary in its capacity as such and for the benefit of the Beneficial Owners, and (iii) will not take any action with respect to such common shares or ADSs, as the case may be, that is inconsistent with the transfer of ownership (including, without the consent of the Depositary, disposing of common shares or ADSs, as the case may be, other than in satisfaction of such Pre-Release); (b) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; (c) the depositary must be able to terminate the pre-release on not more than five business days’ notice and (d) Pre-Release is subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the Depositary deems appropriate. In addition, the depositary will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of Pre-Release, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.

207

Direct Registration System

In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification System, or Profile, will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements sent by the depositary to the registered holders of uncertificated ADSs. Profile is a required feature of DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of a registered holder of ADSs, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the depositary of prior authorization from the ADS registered holder to register that transfer.

In connection with and in accordance with the arrangements and procedures relating to DRS/Profile, the parties to the deposit agreement understand that the depositary will not verify, determine or otherwise ascertain that the DTC participant, which is claiming to be acting on behalf of an ADS registered holder in requesting registration of transfer and delivery described in the paragraph above, has the actual authority to act on behalf of the ADS registered holder (notwithstanding any requirements under the Uniform Commercial Code). In the deposit agreement, the parties agree that the depositary’s reliance on and compliance with instructions received by the depositary through the DRS/Profile System and in accordance with the deposit agreement, shall not constitute negligence or bad faith on the part of the depositary.

Shareholder Communications and Inspection of Register of Holders of ADSs

The holders of ADSs are holders of deposited securities. As such, the depositary will make available for inspection by the holders of ADSs at its office all communications that it receives from us that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. The depositary will send holders of ADSs copies of those communications if we ask it to. Holders of ADSs have a right to inspect the register of holders of ADSs, but not for the purpose of contacting those holders about a matter unrelated to our business or the ADSs.

Amendment and Termination

We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without the consent of holders of ADSs for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other Governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADR holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADRs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADR holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, the holders of ADSs are considered, by continuing to hold their ADR, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.

The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us that it would like to resign and we have not appointed a new depositary bank within 60 days. In either case, the depositary must notify the holder of ADSs at least 30 days before termination.

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After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: (a) advise the holders of ADSs that the deposit agreement is terminated, (b) collect distributions on the deposited securities, (c) sell rights and other property, and (d) deliver common shares and other deposited securities upon surrenders of ADRs. One year after termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement for the pro rata benefit of the ADR holders that have not surrendered their ADRs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination our only obligations will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that we agreed to pay.

Fees, Expenses and Payment of Taxes

See “Item 12. Description of Securities other than Equity Securities”.

DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

The materials included in this annual report on Form 20-F, and exhibits thereto, may be inspected and copied at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a World Wide Web site on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports and information statements and other information regarding us. The reports and information statements and other information about us can be downloaded from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website.

Item 11.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company’s activities and the market in which it operates expose the Company to a number of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk, cash flows interest rate risk, fair value interest rate risk and price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.

The management of the financial risk is part of the Company’s overall policies, which focus on the unpredictability of the financial markets and seek to minimize potential adverse effects on its financial performance. Financial risks are the risks derived from the financial instruments to which the Company is exposed during or at the end of each year. The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge exposure to certain risks whenever it deems appropriate in accordance with its internal risk management policy.

Risk management is controlled by the Finance and Control Department, which identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks. Risk management policies and systems are periodically reviewed so that they can reflect the changes in the market’s conditions and the Company’s activities.

See Note 5 of our financial statements for further information.

209

Foreign Currency Risk

Our cash, deposits and financial assets denominated in U.S. Dollars amounted to U.S.$12 million and U.S.$23 million of sovereign bonds as of December 31, 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, the potential loss to the Company that would result from a hypothetical 10% change in foreign currency exchange rates, after giving effect to the impact of the change on our assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency as of December 31, 2021, was approximately Ps.646 million, primarily due to the increase in the principal amount of, and debt service payments on, our foreign currency indebtedness.

The Company does not currently hedge its exposure to currency risk. Therefore, any depreciation of the Peso could significantly increase its debt service burden, which, in turn, could have a substantial adverse effect on its financial and cash position (including its ability to repay its Corporate Notes) and the results of its operations.

 

Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk is the risk of fluctuation in the fair value or cash flows of an instrument due to changes in market interest rates. The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk arises mainly from its long-term debt obligations.

Indebtedness at floating rates exposes the Company to interest rate risk on its cash flows. Indebtedness at fixed rates exposes the Company to interest rate risk on the fair value of its liabilities. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, 100% of the loans were obtained at fixed interest rates. The Company’s policy is to keep the highest percentage of its indebtedness in instruments that accrue interest at fixed rates.

The table below shows the breakdown of the Company’s loans according to interest rate and the currency in which they are denominated:

		Year ended December 31,
		2021		2020		2019
		(in millions of Pesos)
Fixed rate:
US dollar		10,262		12,681		17,133
Sobtotal loans at fixed rates:		10,262		12,681		17,133
Floating rate:
US dollar		-		-		3,113
Sobtotal loans at floating rates:		-		-		3,113
Total loans:		10,262		12,681		20,246

 

Item 12.

Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

Persons depositing common shares or holders of ADSs will be required to pay certain fees and expenses, as described in the table below, which the depositary is entitled to deduct prior to making any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the deposited shares.

210

Persons depositing common shares or ADS holders must pay:	For:
U.S.$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)	·        Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of common shares or rights or other property ·        Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates
U.S.$0.02 (or less) per ADS	·        Any cash distribution to the holder of the ADSs
U.S.$0.02 (or less) per ADS per year	·        Depositary services
A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to the holder of ADSs had been common shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs	·        Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities which are distributed by the depositary to ADR holders
Registration or transfer fees	·        Transfer and registration of common shares on our common share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when the holder of ADSs deposits or withdraw common shares.
Expenses of the depositary in converting foreign currency to U.S. Dollars
Expenses of the depositary	·        Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)
Taxes and other Governmental charges the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADSs or common share underlying ADSs, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes
Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities	·        No charges of this type are currently made in the Argentine market

Reimbursement of fees

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, reimbursed us for certain expenses relating to our initial public offering and establishment of our ADR program in 2007. Aside from that initial payment, we did not receive any reimbursement from the depositary for expenses we incur that are related to the maintenance of the ADS program.

211

The depositary collects fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees related to making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid.

Payment of taxes

The depositary may deduct the amount of any taxes owed from any payments to the holder of ADSs. It may also sell deposited securities, by public or private sale, to pay any taxes owed. The holder of ADSs will remain liable if the proceeds of the sale are not enough to pay the taxes. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to the holder of ADSs any proceeds, or send to the holder of ADSs any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

 

PART II

Item 13.

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

The 2001 and 2002 economic crisis in Argentina had a material adverse effect on our operations. The depreciation of the Peso caused the Peso value of our U.S. Dollar-denominated indebtedness to increase significantly, resulting in significant foreign exchange losses and a significant increase, in Peso terms, in our debt service requirements. At the same time, our cash flow remained Peso-denominated and our distribution margins were frozen and pesified by the Argentine Government pursuant to the Public Emergency Law. Moreover, the 2001 and 2002 economic crisis in Argentina had a significant adverse effect on the overall level of economic activity in Argentina and led to deterioration in the ability of our users to pay their bills. These developments caused us to announce on September 15, 2002 the suspension of principal payments on our financial debt. On September 26, 2005, our Board of Directors decided to suspend interest payments on our financial debt until the restructuring of this debt was completed.

On January 20, 2006, we launched a voluntary exchange offer and consent solicitation to the holders of our then-outstanding financial debt. All of these holders elected to participate in the restructuring and, as a result, on April 24, 2006, we exchanged all of our then-outstanding financial debt for three series of newly-issued notes, which we refer to as the restructuring notes. As of the date of this annual report, all of the restructuring notes have been repaid and cancelled. For a description of our debt following the restructuring see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Debt”.

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Item 14.

Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

Use of Proceeds

On April 30, 2007, we completed an initial public offering. We received U.S.$57.7 million in net proceeds from the offering. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of our shares and ADSs by our selling shareholders in the offering. We used all of the net proceeds we received from the offering to repurchase a part of our then outstanding Fixed Rate Par Notes due 2016 and Discount Notes due 2014 in various market repurchase transactions during 2007 and to make capital expenditures.

Item 15.

Controls and Procedures

a)

Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Our management has evaluated, under the supervision of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of December 31, 2021.

There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2021.

 

b)

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

i.

pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

ii.

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

 

iii.

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment and those criteria, management concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021.

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c)

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

This annual report on Form 20-F does not include an attestation report on the Company's effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm because the Company is neither an accelerated filer nor a large accelerated filer, as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act. As a non-accelerated filer, we are not required to provide an attestation on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting by our independent registered public accounting firm under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the requirements of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

d)

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 16A.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

Our Board of Directors has determined that Esteban Gabriel Macek, an independent member of our Board of Directors, under Argentine law and Rule 10A-3, is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Board Practices—Audit Committee”.

Item 16B.

Code of Ethics

Our company adopted a Code of Ethics in May 1999, which applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive, financial and accounting officers. Our Code of Ethics was further reviewed and updated in 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2020.

 

Our updated Code of Ethics continues to be applied. We posted a copy of our Code of Ethics on our website at http://www.edenor.com.ar.

 

The Code provides a roadmap to how we expect to conduct ourselves and lays the foundation for delivering the service of excellence we set out to achieve.

 

The Code of Ethics is also available on both the integration, communication and management platform “Edenorcerca” and the platform where employee payslips are stored.

 

214

Item 16C.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L. (member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers network) acted as our independent registered public accounting for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The chart below sets forth the services rendered to us by Price Waterhouse & Co. S.R.L. and the fees accrued in the last two years for those services (including related expenses), and breaks down these amounts by category of service in million of Pesos in constant currency:

		Year ended December 31,
		2021		2020
Audit fees		34.6		32.9
Audit-related fees		-		-
Tax fees		-		-
All other fees		-		-
Total		34.6		32.9

We have adopted pre-approval policies and procedures under which all audit services provided by our external auditors must be pre-approved by the audit committee as set forth in our internal policies. Any service proposals submitted by external auditors need to be discussed and approved by the audit committee during its meetings. Once the proposed service is approved, we formalize the engagement of services. The approval of any audit services to be provided by our external auditors is specified in the minutes of our audit committee.

Item 16D.

Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

Not applicable.

Item 16E.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Not applicable.

Item 16F.

Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

Not applicable.

215

Item 16G.

Corporate Governance

Pursuant to Rule 303A.11 of the Listed Company Manual of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), we are required to provide a summary of the significant ways in which our corporate governance practices differ from those required for U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards. Our corporate governance practices are governed by our bylaws, Argentine corporate and securities law (including the Argentine Corporations Law, the CML and Law No. 26,386) and the regulations issued by the CNV, such as the Corporate Governance Code CNV’s General Resolution No. 797/19 (the “CGC”).

F.        NYSE LISTED COMPANY MANUAL SECTION 303.A

G.       Edenor’s Corporate Practices

SECTION 303A.01. Independent directors must constitute the majority of a listed company’s Board of Directors.

Edenor follows Argentine law, which does not require that a majority of the Board of Directors be comprised of independent directors. Argentine law instead requires that public companies in Argentina have a sufficient number of independent directors to be able to form an audit committee of at least three members, the majority of which must be independent pursuant to the criteria established by the CNV. As of the date of this annual report, seven of Edenor’s twelve directors are independent under Argentine law and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

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SECTION 303A.02. This rule establishes the standards that determine whether a director qualifies as independent. It provides that directors cannot qualify as independent unless the Board of Directors finds them to have no material relationship with the listed company. A number of per se exclusions from independence apply, generally triggered by having a connection, individually or through an immediate family member, to the listed company or to a company that has a material relationship with the listed company as a shareholder, employee, officer, or director of the listed company.

The CNV’s Regulations, specifically Article 11 of Section III, Chapter III, Title II and Article 24 of Section VII, Chapter I, Title VI, indicate the criteria for establishing independence of a director. They provide that any director is not independent when: (i)               Has been a member of the management body for the controlling entity or another company belonging to the same economic group of the issuer by a preexistent relationship to the moment of his/her election, or if said relationship had ceased to exist during the previous three years; (ii)             Is associated to the issuer or any of its shareholders that have significant participation, directly or indirectly, with the issuer; or with companies with which they have significant participation, directly or indirectly; or if he/she was associated to them by an employment relationship for the past three years; (iii)           Has professional relationships or is affiliated to a professional organization or entity that maintains a frequent professional relationship of such nature and of relevant volume with, or that entitles him or she to a remuneration or fees (different from those corresponding to the functions that he/she fulfils in the management body), from the issuer, the issuer´s shareholders that have directly or indirectly “significant participations” or with companies in which these too have, directly or indirectly, “significant participations”. This prohibition comprises the professional relationships and affiliation during the last three years prior to his/hers appointment as director; (iv)            Holds FIVE percent (5%) or more, directly or indirectly, of shares attached with voting rights and/or capital stock of the issuer or any company with a “significant participation” in it; (v)             Directly or indirectly, sells and/or provides goods and/or services – different from those accounted for in subsection c) – frequently and in such nature and volume relevant to the issuer or its shareholders that have a “significant participation” with it, directly or indirectly, for which he or she has perceived amounts substantially superior to those perceived for his or her functions as a member of the management body. This prohibition comprises the commercial relationships that took place during the last three years prior to his/her appointment as director; (vi)            Has been director, manager, administrator or principal executive of nonprofit organizations that have been benefited from funds proceeding from the company, its controlling company and any other company belonging to the same organization, by an amount superior to those described in article 12 subsection I) of the Resolution UIF Nº 30/11 and its amendments thereto; (vii)          Receives any payment, including the participation in plans or stock option schemes, from the company or from another company belonging to the same economic group, other than the compensation paid as a member of the Board of Directors, except dividends paid as a shareholder of the company in the terms of paragraph d) and the corresponding to the consideration described in paragraph e); (viii)        Has been a director for the issuer, the controlling entity or another company belonging to the same economic group of the issuer for more than ten years. If said relationship had ceased to exist during the previous three years, the independent condition will be recovered; (ix)            Is spouse or a legally recognized partner, up to the third grade of consanguinity or second grade of affinity, of the members of the management body of the company that do not comply with the conditions described in the previous points; (x)             Is a member of the Board of Directors or supervisory committee in one or more companies registered as negotiating agent, liquidation and compensation agent and/or broker of negotiable securities, that are members of the respective stock exchange market or are linked by a dependency relationship with members of such stock exchange market; and (xi)            Maintains, directly or indirectly, a significant participation in one or more companies registered as negotiating agent, liquidation and compensation agent and/or broker of negotiable securities, which are members of the stock exchange market.   In addition, Article 4 of Section III, Chapter I, Title XII of the CNV’s Regulations provides that at each election of directors, the non-independence or independence of any candidates proposed at the shareholders’ meeting must be disclosed. Moreover, after the shareholders’ meeting in which directors are appointed, the personal data of the appointed directors and their qualification as independent or non-independent (in the latter case in the form of an affidavit executed by each director) must be disclosed to the CNV and the exchanges where the company has its securities listed.

 

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SECTION 303A.03. This rule requires regular scheduled meetings of non-management directors to increase the involvement and efficiency of such director.	Under Argentine Law No. 19,550 (Commercial Companies Law) requires that the board meets at least once every three months. Edenor’s Board of Directors as a whole is responsible for administering and monitoring the company’s affairs. Under Argentine law, the Board of Directors may approve the delegation of specific responsibilities to designated directors or executive directors and or managers of the Company. Also, it is mandatory for public companies to have a supervisory committee (Comisión Fiscalizadora), which is responsible for monitoring legal compliance by the Company with Argentine law, its bylaws and shareholders’ resolutions. The supervisory committee, without prejudice to the role of external auditors, is also required to present to the shareholders at the annual ordinary general meeting a written report on the reasonableness of the financial information of the Company’s annual report and the financial statements presented to the shareholders by Edenor’s Board of Directors. The supervisory committee also presents a report to the Board of Directors on Edenor’s quarterly financial statements. The members of the supervisory committee are not directors of the company.
SECTION 303A.04. Listed companies must organize a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee composed entirely of independent directors.	Neither Argentine law nor Edenor’s bylaws require having a Corporate Governance Committee nor a Nominating Committee. CNV recommends having a Nominating Committee. The entire Board of Directors is in charge of overseeing Edenor’s corporate governance practices. Also the Boards often nominates Board members candidates for consideration by Shareholders Meeting.
SECTION 303A.05. Listed companies must organize a Compensation Committee composed entirely of independent directors. which satisfy additional independence requirements specific to Compensation Committee membership.	Neither Argentine law nor Edenor’s bylaws require having a compensation committee. CNV recommends having one. Although the Issuer does not have a specific Remuneration Committee, at the Meeting held on April 18, 2017 the creation of a long-term incentive plan in favor of the personnel dependent on Edenor pursuant to the terms of article 67 of the Capital Markets Law was approved. The implementation, administration and execution is responsibility of the Implementation Committee, comprised of three members of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company, which is in charge of generating the incentives to align all those reached. Within this framework, different incentive programs have been created for the Company’s executives, in order to align them with the Companies objectives and encourage them to fulfil their obligations in an equitable manner. Together with the Human Resources and General Management, the Implementation Committee approves, in an integrated and coordinated manner, the process to set remuneration by which, on an annual basis, all employees, including Managers, are evaluated in relation to the performance of their duties. The Issuer has established a fixed and variable remuneration scheme that is associated with the fulfilment of objectives and the degree of compliance with these objectives. In addition, the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors is approved annually by the shareholders at the General Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting, in advance to Shareholders Meeting, Edenor’s Audit Committee (composed entirely of independent directors) is required to issue an opinion about the reasonability of Board members’ fees.
SECTION 303A.06. Listed companies must organize an audit committee that meets the requirements set forth in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.	Edenor is subject to and in compliance with §303A.06 and Rule 10A-3. Edenor’s audit committee is entirely composed of independent members of Edenor’s Board of Directors.

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SECTION 303A.07. The audit committee must have at least 3 members, all of whom must qualify as independent. In addition, the audit committee must have written regulations establishing: (i) the purpose of the committee; (ii) the annual assessment of the committee’s performance; and (iii) the committee’s duties and responsibilities. Finally, the rule establishes that listed companies must have internal audit functions within their organization in order to assist both the audit committee and the company’s management in matters related to risk and internal control processes.

As a foreign private issuer, Edenor is not subject to §303A.07. As such, Edenor’s audit committee charter may not provide for every one of the specific duties required by §303A.07. The duties of the audit committee include monitoring Edenor’s internal control, administrative and accounting systems; supervising the application of Edenor’s risk management policies; providing the market adequate information regarding conflicts of interests that may arise between Edenor’s company and Edenor’s directors or controlling shareholders; rendering opinions on relevant transactions with related parties; and supervising and reporting to regulatory authorities the existence of any kind of conflict of interest, oversight of external audit, internal audit and procedures for receipt and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal control and audit matters. Edenor has an Internal Audit Department that assists both the Audit Committee and management in risk and internal control matters The scope of the committee’s powers and obligations is detailed in Article 110 of the CML and Article 17 Section 5, Chapter III, Title II, of the CNV’s Regulations. A member of the Audit Committee with extensive expertise on audit matters has been appointed by the Board as audit committee financial expert (as defined in Item 16.A). Under Argentine law, there is no requirement related to the financial expertise of the members of the audit committee. However, the members of Edenor’s audit committee have extensive corporate and financial experience. At least one member of the audit committee has sufficient expertise as an external auditor to be recognized by the Board of Directors of Edenor as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F. In accordance with Edenor’s internal policies, Edenor’s audit committee must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by external auditors.

SECTION 303A.08. The shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on equity-compensation plans and their material revisions, although there are exceptions to this requirement, such as when these compensation plans serve as labor incentive tools.

Edenor does not have any equity compensation plans and therefore does not have in place procedures for shareholder approval of such plans.

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SECTION 303A.09. Listed companies must adopt and disclose their corporate governance guidelines.

CML requires Edenor to provide governance-related information in the annual reports to the CNV, including information relating to the decision- making organization (corporate governance), the company’s internal control system, norms for director and management compensation, and any other compensation system applying to board members and managers. All relevant information provided by the Company to the CNV is sent through the CNV’s electronic financial reporting database and may be viewed by the public on the CNV website. Edenor’s Annual Report, financial statements and press releases may also be viewed on the Company’s Web site (www.Edenor.com.ar). Under Argentine law, the board’s performance is evaluated at the annual Shareholders’ Meeting. Annually, listed companies must meet the disclosure requirements of the CGC, stating how they follow the practices recommended by CNV or else explaining the alternative practices they observe”. Once filed with the CNV and the exchange markets where the company is listed, the CGC report qualifies as public information. Edenor complies with the CGC annual disclosure requirements and fully disclose all corporate governance policies and practices. This information may be viewed on the company’s website at http://www.Edenor.com.ar.

SECTION 303A.10. Listed companies must adopt and disclose to the market a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct which is applicable to their directors, officers and employees. In addition, any waiver of the provisions contained in this Code in favor of any of the parties that are subject to it must be immediately disclosed.

Under Argentine Law No 27,401 Criminal Responsibility of Legal Persons, establishes as a requirement to exempt themselves from liability that companies has an Integrity Program, composed of the set of mechanisms and internal procedures for the promotion of the integrity, supervision and control, aimed at preventing, detecting and correcting irregularities and unlawful acts, including the Code of Ethics Our company adopted a code of ethics in 1999, which applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive, financial and accounting officers. In 2015 and 2019, we reviewed and updated our code of ethics.

220

 

SECTION 303A.12(a). The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a listed company must certify on an yearly basis that he or she has no knowledge of any violation or default of the corporate governance listing standards. Additionally, the CEO must promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any executive officer of the listed company becomes aware of any non-compliance with any provision of the governance listing standards. Finally, listed companies must file an annual statement and updated reports with the NYSE disclosing any changes in the composition of their Board of Directors or any of the committees described in Section 302A of the NYSE LCM.	No similar obligation exists under Argentine legislation. However, in accordance with Argentine law the directors of a company must annually submit for its shareholders’ approval such company’s annual report and financial statements at such company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. Also, Edenor discloses material events in regulatory filings both with the CNV in Argentina and with the SEC on form 6K in the United States (as “materiality” is understood in each of those respective jurisdictions). Under applicable rules of the NYSE, Edenor is required to disclose to the NYSE certain changes in its audit committee, including any change that affects the committee’s independence. Edenor is subject to and complies with §303A.12(b), to the extent that it relates to the sections of the NYSE Listed Company Manual that apply to foreign private issuers. Edenor complies with the certification requirements under §303A.12(c).

 

 

Item 16 H. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 16 I. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

Not applicable.

 

PART III

Item 17.

Financial Statements

The Registrant has responded to Item 18 in lieu of this Item.

Item 18.

Financial Statements

Our financial statements are included in this annual report beginning on page F-1.

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Item 19.

Exhibits

Documents filed as exhibits to this annual report:

1.1

Estatutos sociales (corporate bylaws) of Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (English translation) (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Edenor’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-141894) on April 4, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.)

2.1

Form of Deposit Agreement among Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A., The Bank of New York, as depositary, and the Holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder, including the form of American Depositary Receipts (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Edenor’s Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-141894) on April 20, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein.)

2.2

Indenture dated October 9, 2007, between Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A., as Issuer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, Co-Registrar and Paying Agent, and Banco Santander Río S.A., as Registrar, Transfer and Paying Agent in Argentina and Representative of the Trustee in Argentina (previously filed as Exhibit 2.3 to Edenor’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-33422) on June 26, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein).

 

2.3

Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 9, 2007, between Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as Representatives of the Initial Purchasers (previously filed as Exhibit 2.4 to Edenor’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-33422) on June 26, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein).

2.4

Indenture dated October 25, 2010, between Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A., as Issuer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, Co-Registrar and Paying Agent, and Banco Santander Río S.A., as Registrar, Transfer and Paying Agent in Argentina and Representative of the Trustee in Argentina (previously filed as Exhibit 2.5 to Edenor’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-33422) on June 6, 2011, and incorporated by reference herein).

2.D

Description of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

12.1

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

12.2

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

13.1

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

222

SIGNATURE

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

	Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima
	/s/ GERMAN RANFTL
Date: April 5, 2022	Name: German Ranftl Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

223

 

 

Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (Edenor S.A.)

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Edenor S.A.’s Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for Edenor S.A. as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Our internal control over financial reporting was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

· pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Edenor S.A.;

· provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS and that receipts and expenditures of Edenor S.A. are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Management and directors of Edenor S.A.; and

· provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of Edenor S.A.’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of Edenor S.A.’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in 2013 Based on such evaluation, Management concluded that the Edenor S.A.’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.

Date: March 9th, 2022.

/S/ NEIL BLEASEDALE			/S/ GERMAN RANFTL
Neil Bleasedale			German Ranftl
Chief Executive Officer			Chief Financial Officer

 

 

224

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte

Sociedad Anónima (Edenor S.A.)

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of financial position of Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte Sociedad Anónima (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related statements of comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company’s current economic and financial situation is a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. This matter is also described in the “Critical Audit Matters” section of our report.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

225

 

 

 

Critical Audit Matters

 

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

 

Impairment Assessment of Property, Plant and Equipment

 

As described in Notes 6.c and 14 to the financial statements, as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s property, plant and equipment balance was $195,374 million. As disclosed in Note 6.c, the Company analyzes the recoverability of its long-lived assets (including property, plant and equipment) on a periodic basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recoverable amount of the long-lived assets, which is measured as the higher of value in use or fair value less costs to sell at the end of the period, may be impaired. According to the situation described in Notes 1 and 2.b., the projections made by the Company concerning the recoverability of its property, plant and equipment have been updated. The value in use is determined on the basis of projected and discounted cash flows, using discount rates that reflect the time value of money and the specific risks of the assets under consideration. Management’s cash flow projections included significant judgments and assumptions relating to the discount rate; nature, timing, and form of the electricity rate increases; demand for electricity projections; development of the costs to be incurred; investment needs to maintain the service quality levels required by the regulatory authority, and macroeconomic variables, including growth rates, inflation rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

 

The principal consideration for our determination that performing procedures relating to impairment assessment of property, plant and equipment is a critical audit matter is that there was significant judgment by management when developing the recoverable value measurement of the property, plant and equipment, which, in turn, led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures to evaluate management’s cash flow projections and significant assumptions, including the discount rate; nature, timing, and form of the electricity rate increases; demand for electricity projections; development of the costs to be incurred; investment needs to maintain the service quality levels required by the regulatory authority, and macroeconomic variables, including growth rates, inflation rates and foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to assist us in performing these procedures and evaluating the audit evidence obtained from these procedures.

 

226

 

 

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s impairment assessment, including controls over the valuation of the Company’s property, plant and equipment. These procedures also included, among others, testing management’s process for developing the value-in-use estimate; evaluating the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow model, as well as the mathematical accuracy of the calculations; testing the completeness, accuracy, and relevance of underlying data used in the model; and evaluating the significant assumptions used by management relating to the discount rate; nature, timing, and form of the electricity rate increases; demand for electricity projections; development of the costs to be incurred; investment needs to maintain the service quality levels required by the regulatory authority, and macroeconomic variables, including growth rates, inflation rates and foreign currency exchange rates. Evaluating management’s assumptions involved evaluating whether the assumptions used by management were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of the energy distribution business, (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data, and (iii) whether these assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist us in the evaluation of the Company’s discounted cash flow model and certain significant assumptions, including the discount rate. The procedures performed also included evaluating the sufficiency of the information disclosed in the financial statements regarding the evaluation of the recoverable amount of property, plant and equipment.

 

Company’s Going Concern Assessment 

 

As described above and in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company’s current economic and financial situation is a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on its ability to continue as a going concern. The suspension of the electricity rate adjustment since February 2019, in spite of the constant increase of the operating costs and the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining the quality of the service, in a context of inflation in which the Argentine economy has been since mid-2018, represents a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, which may result in the Company being obliged to defer certain payment obligations or being unable to meet expectations for salary increases or the increases recorded in third-party costs. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. This matter is also described in the “Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern” section of our report.

 

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the Company’s going concern assessment is a critical audit matter are the significant judgment by management when evaluating the uncertainty related to financial condition, operating results and cash flows, which impacts the Company’s forecasted operating results. This, in turn, led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures to evaluate management’s cash flow projections and significant assumptions, including the nature, opportunity and form of the electricity rate increases; demand for electricity projections; evolution of the costs to be incurred; investment needs to maintain the service quality levels required by the regulatory authority; and macroeconomic variables, including growth rates, inflation rates and foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skills and knowledge to assist us in performing these procedures and evaluating the audit evidence obtained from these procedures.

 

227

 

 

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls related to the Company's going concern assessment, including forecasting related to financial condition, operating results cash flows. The procedures also included, among others (i) testing management’s process for forecasting operating results within one year after the date the financial statements are issued; (ii) evaluating the mathematical accuracy of the calculations; (iii) testing the completeness, accuracy, and relevance of underlying data used in the model; and (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions, including the nature, opportunity and form of the electricity rate increases; demand for electricity projections; evolution of the costs to be incurred; investment needs to maintain the service quality levels required by the regulatory authority; and macroeconomic variables, including growth rates, inflation rates and foreign currency exchange rates. Professionals with specialized skills and knowledge were used to assist us in evaluating whether the assumptions were reasonable considering the consistency with external market and industry data.

 

 

 

PRICE WATERHOUSE & CO. S.R.L.

 

 

______________________________

/s/ Raúl Leonardo Viglione (Partner)

 

Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

March 9, 2022

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.

228

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019

(Stated in millions of Argentine Pesos in constant currency – Note 3)

 

 

229

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Legal Information		2
Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)		3
Statement of Financial Position		4
Statement of Changes in Equity		6
Statement of Cash Flows		7
Notes to the Financial Statements:
1 |	General information	9
2 |	Regulatory framework	11
3 |	Basis of preparation	17
4 |	Accounting policies	19
5 |	Financial risk management	31
6 |	Critical accounting estimates and judgments	37
7 |	Interest in joint ventures	40
8 |	Contingencies and lawsuits	40
9 |	Revenue from sales and energy purchases	43
10 |	Expenses by nature	45
11 |	Other operating income (expense)	46
12 |	Net financial costs	47
13 |	Basic and diluted (loss) income per share	47
14 |	Property, plant and equipment	48
15 |	Financial instruments	50
16 |	Right-of-use asset	52
17 |	Inventories	52
18 |	Other receivables	52
19 |	Trade receivables	53
20 |	Financial assets at amortized cost	54
21 |	Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	55
22 |	Cash and cash equivalents	55
23 |	Share capital and additional paid-in capital	55
24 |	Allocation of profits	55
25 |	The Company’s share-based compensation plan	56
26 |	Trade payables	56
27 |	Other payables	57
28 |	Deferred revenue	58
29 |	Borrowings	58
30 |	Salaries and social security taxes payable	60
31 |	Benefit plans	61
32 |	Income tax and deferred tax	63
33 |	Tax liabilities	64
34 |	Provisions	65
35 |	Related-party transactions	65
36 |	Keeping of documentation	67
37 |	Shareholders’ Meetings	67
38 |	Termination of agreement on real estate asset	68
39 |	Change of control	69
40 |	Events after the reporting year	69
Independent Auditors’ Report

 

230

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Glossary of Terms

 

The following definitions, which are not technical ones, will help readers understand some of the terms used in the text of the notes to the Company’s Financial Statements.

 

Terms	Definitions
ADS	American Depositary Shares
BCRA	Central Bank of Argentina
BICE	Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior
BNA	Banco de la Nación Argentina
CABA	City of Buenos Aires
CAMMESA	Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico S.A. (the company in charge of the regulation and operation of the wholesale electricity market)
CNV	National Securities Commission
CPD	Company’s Own Distribution Cost
DNU	Executive Order issued on the grounds of Necessity and Urgency
EASA	Electricidad Argentina S.A.
edenor	Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A.
ENRE	National Regulatory Authority for the Distribution of Electricity
FACPCE	Argentine Federation of Professional Councils in Economic Sciences
FIDUS	FIDUS Sociedad de Garantías Recíprocas
GUDI	Large Users of the Distribution Company
GWh	Gigawatt hour
IAS	International Accounting Standards
IASB	International Accounting Standards Board
IFRIC	International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee
IFRS	International Financial Reporting Standards
MEM	Wholesale Electricity Market
MULC	Single Free Foreign Exchange Market
OSV	Orígenes Seguros de Vida S.A.
PBA	Province of Buenos Aires
PEN	Federal Executive Power
RDSA	Ribera Desarrollos S.A.
RECPAM	Gain (Loss) on exposure to the changes in the purchasing power of the currency
REM	Market Expectations Survey
RTI	Tariff Structure Review
SACME	S.A. Centro de Movimiento de Energía
SACDE	Sociedad Argentina de Construcción y Desarrollo Estratégico S.A.
SE	Energy Secretariat
SEGBA	Servicios Eléctricos del Gran Buenos Aires S.A.
WHO	World Health Organization

 

1

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Legal Information

Corporate name: Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A.

Legal address: 6363 Av. del Libertador Ave., City of Buenos Aires

Main business: Distribution and sale of electricity in the area and under the terms of the Concession Agreement by which this public service is regulated.

Date of registration with the Public Registry of Commerce:

-

of the Articles of Incorporation: August 3, 1992

-

of the last amendment to the By-laws: May 28, 2007 (Note 37)

 

Term of the Corporation: August 3, 2087

 

Registration number with the “Inspección General de Justicia” (the Argentine governmental regulatory agency of corporations): 1,559,940

 

Parent company: Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A.

 

Legal address: 1252 Maipú Ave., 12^th Floor - CABA

 

Main business of the parent company: Investment in edenor’s Class “A” shares.

 

Interest held by the parent company in capital stock and votes: 51%

 

CAPITAL STRUCTURE

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021

(amounts stated in pesos)

 

Class of shares		Subscribed and paid-in (See Note 23)
Common, book-entry shares, face value 1 and 1 vote per share
Class A		462,292,111
Class B (1)		442,210,385
Class C (2)		1,952,604
		906,455,100

 

 

 

(1)

Includes 31,134,420 and 31,380,871 treasury shares as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

(2)

Relates to the Employee Stock Ownership Program Class C shares that have not been transferred.

 

 

 

 

 

2

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

edenor

Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019

(Stated in millions of Argentine Pesos in constant currency – Note 3)

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Revenue	9		113,500		137,782		184,739
Energy purchases	9		(69,800)		(87,408)		(117,160)
Subtotal			43,700		50,374		67,579
Transmission and distribution expenses	10		(29,112)		(29,974)		(33,164)
Gross margin			14,588		20,400		34,415
Selling expenses	10		(11,495)		(16,362)		(15,099)
Administrative expenses	10		(7,447)		(8,075)		(7,881)
Other operating income	11		4,842		3,635		3,567
Other operating expense	11		(4,887)		(3,399)		(5,249)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	6.c		-		(26,248)		-
Income from interest in joint ventures			2		-		3
Operating profit			(4,397)		(30,049)		9,756
Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations	2.f		-		-		35,111
Financial income	12		65		83		118
Financial costs	12		(26,961)		(13,996)		(13,889)
Other financial results	12		1,741		(2,852)		(7,236)
Net financial costs			(25,155)		(16,765)		(21,007)
Monetary gain (RECPAM)			23,844		14,734		22,987
(Loss) Income before taxes			(5,708)		(32,080)		46,847
Income tax	32		(15,636)		5,376		(21,924)
(Loss) Income for the year			(21,344)		(26,704)		24,923
Other comprehensive income
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
Results related to benefit plans	31		200		164		(15)
Tax effect of actuarial profit on benefit plans	32		(70)		(49)		5
Total other comprehensive results			130		115		(10)
Comprehensive (loss) income for the year attributable to:
Owners of the parent			(21,214)		(26,589)		24,913
Comprehensive (loss) income for the year			(21,214)		(26,589)		24,913
Basic and diluted (loss) income per share:
(Loss) Income per share (argentine pesos per share)	13		(24.39)		(30.52)		28.47

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

 

 

3

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

edenor

Statement of Financial Position

as of December 31, 2021 and 2020

(Stated in millions of Argentine Pesos in constant currency – Note 3)

 

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment	14		195,374		188,478
Interest in joint ventures	7		14		17
Right-of-use asset	16		425		344
Other receivables	18		7		143
Financial assets at amortized cost	20		-		361
Total non-current assets			195,820		189,343
Current assets
Inventories	17		3,441		2,823
Other receivables	18		2,133		941
Trade receivables	19		17,563		21,352
Financial assets at amortized cost	20		243		117
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	21		15,451		3,352
Cash and cash equivalents	22		3,172		6,582
Total current assets			42,003		35,167
TOTAL ASSETS			237,823		224,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

edenor

Statement of Financial Position

as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 (continued)

(Stated in millions of Argentine Pesos in constant currency – Note 3)

 

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20
EQUITY
Share capital and reserve attributable to the owners of the Company
Share capital	23		875		875
Adjustment to share capital	23		55,382		55,373
Treasury stock	23		31		31
Adjustment to treasury stock	23		1,187		1,196
Additional paid-in capital	23		766		760
Cost treasury stock			(4,607)		(4,607)
Legal reserve			3,894		3,894
Voluntary reserve			37,709		64,413
Other comprehensive loss			(199)		(329)
Accumulated losses			(21,344)		(26,704)
TOTAL EQUITY			73,694		94,902
LIABILITIES
Non-current liabilities
Trade payables	26		660		786
Other payables	27		9,452		9,483
Borrowings	29		-		12,465
Deferred revenue	28		1,687		2,220
Salaries and social security payable	30		398		458
Benefit plans	31		997		1,130
Deferred tax liability	32		49,438		35,774
Provisions	34		3,981		3,668
Total non-current liabilities			66,613		65,984
Current liabilities
Trade payables	26		76,177		49,820
Other payables	27		3,977		4,526
Borrowings	29		10,262		216
Deferred revenue	28		44		55
Salaries and social security payable	30		4,515		5,635
Benefit plans	31		131		127
Income tax payable	32		1,254		-
Tax liabilities	33		619		2,705
Provisions	34		537		540
Total current liabilities			97,516		63,624
TOTAL LIABILITIES			164,129		129,608
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY			237,823		224,510

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

5

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

edenor

Statement of Changes in Equity

for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019

(Stated in millions of Argentine Pesos in constant currency – Note 3)

 

 

	Share capital		Adjustment to share capital		Treasury stock		Adjustment to treasury stock		Additional paid-in capital		Cost treasury stock		Legal reserve		Voluntary reserve		Other reserve		Other comprehen- sive (loss) profit		Accumulated (losses) profits		Total equity
Balance at December 31, 2018	883		55,806		23		763		760		(3,376)		483		1,159		-		(434)		41,742		97,809
Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 24, 2019	-		-		-		-		-		-		2,165		39,577		-		-		(41,742)		-
Acquisition of own shares	(8)		(433)		8		433		-		(1,231)		-		-		-		-		-		(1,231)
Other comprehensive results	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(10)		-		(10)
Income for the year	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		24,923		24,923
Balance at December 31, 2019	875		55,373		31		1,196		760		(4,607)		2,648		40,736		-		(444)		24,923		121,491
Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 28, 2020	-		-		-		-		-		-		1,246		23,677		-		-		(24,923)		-
Other comprehensive results	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		115		-		115
Loss for the year	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(26,704)		(26,704)
Balance at December 31, 2020	875		55,373		31		1,196		760		(4,607)		3,894		64,413		-		(329)		(26,704)		94,902
Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 27, 2021 (Note 37)	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(26,704)		-		-		26,704		-
Other Reserve Constitution - Share-bases compensation plan (Note 25)	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		6		-		-		6
Payment of Other Reserve Constitution - Share-based compensation plan (Note 25)	-		9		-		(9)		6		-		-		-		(6)		-		-		-
Other comprehensive results	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		130		-		130
Loss for the year	-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		-		(21,344)		(21,344)
Balance at December 31, 2021	875		55,382		31		1,187		766		(4,607)		3,894		37,709		-		(199)		(21,344)		73,694

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

6

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

edenor

Statement of Cash Flows

for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019

(Stated in millions of Argentine Pesos in constant currency – Note 3)

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Cash flows from operating activities
(Loss) Income for the year			(21,344)		(26,704)		24,923
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) profit to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	14		9,101		9,812		9,499
Depreciation of right-of-use assets	16		458		478		336
Loss on disposals of property, plant and equipment	14		249		227		130
Net accrued interest	12		26,859		13,941		13,741
Income from customer surcharges	11		(1,936)		(2,339)		(2,364)
Exchange difference	12		1,602		4,458		8,561
Income tax	32		15,636		(5,376)		21,924
Allowance for the impairment of trade and other receivables, net of recovery	10		1,962		6,311		2,782
Adjustment to present value of receivables	12		150		195		157
Provision for contingencies, net of recovery	34		2,351		1,030		2,808
Changes in fair value of financial assets	12		(3,967)		(1,492)		(578)
Accrual of benefit plans	10		755		720		538
Recovery of provision for credit RDSA (Note 38)	12		(580)		-		-
Net gain from the cancelattion of Corporate Notes	12		(3)		(626)		(939)
Gain from interest in joint ventures			(2)		-		(3)
Income from non-reimbursable customer contributions	11		(47)		(40)		(14)
Termination of agreement on real estate asset			-		-		(247)
Other financial results			1,058		311		302
Impairment of property, plant and equipment	6.c		-		26,248		-
Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations	2.f		-		-		(35,111)
Monetary gain (RECPAM)			(23,844)		(14,734)		(22,987)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Increase in trade receivables			(2,688)		(5,768)		(7,792)
(Increase) Decrease in other receivables			(808)		(528)		1,768
(Increase) Decrease in inventories			(847)		50		(1,037)
Increase in financial assets at amortized cost			-		(478)		-
Increase in deferred revenue			270		1,900		-
Increase in trade payables			18,237		20,475		7,754
Increase in salaries and social security payable			877		2,582		1,848
Decrease in benefit plans			(71)		(21)		(92)
(Decrease) Increase in tax liabilities			(1,966)		(137)		2,023
Increase (Decrease) in other payables			187		(81)		(1,473)
Derivative financial instruments payments			-		(438)		-
Decrease in provisions	34		(301)		(176)		(201)
Payment of income tax payable			-		(3,651)		(5,390)
Net cash flows generated by operating activities			21,348		26,149		20,866

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

edenor

Statement of Cash Flows

for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 (continued)

(Stated in millions of Argentine Pesos in constant currency – Note 3)

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Cash flows from investing activities
Payment of property, plants and equipments			(14,725)		(14,858)		(19,245)
Net collection of financial assets			-		-		3,347
(Purchase) Collection net of Mutual funds and government bonds			(10,824)		(3,997)		11,252
Mutuum charges granted to third parties			5		53		296
Mutuum payments granted to third parties			-		-		(204)
Collection of receivables from sale of subsidiaries			-		15		21
Net cash flows used in investing activities			(25,544)		(18,787)		(4,533)
Cash flows from financing activities
Payment of borrowings			-		(1,132)		(3,273)
Payment of lease liability			(526)		(1,035)		(439)
Payment of interests from borrowings			(895)		(1,385)		(2,331)
Cancelattion of Corporate Notes			(17)		(5,731)		(3,144)
Acquisition of own shares			-		-		(1,231)
Net cash flows used in financing activities			(1,438)		(9,283)		(10,418)
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents			(5,634)		(1,921)		5,915
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year	22		6,582		6,572		66
Financial results in cash and cash equivalents			2,228		1,386		288
Result from exposure to inflation			(4)		545		303
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents			(5,634)		(1,921)		5,915
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	22		3,172		6,582		6,572
Supplemental cash flows information
Non-cash activities
Adquisition of advances to suppliers, property, plant and equipment through increased trade payables			(1,521)		(1,846)		(1,126)
Adquisition of advances to suppliers, right-of-use assets through increased trade payables			(539)		(371)		(874)

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Financial Statements.

 

 

8

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

1 |    General information

 

Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (hereinafter “edenor” or “the Company”) is a corporation (sociedad anónima) organized under the laws of Argentina, with legal address at 6363 Av. Del Libertador Ave - City of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic, whose shares are traded on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

 

The corporate purpose of edenor is to engage in the distribution and sale of electricity within the concession area. Furthermore, among other activities, the Company may subscribe or acquire shares of other electricity distribution companies, subject to the approval of the regulatory agency, assign the use of the network to provide electricity transmission or other voice, data and image transmission services, and render advisory, training, maintenance, consulting, and management services and know-how related to the distribution of electricity both in Argentina and abroad. These activities may be conducted directly by edenor or through subsidiaries or related companies. In addition, the Company may act as trustee of trusts created under Argentine laws.

 

History and development of the Company

 

edenor was organized on July 21, 1992 by Executive Order No. 714/92 in connection with the privatization and concession process of the distribution and sale of electric power carried out by SEGBA.

 

By means of an International Public Bidding, the PEN awarded 51% of the Company’s capital stock, represented by the Class "A" shares, to the bid made by EASA, the parent company of edenor at that time. The award as well as the transfer contract were approved on August 24, 1992 by Executive Order No. 1,507/92 of the PEN.

 

On September 1, 1992, EASA took over the operations of edenor.

 

As a consequence of the share purchase and sale agreement entered into on December 28, 2020 between Pampa Energía S.A. and Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A., all the Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes were transferred to the latter. That transaction was authorized by means of ENRE Resolution No. 207/2021 dated June 24, 2021. Therefore, Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. is the parent company of edenor (Note 39).

 

The Company’s economic and financial situation

 

In the last few fiscal years, the Company recorded negative working capital and operating losses. This situation is due mainly to the suspension of the electricity rate adjustment since February 2019, in spite of the constant increase of the operating costs and the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining the quality of the service, in an inflationary context in which the Argentine economy has been since mid-2018.

 

Additionally, this situation was exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a severe social, economic and financial impact. Most of the world’s countries implemented exceptional actions, which had an immediate effect on their economies, as rapidly evidenced by the falls recorded in production and activity indicators. The governments’ immediate response to these consequences was the implementation of tax aids to sustain their citizens’ income and thereby reduce the risk of a breakdown in the chain of payments, with the aim of avoiding an economic and financial crisis.

 

 

9

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

With regard to the Company, in 2021 and the first months of the year 2022, the values of the electricity rate schedules suffered changes that, except for the provisions of ENRE Resolutions No. 107/2021 and 76/2022 dated April 30, 2021 and February 25, 2022 respectively (Note 2.b.), implied only the passing through of the seasonal prices not an improvement of revenues from the Company’s CPD, which are still insufficient to cover the economic and financial needs of the Distribution Company in a context of growing annual inflation, with the rate surpassing 50%. Nevertheless, and in spite of the aforementioned context with constant increases in operating costs, the investments necessary, both for the operation of the network and for maintaining and even improving the quality of the service, have been made.

 

Although in the current year the economic activity has shown a recovery after the effect caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout 2020, the country’s macroeconomic situation with the increase in the rate of inflation, the widening of the gap between the official dollar exchange rate and the dollar exchange rate quoted in the informal market, and the consequences of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund make it difficult to envisage a clear-cut trend of the economy in the short term.

 

This complex and vulnerable economic context is aggravated by the currency restrictions imposed by the BCRA pursuant to which the BCRA’s prior authorization is required for certain transactions, such as the Company’s transactions associated with the payment of imports of goods that are necessary for the provision of the service, and the payments to service the financial debt. These currency restrictions, or those to be implemented in the future, could affect the Company’s ability to access the MULC in order to acquire the foreign currency necessary to face its operating and financial obligations.

 

As a consequence of the described context, the Company witnessed an even greater deterioration of the economic and financial equation due to the rate freeze, the impossibility of taking legal action to enforce payment of debts for electricity consumed but not paid, and the increase in costs on the Company’s operating structure and supplies. Therefore, it became necessary to partially postpone payments to CAMMESA for energy purchased in the MEM as from the maturities taking place in March 2020 (Note 2.c), payment obligations which have been partially regularized, but as of December 31, 2021 accumulate a past due principal balance of $ 26,259, plus interest and charges for $ 23,880.

 

Despite the previously detailed situation, it is worth pointing out that, in general terms, the quality of the electricity distribution service has been significantly improved, both in duration and frequency of power cuts. In view of the continuous increase of the costs associated with the provision of the service, as well as the need for additional investments to meet the demand, the Company is analyzing different measures aimed at mitigating the negative effects of this situation on its financial structure, minimizing the impact on the sources of employment, the execution of the investment plan, and the carrying out of the essential operation, maintenance and improvement-related works that are necessary to maintain the provision of the public service, object of the concession, in a satisfactory manner in terms of quality and safety.

 

Due to that which has been previously described, the Board of Directors understand that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt about edenor’s ability to continue as a going concern, which may result in the Company’s being obliged to defer certain payment obligations or unable to meet expectations for salary increases or the increases recorded in third-party costs.

 

 

10

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Nevertheless, these financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern and do not include the adjustments or reclassifications that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties, inasmuch as this Distribution Company has historically been provided with transitional solutions that have made it possible to partially restore the economic and financial equation and ensure the operation of the distribution networks.

 

 

 

 

Note

2 |    Regulatory framework

 

a)

Concession

 

The term of the concession is 95 years, which may be extended for an additional maximum period of 10 years. The term of the concession is divided into management periods. At the end of each management period, the Class “A” shares representing 51% of edenor‘s share capital, currently held by Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A., must be offered for sale through a public bidding. If the latter makes the highest bid, it will continue to hold the Class “A” shares, and no further disbursements will be necessary. On the contrary, if Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. is not the highest bidder, then the bidder who makes the highest bid shall pay Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. the amount of the bid in accordance with the conditions of the public bidding. The proceeds from the sale of the Class “A” shares will be delivered to Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. after deducting any amounts receivable to which the Grantor of the concession may be entitled.

 

The Company has the exclusive right to render electric power distribution and sales services within the concession area to all the customers who are not authorized to obtain their power supply from the MEM, thus being obliged to supply all the electric power that may be required in due time and in accordance with the established quality levels. In addition, the Company must allow free access to its facilities to any MEM agents whenever required, under the terms of the Concession. No specific fee must be paid by the Company under the Concession Agreement during the term of the concession.

 

The Company is subject to the terms and conditions of its Concession Agreement and the provisions of the Regulatory Framework comprised of Federal Laws Nos. 14,772, 15,336 and 24,065, Executive Order No. 714/92 of the PEN, resolutions and regulatory and supplementary regulations issued by the authorities responsible for this matter, with the Company being responsible for the provision of the public service of electricity distribution and sale with a satisfactory quality level, complying for such purpose with the requirements set forth in both the aforementioned agreement and the Regulatory Framework.

 

Failure to comply with the established guidelines will result in the application of penalties, based on the economic damage suffered by the customer when the service is provided in an unsatisfactory manner, the amounts of which will be determined in accordance with the methodology stipulated in the above-mentioned agreement. The ENRE is the authority in charge of controlling strict compliance with the pre-established guidelines.

 

b)

Electricity rate situation

 

On March 5, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 53/2021, the ENRE called a Public Hearing to make known and listen to opinions on the distribution companies’ Transitional Tariff System, with such Public Hearing being held in the framework of the Tariff Structure Review (RTI) Process and prior to defining the electricity rates to be applied by the referred to concession holders. On March 30, edenor made a presentation at the Public Hearing to discuss the transitional tariff adjustment of the Distribution, including revenue requirements and a new tariff structure proposal to cover the public service expenses and investment needs.

 

 

11

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Furthermore, on March 31, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 78/2021, the ENRE approved the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedule, effective from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on April 1, 2021, based on the MEM’s winter seasonal programming. It must be pointed out that such rate increase affected only GUDI customers and reflected the increase of the seasonal price passed through to rates without affecting revenues from CPD.

 

Moreover, on April 30, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 107/2021, and in the framework of the transitional tariff system, the ENRE authorized the application of a new electricity rate schedule, effective as from May 1, 2021, with a 9% increase, implying a CPD adjustment of 20.9%. In view of the fact that such increase does not cover the increase requested by edenor, on June 15, 2021, an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) was filed against such Resolution.

 

On May 11, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 408/2021, the SE approved the Definitive Winter Seasonal Programming for the MEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the May 1-October 31, 2021 period.

 

On August 10, 2021, by means of Resolutions Nos. 262 and 265/2021, the ENRE approved an increase for large users whose power consumption is equal to or greater than 300 kW, effective from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on August 1, 2021. Both resolutions were appealed to the Energy Secretariat by edenor because the values of the electricity rate schedule in effect provided for by the ENRE did not take into consideration the ex-post adjustments, the recognition of taxes and fees, the pass-through differences arising from non-transferred increases in the seasonal price, or the pending adjustments of CPD. Moreover, neither the transitional system to supplement the required revenue, as provided for by Executive Order No. 1020/2021, nor the differences resulting from a lower than expected demand, requested by edenor, have been established. Both appeals are in process at the closing date of these financial statements.

 

Moreover, ENRE Resolution No. 323/2021 dated September 27, 2021, set the definitive annual control fee for 2021 that is to be paid by the MEM’s generation, transmission and distribution agents, and provided that final payment thereof would become due during the month of October 2021.

 

Furthermore, on October 28, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 1029/2021, the SE approved the Definitive Summer Seasonal Programming for the MEM submitted by CAMMESA, relating to the November 1, 2021-April 30, 2022 period. Furthermore, the Power Reference Prices (PRP) and the Stabilized Price of Energy (SPE) set by SE Resolution No. 748/2021 dated August 3, 2021 are to be applied to the aforementioned period. The Unsubsidized PRP and SPE are set in order for distribution companies to include in the bills the related subsidy amount as a separate item.

 

In line with the preceding paragraph, on November 19, 2021, by means of ENRE Resolution No. 487/2021, distribution companies were instructed to determine as from November 1, 2021 the related subsidy amount, which should be clearly identified as “Subsidy from the Federal Government” in the part of the bill that contains the information addressed to the user.

 

Additionally, by means of Resolution No. 491/2021, the ENRE approved the Injection Rates for User-Generators of the concession areas of distribution companies, effective from August 1, 2021.

 

 

 

12

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

On January 25, 2022, by means of Resolution No. 25/2022, the ENRE calls a Public Hearing to be held on February 17 to make known and listen to opinions on the following:

 

-

the treatment for the determination of Power reference prices and the Stabilized Price of Energy in the MEM;

-

the distribution companies’ proposals aimed at obtaining a transitional adjustment of rates, with such public hearing being held within the RTI renegotiation process and prior to defining the electricity rates to be applied by concession holders.

 

Additionally, on February 3, 2022, by means of Resolution No. 41/2022, the ENRE approves the values of the Company’s electricity rate schedules effective from the billing relating to the reading of meters subsequent to 12:00 AM on February 1, 2022, applying to the aforementioned period the Power Reference Prices (PRP) and the Stabilized Price of Energy (SPE) set by SE Resolution No. 40/2022, not implying the same adjustments of the CPD.

 

Finally, and within the framework of the transition tariff regime, on February 25, 2022, the ENRE, through Resolution No. 76/2022, applied the new tariff schedules effective as of March 1, 2022, which incorporate the new seasonal prices defined by Resolution SE No. 105/2022 of the Secretary of Energy, which establishes an average increase for Carriers of 20% and an increase in CPD of 8% for edenor.

 

c)

Debt for the purchase of energy in the MEM

 

The main consequence of the lack of revenue described in the preceding note has been edenor’s impossibility of complying, in due time and in proper form, with payments to CAMMESA for energy purchases in the MEM. Argentina’s National Congress, recognizing this situation, approved in the FY2021 National Government Budget the offsetting of such debts through the “Special system for the settlement of debts” with CAMMESA provided for by section 87 of Law No. 27,591.

 

In this regard, by means of Executive Order No. 990/20, the 2021 Budget Law was partially approved. In its section 87, the law provides for a system for the settlement of debts with CAMMESA and/or the MEM accumulated by Electricity Distribution Companies as of September 30, 2020, whether on account of the consumption of energy, power, interest and/or penalties, in accordance with the conditions to be set out by the application authority, which may provide for credits equivalent to up to five times the monthly average bill or to sixty-six percent of the existing debt, whereas the remaining debt is to be paid in up to sixty monthly installments, with a grace period of up to six months, and at the rate in effect in the MEM, reduced by fifty percent.

 

Consequently, by means of Resolution No. 40/2021, the Energy Secretariat established the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations” of Electricity Distribution Companies that are agents of the MEM for the debts held with CAMMESA and/or the MEM whether on account of the consumption of energy, power, interest and/or penalties, accumulated as of September 30, 2020. It also established a “Special System of Credits” for those Electricity Distribution Companies that are agents of the MEM and have no debts with CAMMESA and/or the MEM or whose debts are regarded as being within reasonable values vis-à-vis their levels of transactions as of September 30, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Subsequently, the Secretariat determined that it was suitable to establish as indicators for purposes of calculating the credits to be recognized, the maintenance of the electricity rate schedules throughout the year 2020, the policies implemented by each Distribution Company that is an agent of the MEM aimed at benefiting the demand, the effect of the application of the provisions of Executive Order No. 311 dated March 24, 2020, as amended and supplemented, as well as the investment commitments on energy efficiency, technology applied to the provision of the service and/or energy infrastructure works that imply an improvement in the quality of the service provided to users. Therefore, it issued Resolution No. 371/2021, which supplements Resolution No. 40/2021.

 

Finally, on February 22, 2022, by means of Executive Order No. 88/2022, the Executive Power extended until December 31, 2022 the implementation of the “Special System for the Regularization of Payment Obligations” provided for in section 87 of Law No. 27,591.

 

d)

Supplementary resolutions

 

1.     Suspension of issuance of Debit Notes and Supplementary Statements: on February 18, 2021, by means of ENRE Resolution No. 37/2021, the Company was instructed both to suspend, on an immediate and temporary basis, the issuance of Debit Notes and Supplementary Statements (bills) in the terms of section 5 sub-section d) captions I, II and III of the Electric Power Supply Regulations (i.e. those issued when energy values have not been recorded or have been under-measured; those issued when events suggesting metering irregularities or the appropriation of energy by the user prove to be true; or those issued when direct connections are verified), and to refrain from suspending electricity supplies due to non-payment of the amounts arising from the recovery sought on the basis of such regulation, regardless of whether the users have made the pertinent claim, until the ENRE issues the regulations. Furthermore, the Company is instructed to submit a report on the number of bills for Non-recorded or under or over-recorded consumption, issued from March 1, 2020.

 

2.     System for the issuance of statements: on March 9, 2021, by means of ENRE Resolution No. 58/2021, distribution companies were instructed to issue the electric power public service statements (bills) solely with the amounts relating to the consumption of the billing period and to inform of the debts that have originated in or increased during the periods of the Preventive and Mandatory Social Isolation (“ASPO”) and the Preventive and Mandatory Social Distancing (“DISPO”) health measures. The Company has begun to implement the aforementioned resolution as from September 2021. Furthermore, the Company was instructed to refrain from seeking collection of the consumption accumulated from the ASPO until February 28, 2021, with no guidelines on the payment of such amounts by users having been established -by such regulatory authority- to date.

 

3.     Reopening of Commercial Offices: by means of Notes NO-2021-84330919-APN-ENRE#MEC and NO-2021-84786820-APN-ENRE#MEC notified on September 9, 2021, the ENRE instructed the Company to reopen the commercial offices after having been closed as per the ENRE’s instruction in the framework of the Preventive and Mandatory Social Isolation (ASPO) and the Preventive and Mandatory Social Distancing (DISPO) provided for by the Federal Government.

 

4.     Electric Service Statement – Service Disconnection and/or Cancellation of the registered user’s name: the ENRE issued the procedure for how the Company must demand payment of a debt at the time of disconnecting the service or cancelling the registered user’s name. The procedure was notified to the Company on September 13, 2021 by means of Note NO-2021-82569889-APN-ENRE#MEC. Against such procedure, the Company has filed an appeal to the ENRE, which is currently in process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

e)

Framework Agreement

 

On December 16, 2020, the “Agreement on the Development of the Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Work Plan for the Electricity Distribution Network of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area”, was signed with the Federal Government and the province of Buenos Aires, to guarantee the electricity supply to vulnerable neighborhoods of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area.

 

The debt for the electricity supplied in the October 2017 – July 2020 period to low-income areas and shantytowns in edenor’s concession area amounted to $ 2,126. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider an amount that will be equivalent to the total consumption of vulnerable neighborhoods between August and December 2020.

 

All these amounts will be applied to the Work Plan in order that the necessary investment and preventive and corrective maintenance works can be carried out in the networks in charge of distribution companies and related to vulnerable neighborhoods and other areas of the concession area, with the aim of improving the service therein provided and meeting the contingencies and any peak demand that often occurs in the summer. The Company may use the funds only after the ENRE has certified compliance with both the degree of completion of the works included in the referred to plan and the related financial milestones.

 

On January 14, 2021, the Company received a first disbursement for $ 1,500, which was placed into low-risk money market funds, which accrued holding results throughout the fiscal year. As of December 31, 2021, negotiations are underway between the Company and the ENRE concerning the other disbursements stipulated in the agreement, which total an additional $1,000 relating to the second and third disbursements, plus a fourth disbursement in accordance with that which the ENRE will validate and inform about the vulnerable neighborhoods’ total consumption between August and December 2020.

 

At the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company has used a total of $ 1,794.1 (which at the purchasing power of the currency at December 31, 2021 amounts to $ 2,059.8), $ 294.1 of which has not yet been credited, relating to the reports on progress of the works performed.

 

f)

Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations

 

On May 10, 2019, edenor, Edesur S.A. and the National Energy Secretariat entered into the Agreement on the Regularization of Obligations for the Transfer of Concession Holders to the Local Jurisdictions, whereby, prior to the transfer of the respective concessions to the jurisdictions of the PBA and the CABA, respectively, (i) the existing debts and credits are mutually offset; (ii) a term and modality of payment of the fines payable to users and the Government are agreed-upon, in three and five years, respectively; (iii) settlement of the fines payable to the Government is allowed to be made through investments in specific works to improve the service; and (iv) it is agreed that any legal actions against the Federal Government for damages caused by the freeze on rates since 2017 will be abandoned.

 

On January 19, 2021, the Federal Government, the PBA and the CABA entered into a new Agreement according to which the Federal Government retains the capacity as grantor of the concession in connection with the concession agreements (Executive Order No. 292/2021 and SE Resolution No. 16/2021).

 

On September 21, 2021, the National Ministry of Economy issued ME Resolution No. 590/2021 declaring the Agreement contrary to the public interest, thus paving the way for the filing of a legal action to declare it null and void. It also provided for the suspension of the administrative procedures relating to the fulfilment of the obligations arising from such Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notwithstanding the above, at the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company has not been served notice of the filing of any legal action in order for the Agreement or the acts resulting therefrom to be declared null and void. The administrative act in question has not provided for the suspension of the legal effects of said Agreement, which is, therefore, in full force and effect. Against this resolution the Company has filed an appeal (recurso jerárquico) to the Office of the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers (higher administrative authority) and a motion for clarification with the Ministry of Economy, which was granted and answered by ME Resolution No. 656/2021, notified on October 20, 2021, whereby said Ministry confirms that such Agreement has not been suspended.

 

g)

Penalties

 

The ENRE is empowered to control the quality levels of the technical product and service, the commercial service and the compliance with public safety regulations, as provided for in the Concession Agreement. If the Distribution Company fails to comply with the obligations assumed, the ENRE may apply the penalties stipulated in the aforementioned Agreement.

 

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company has recognized in its financial statements the penalties accrued, whether imposed or not yet issued by the ENRE, relating to the control periods elapsed as of those dates, following the criteria and estimates available, which may differ from the actual ones.

 

Furthermore, ENRE Resolution No. 63/17 has set out the control procedures, the service quality assessment methodologies, and the penalty system, applicable as from February 1, 2017, for the 2017–2021 period.

 

In accordance with the provisions of Sub-Appendix XVI to the referred to Resolution, the Company is required to submit in a term of sixty calendar days the calculation of global indicators, interruptions for which force majeure had been alleged, the calculation of individual indicators, and will determine the related discounts, crediting the amounts thereof within ten business days. In turn, the ENRE will examine the information submitted by the Company, and in the event that the crediting of such discounts were not verified will impose a fine, payable to the Federal Government, equivalent to twice the value that should have been recorded.

 

In this regard, the ENRE has implemented an automatic penalty mechanism in order that the discounts on account of deviations from the established limits may be credited to customers within a term of sixty days as from the end of the controlled six-month period.

 

The penalty system provides that penalties are updated in accordance with the variation of the Distributor’s CPD or by the energy tariff average price, as the case may be. Subsequently, in different resolutions related to commercial penalties and penalties relating to the safety on streets and public spaces, the Regulatory Authority provided for the application of increases and adjustments, applying for such purpose a criterion different from the one applied by the Company.

 

By means of Resolution No. 15/2021, the ENRE approved the new methodology for crediting and distributing the penalties payable to all the Active Users and the modality of crediting penalties to the Solidarity Account for Users in Vulnerable Situations, as well as the manner in which edenor must produce that information and send it to the ENRE.

 

The effects of the resolutions detailed in this note have been quantified by the Company and recognized as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, which does not imply the Company’s consent to the applied criteria.

 

Finally, with the approval of the new tariff schedules established by ENRE Resolution No. 76/2022 (Note 2.b.), the amounts of the penalties valued in average kWh must be updated as of March 1, 2022 according to the prices established by the aforementioned Resolution.

 

 

 

 

 

16

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

h)

Restriction on the transfer of the Company’s common shares

 

The by-laws provide that Class “A” shareholders may transfer their shares only with the prior approval of the ENRE. The ENRE must communicate its decision within ninety days upon submission of the request for such approval, otherwise the transfer will be deemed approved.

 

Furthermore, Caja de Valores S.A. (the Public Register Office), which keeps the Share Register of the shares, is entitled (as stated in the by-laws) to reject such entries which, at its criterion, do not comply with the rules for the transfer of common shares included in (i) the Business Organizations Law, (ii) the Concession Agreement and (iii) the By-laws.

 

In addition, the Class “A” shares will be pledged during the entire term of the concession as collateral to secure the performance of the obligations assumed under the Concession Agreement.

 

In connection with the issuance of Corporate Notes, during the term thereof, Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. is required to be the beneficial owner and owner of record of not less than 51% of the Company’s issued, voting and outstanding shares, otherwise the maturity of principal of the corporate notes could be accelerated.

 

 

Note

3 |    Basis of preparation

 

The financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been prepared in accordance with IFRS issued by the IASB and IFRIC interpretations, which have been adopted and incorporated by the CNV.

 

These financial statements were approved for issue by the Company’s Board of Directors on March 9, 2022.

 

Comparative information

 

The balances as of December 31, 2020, disclosed in these financial statements for comparative purposes, arise as a result of restating the financial statements as of that date to the purchasing power of the currency at December 31, 2021. This, as a consequence of the restatement of the financial information described hereunder. Furthermore, certain amounts of the financial statements presented on a comparative basis have been reclassified in order to maintain consistency of presentation with the amounts of the reporting year.

 

In particular, the figures presented in the statement of cash flows as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 have been revised. Based on their nature, certain amounts that were previously disclosed as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss were reclassified to cash equivalents. The impact of these changes is considered non-material and is as follows:

 

 

17

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

			12.31.20 Published		Adjustments		12.31.20
Cash flows from investing activities
(Purchase) Collection net of Mutual funds and government bonds			3,898		(7,895)		(3,997)
Net cash flows used in investing activities			(10,892)		(7,895)		(18,787)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year			845		5,727		6,572
Financial results in cash and cash equivalents			(546)		1,932		1,386
Result from exposure to inflation			309		236		545
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			5,974		(7,895)		(1,921)
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year			6,582		-		6,582

 

			12.31.19 Published		Adjustments		12.31.19
Cash flows from investing activities
(Purchase) Collection net of Mutual funds and government bonds			5,194		6,058		11,252
Net cash flows used in investing activities			(10,591)		6,058		(4,533)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year			88		(22)		66
Financial results in cash and cash equivalents			902		(614)		288
Result from exposure to inflation			(5)		308		303
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			(143)		6,058		5,915
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year			842		-		6,572

 

Restatement of financial information

 

The financial statements as of December 31, 2021, including the figures relating to the previous year, have been stated in terms of the measuring unit current at December 31, 2021, in accordance with IAS 29 “Financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies”. As a result thereof, the financial statements are stated in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting year.

 

The inflation rate applied for the fiscal year commenced January 1, 2021 and ended December 31, 2021, based on that indicated in the preceding paragraph, was 50.9%.

 

According to IAS 29, the restatement of financial statements is necessary when the functional currency of an entity is that of a hyperinflationary economy. To define a state of hyperinflation, IAS 29 provides a set of guidelines, including but not limited to the following, which consist of (i) analyzing the behavior of population, prices, interest rates and wages faced with the development of price indexes and the loss of the currency’s purchasing power, and (ii) as a quantitative feature, which, in practice, is the mostly considered condition, verifying whether the cumulative inflation rate over three years approaches or exceeds 100%.

 

In accordance with IAS 29, the Argentine economy should be regarded as highly inflationary as from July 1, 2018. The standard states that the adjustment will be resumed from the date on which it was last made, February 2003. Moreover, on July 24, 2018, the FACPCE issued a communication confirming that which has been previously mentioned. Additionally, it should be taken into account that on December 4, 2018 the Official Gazette published Law No. 27,468 pursuant to which the provisions of Executive Order No. 664/2003 of the PEN, which did not allow for the filing of inflation-adjusted financial statements, are no longer in effect. This regulation states that the provisions of section 62 of Business Organizations Law No. 19,550 -preparation of financial statements to reflect the effects of inflation- will continue to apply, thus reinstating the adjustment for inflation. On December 28, 2018, the CNV, reaffirming the provisions of Law No. 27,468, published Resolution No. 777/18 stating that issuing companies shall apply the restatement method of financial statements to reflect the effects of inflation in conformity with IAS 29.

 

In order to not only assess the aforementioned quantitative condition but also restate the financial statements, the CNV has stated that the series of indexes to be used for the application of IAS 29 is that determined by the FACPCE. That series of indexes combines the CPI published by the INDEC from January 2017 (base month: December 2016) with the WPI published by the INDEC through that date, computing for the months of November and December 2015 -in respect of which there is no available information from the INDEC on the development of the WPI-, the variation recorded in the CPI of the City of Buenos Aires.

 

Taking into consideration the above-mentioned index, in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the inflation rate amounted to 50.9%, 36.13%, 53.77%, 47.66% and 24.79%, respectively.

 

18

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The effects of the application of IAS 29 are summarized below:

 

Restatement of the Statement of Financial Position

 

(i)

Monetary items (those with a fixed nominal value in local currency) are not restated inasmuch as they are already expressed in terms of the measuring unit current at the closing date of the reporting year.

 

(ii)

Non-monetary items carried at historical cost or at the current value of a date prior to the end of the reporting year are restated using coefficients that reflect the variation recorded in the general level of prices from the date of acquisition or revaluation to the closing date of the reporting year. Depreciation charges of property, plant and equipment and amortization charges of intangible assets recognized in profit or loss for the year, as well as any other consumption of non-monetary assets will be determined on the basis of the new restated amounts.

 

(iii)

The restatement of non-monetary assets in terms of the measuring unit current at the end of the reporting year without an equivalent adjustment for tax purposes, gives rise to a taxable temporary difference and to the recognition of a deferred tax liability, whose contra-account is recognized.

 

Restatement of the Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income

 

(i)

Income and expenses are restated from the date when they were recorded, except for those profit or loss items that reflect or include in their determination the consumption of assets carried at the purchasing power of the currency as of a date prior to the recording of the consumption, which are restated based on the date when the asset to which the item is related originated (for example, depreciation, impairment and other consumptions of assets valued at historical cost).

 

(ii)

The net gain from the maintenance of monetary assets and liabilities is presented in a line item separately from the profit or loss for the year, called RECPAM.

Restatement of the Statement of Changes in Equity

 

(i)

The components of equity, except for reserved earnings and unappropriated retained earnings, have been restated from the dates on which they were contributed, or on which they were otherwise set up.

 

(ii)

The restated unappropriated retained earnings were determined by the difference between net assets restated at the date of transition and the other components of opening equity expressed as indicated in the preceding headings.

 

(iii)

After the restatement at the date indicated in (i) above, all components of equity are restated by applying the general price index from the beginning of the year, and each variation of those components is restated from the date of contribution or the date on which it otherwise arose.

Restatement of the Statement of Cash Flows

 

IAS 29 requires all the items of this Statement to be restated in terms of the measuring unit current at the closing date of the reporting year.

 

The monetary gain or loss generated by cash and cash equivalents is presented in the statement of cash flows separately from cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as a specific item of the reconciliation between cash and cash equivalents at the beginning and end of the year.

 

 

 

19

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

4 |    Accounting policies

 

The main accounting policies used in the preparation of these financial statements are detailed below.

 

Note

4.1 |   New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations issued by the IASB, that are effective as of December 31, 2021 and have been adopted by the Company

 

The Company has first applied the following standards and/or amendments as from January 1, 2021:

 

- Amendments to IFRS 9 “Financial instruments”, IAS 39 “Financial instruments: Presentation”, IFRS 7 “Financial Instruments: Disclosures”, IFRS 4 “Insurance contracts” and IFRS 16 “Leases” (amended in August 2020).

 

- Amendments to IFRS 16 “Leases”, in connection with rent concessions in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic (amended in April 2021).

 

There are no new IFRS or IFRIC applicable as from this fiscal year that have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations issued by the IASB that are not yet effective and have not been early adopted by the Company

 

- IFRS 17 “Insurance contracts”, issued in May 2017 and amended in June 2020 and December 2021. It replaces IFRS 4, introduced as an interim standard in 2004, which allowed entities to account for insurance contracts using their local accounting requirements, resulting in multiple application approaches. IFRS 17 sets the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of insurance contracts, and applies to annual periods beginning as from January 1, 2023, allowing for its early adoption for entities already applying IFRS 9 and IFRS 15. The Company estimates that the application thereof will impact neither the Company’s results of operations nor its financial position.

 

- IAS 1 “Presentation of financial statements”, amended in January 2020 and February 2021. It incorporates amendments to the classification of liabilities as current or non-current. It also incorporates the requirement that an entity disclose its material accounting policies rather than its significant accounting policies. It explains how a company can identify a material accounting policy. The amendments apply to annual periods beginning as from January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted. The application thereof will impact neither the Company’s results of operations nor its financial position.

 

- IAS 16 “Property, plant and equipment”, amended in May 2020. It incorporates amendments to the recognition of inventories, sales and costs of items produced while bringing an item of property, plant and equipment to the location and condition necessary for its intended use. The amendments apply to annual periods beginning as from January 1, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently analyzing the impact of the application of the amendments on the Company’s results of operations or its financial position.

 

- Annual improvements to IFRS – 2018-2020 Cycle: the amendments were issued in May 2020 and apply to annual periods beginning as from January 1, 2022. The Company estimates that the application thereof will impact neither the Company’s results of operations nor its financial position.

 

- IFRS 3 “Business combinations”, amended in May 2020. It incorporates references to the definitions of assets and liabilities in the new Conceptual Framework and clarifications on contingent assets and liabilities that are incurred separately from those assumed in a business combination. It applies to business combinations as from January 1, 2022, with early adoption permitted.

 

- IAS 37 “Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets”, amended in May 2020. It clarifies the scope of the concept of cost of fulfilling an onerous contract. The amendments apply to annual periods beginning as from January 1, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company estimates that the application thereof will impact neither the Company’s results of operations nor its financial position.

 

 

20

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

- IAS 8 “Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors”, amended in February 2021. It replaces the definition of accounting estimates. Under the new definition, accounting estimates are monetary amounts in the financial statements that are subject to measurement uncertainty. The amendments apply to annual periods beginning as from January 1, 2023. The Company estimates that the application thereof will impact neither the Company’s results of operations nor its financial position.

 

- IAS 12 “Income tax”, amended in May 2021. It clarifies how an entity accounts for deferred tax on transactions such as leases and decommissioning obligations. The amendments apply to annual periods beginning as from January 1, 2023.

 

 

Note

4.2 |       Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment, except for works in progress, is valued at acquisition cost restated to reflect the effects of inflation, net of accumulated depreciation and recognized impairment losses. Depreciation has been calculated by applying the straight-line method over the remaining useful life of the assets, which was determined on the basis of engineering studies.

 

Subsequent costs (major maintenance and reconstruction costs) are either included in the value of the assets or recognized as a separate asset, only if it is probable that the future benefits associated with the assets will flow to the Company, being it possible as well that the costs of the assets may be measured reliably and the investment will improve the condition of the asset beyond its original state. The other maintenance and repair expenses are recognized in profit or loss in the year in which they are incurred.

 

In accordance with the Concession Agreement, the Company may not pledge the assets used in the provision of the public service nor grant any other security interest thereon in favor of third parties, without prejudice to the Company’s right to freely dispose of those assets which in the future may become inadequate or unnecessary for such purpose. This prohibition does not apply in the case of security interests granted over an asset at the time of its acquisition and/or construction as collateral for payment of the purchase and/or installation price.

 

The residual value and the remaining useful lives of the assets are reviewed and adjusted, if appropriate, at the end of each fiscal year (reporting period).

Land is not depreciated.

 

Facilities in service: between 30 and 50 years.

 

Furniture, tools and equipment: between 5 and 20 years.

 

Construction in process is valued based on the degree of completion and is recorded at cost restated to reflect the effects of inflation less any impairment loss, if applicable. Cost includes expenses attributable to the construction, when they are part of the cost incurred for the purposes of acquisition, construction or production of property, plant and equipment that necessarily takes a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use. These assets begin to be depreciated when they are in economic conditions of use.

 

Gains and losses on the sale of property, plant and equipment are calculated by comparing the price collected with the carrying amount of the asset and are recognized within Other operating expense or Other operating income in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company considers three alternative probability-weighted scenarios and analyzes the recoverability of its long-lived assets as described in Critical accounting estimates and judgments.

 

The valuation of property, plant and equipment, taken as a whole, does not exceed its recoverable value, which is measured as the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell at the end of the year (Note 6.c).

 

 

Note

4.3 |       Interests in joint ventures

 

The main conceptual definitions are as follow:

 

i.

A joint arrangement takes place among two or more parties when they have joint control: joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of an arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require the unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.

 

ii.

A joint venture is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the net assets of the arrangement. Such parties are called joint venturers.

 

iii.

A joint operation is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement. These parties are called joint operators.

 

The Company accounts for its investment in joint ventures in accordance with the equity method. Under this method, the interest is initially recognized at cost and subsequently adjusted by recognizing the Company’s share in the profit or loss obtained by the joint venture, after acquisition date. The Company recognizes in profit or loss its share of the joint venture’s profit or loss and in other comprehensive income its share of the joint venture’s other comprehensive income.

 

When the Company carries out transactions in the joint ventures, the unrealized gains and losses are eliminated in accordance with the percentage interest held by the Company in the jointly controlled entity.

 

The joint ventures’ accounting policies have been modified and adapted, if applicable, to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Company.

 

Furthermore, taking into account that the interests in joint ventures are not regarded as significant balances, the disclosures required under IFRS 12 have not been made.

 

 

Note

4.4 |       Revenue recognition

 

a.

Revenue from sales

 

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration collected or to be collected, taking into account the estimated amount of any discount, thus determining the net amounts.

 

Revenue from the electricity supplied by the Company to low-income areas and shantytowns is recognized to the extent that a renewal of the Framework Agreement is formalized for the period in which the service was rendered. At the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company is negotiating the extensions of the Framework Agreement with the Federal and the Provincial Governments, as the case may be (Note 2.e).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Revenue from operations is recognized on an accrual basis and derives mainly from electricity distribution. Such revenue includes electricity supplied, whether billed or unbilled, at the end of each year, which has been valued on the basis of applicable tariffs.

 

The Company also recognizes revenue from other concepts included in distribution services, such as new connections, reconnections, rights of use on poles, transportation of electricity to other distribution companies, inasmuch as the services are provided on the basis of the price established in each contract. Revenue is not adjusted for the effect of the financing components as sales’ payments are not deferred over time, which is consistent with market practice.

 

The aforementioned revenue from operations was recognized when all of the following conditions were met:

 

1.

The Entity transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards;

 

2.

The amount of revenue was measured reliably;

 

3.

It is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Entity;

 

4.

The costs incurred or to be incurred, in respect of the transaction, were measured reliably.

 

b.

Interest income

 

Interest income is recognized by applying the effective interest rate method. Interest income is recorded in the accounting on a time basis by reference to the principal amount outstanding and the applicable effective rate.

 

Interest income is recognized when it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Entity and the amount of the transaction can be measured reliably.

 

 

Note

4.5 |       Effects of the changes in foreign currency exchange rates

 

a.        Functional and presentation currency

 

The information included in the financial statements is measured using the Company’s functional currency, which is the currency of the main economic environment in which the Entity operates. The financial statements are measured in pesos (legal currency in Argentina), restated to reflect the effects of inflation as indicated in Note 3, which is also the presentation currency.

 

b.       Transactions and balances

 

Foreign currency denominated transactions and balances are translated into the functional and presentation currency using the rates of exchange prevailing at the date of the transactions or revaluation, respectively. The gains and losses generated by foreign currency exchange differences resulting from each transaction and from the translation of monetary items valued in foreign currency at the end of the year are recognized in the Statement of Profit or Loss.

 

The foreign currency exchange rates used are the selling rate for monetary assets and liabilities, and the specific exchange rate for foreign currency denominated transactions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

4.6 |       Trade and other receivables

 

a.

Trade receivables

 

The receivables arising from services billed to customers but not collected as well as those arising from services rendered but unbilled at the closing date of each year are recognized at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

 

The receivables from electricity supplied to low-income areas and shantytowns are recognized, along with revenue, when the Framework Agreement has been renewed for the period in which the service was provided and the Federal or the Provincial Government assumes responsibility for the payment of consumption.

 

b.

Other receivables

 

Other receivables are initially recognized at fair value (generally the original billing/settlement amount) and subsequently measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest rate method, and when significant, adjusted by the time value of money. The Company records impairment allowances when there is objective evidence that it will not be able to collect all the amounts owed to it in accordance with the original terms of the receivables.

 

In the case of the subsidies received from the Government, they are recognized at the time of of execution of the defined work plans.

 

 

Note

4.7 |       Inventories

 

Inventories are valued at the lower of acquisition cost restated to reflect the effects of inflation and net realizable value.

 

They are valued based on the purchase price, import duties (if applicable), and other taxes (that are not subsequently recovered), and other costs directly attributable to the acquisition of those assets.

 

Cost is determined by applying the weighted average price (WAP) method.

 

The Company has classified inventories into current and non-current depending on whether they will be used for maintenance or capital expenditures and on the period in which they are expected to be used. The non-current portion of inventories is disclosed in the “Property, plant and equipment” account.

 

The valuation of inventories, taken as a whole, does not exceed their recoverable value at the end of each year.

 

 

Note

4.8 |       Financial assets

 

Note

4.8.1 |      Classification

 

The Company classifies financial assets into the following categories: those measured at amortized cost and those subsequently measured at fair value. This classification depends on whether the financial asset is an investment in a debt or an equity instrument. In order for a financial asset to be measured at amortized cost, the two conditions described in the following paragraph must be met. All other financial assets are measured at fair value. IFRS 9 requires that all investments in equity instruments be measured at fair value.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

a.        Financial assets at amortized cost

 

Financial assets are measured at amortized cost if the following conditions are met:

 

i.

The objective of the Company’s business model is to hold the assets to collect the contractual cash flows; and

 

ii.

The contractual terms give rise, on specified dates, to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on principal.

 

b.       Financial assets at fair value

 

If any of the above-detailed conditions is not met, financial assets are measured at fair value through profit or loss.

 

All investments in equity instruments are measured at fair value. For those investments that are not held for trading, the Company may irrevocably elect at the time of their initial recognition to present the changes in fair value in other comprehensive income. The Company’s decision was to recognize the changes in fair value in profit or loss.

 

Note

4.8.2 |      Recognition and measurement

 

The regular way purchase or sale of financial assets is recognized on the trade date, i.e. the date on which the Company agrees to acquire or sell the asset. Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive the cash flows from the investments have expired or been transferred and the Company has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of the ownership of the assets.

 

Financial assets are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition thereof, in the case that they are not measured at fair value through profit or loss.

 

The gains or losses generated by investments in debt instruments that are subsequently measured at fair value and are not part of a hedging transaction are recognized in profit or loss. Those generated by investments in debt instruments that are subsequently measured at amortized cost and are not part of a hedging transaction are recognized in profit or loss when the financial asset is derecognized or impaired and by means of the amortization process using the effective interest rate method.

 

The Company subsequently measures all the investments in equity instruments at fair value. When it elects to present the changes in fair value in other comprehensive income, such changes cannot be reclassified to profit or loss. Dividends arising from these investments are recognized in profit or loss to the extent that they represent a return on the investment.

 

The Company reclassifies financial assets if and only if its business model to manage financial assets is changed.

 

The expected losses, in accordance with calculated coefficients, are detailed in Note 6.a).

 

Note

4.8.3 |      Impairment of financial assets

 

At the end of each annual reporting period, the Company assesses whether there is objective evidence that the value of a financial asset or group of financial assets measured at amortized cost is impaired. The value of a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired, and impairment losses are incurred only if there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset (a “loss event”), and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or group of financial assets that can be reliably measured.

 

 

 

25

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Impairment tests may include evidence that the debtors or group of debtors are undergoing significant financial difficulties, have defaulted on interest or principal payments or made them after they had come due, the probability that they will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganization, and when observable data indicate that there is a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash flows, such as changes in payment terms or in the economic conditions that correlate with defaults.

 

In the case of financial assets measured at amortized cost, the amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate. The asset’s carrying amount is reduced and the amount of the impairment loss is recognized in the Statement of Profit or Loss.

 

While cash, cash equivalents and financial assets measured at amortized cost are also subject to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9, the identified impairment loss is immaterial.

 

Note

4.8.4 |      Offsetting of financial instruments

 

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, and the net amount reported in the Statement of Financial Position, when there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts, and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

 

 

Note

4.9 |       Derivative financial instruments

 

Derivative financial instruments are initially recognized at fair value on the date on which the relevant contract is signed. Subsequently to the initial recognition, they are remeasured at their fair value. The method for recognizing the resulting loss or gain depends on whether the derivative has been designated as a hedging instrument and, if that is the case, on the nature of the item being hedged. As of December 31, 2020, the economic impact of these transactions, which resulted in a loss of $ 116.7, is recorded in the “Other financial results” account of the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

 

 

Note

4.10 |    Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from their acquisition date, with significant low risk of change in value.

 

i.

Cash and banks in local currency: at nominal value.

 

ii.

Cash and banks in foreign currency: at the exchange rate in effect at the end of the year.

 

iii.

Money market funds, which have been valued at the prevailing market price at the end of the year. Those that do not qualify as cash equivalents are disclosed in the Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss account.

 

 

Note

4.11 |    Equity

 

Changes in this account have been accounted for in accordance with the relevant legal or statutory regulations and the decisions adopted by the shareholders’ meetings.

 

a.        Share capital

 

Share capital represents issued capital, which is comprised of the contributions committed and/or made by the shareholders, represented by shares, including outstanding shares at nominal value, restated to reflect the effects of inflation as indicated in Note 3.

 

 

 

 

 

26

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

b.       Treasury stock

 

The Treasury stock account represents the nominal value of the Company’s own shares acquired by the Company, restated to reflect the effects of inflation as indicated in Note 3.

 

c.        Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

Represents recognition, at the end of the year, of the actuarial gain (loss) associated with the Company’s employee benefit plans, restated to reflect the effects of inflation as indicated in Note 3.

 

d.       Retained earnings

 

Retained earnings are comprised of profits or accumulated losses with no specific appropriation. When positive, they may be distributed, if so decided by the Shareholders’ Meeting, to the extent that they are not subject to legal restrictions. Retained earnings, where applicable, are comprised of the amounts transferred from other comprehensive income and prior year adjustments due to the application of accounting standards, restated to reflect the effects of inflation as indicated in Note 3.

 

CNV General Resolution No. 593/11 provided that Shareholders in the Meetings at which they should decide upon the approval of financial statements in which the Retained earnings account has a positive balance, must adopt an express resolution as to the allocation of such balance, whether to dividend distribution, capitalization, setting up of reserves or a combination of these. The Company Shareholders’ Meetings have complied with the above-mentioned requirement.

 

 

Note

4.12 |    Trade and other payables

 

a.

Trade payables

 

Trade payables are payment obligations with suppliers for the purchase of goods and services in the ordinary course of business. Trade payables are classified as current liabilities if payments fall due within one year or in a shorter period of time. Otherwise, they are classified as non-current liabilities.

 

Trade payables are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

 

b.

Customer deposits

 

Customer deposits are initially recognized at the amount received and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

 

In accordance with the Concession Agreement, the Company is allowed to receive customer deposits in the following cases:

 

i.

When the power supply is requested and the customer is unable to provide evidence of his legal ownership of the premises;

ii.

When service has been suspended more than once in one-year period;

iii.

When the power supply is reconnected and the Company is able to verify the illegal use of the service (fraud).

iv.

When the customer is undergoing liquidated bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings.

 

The Company has decided not to request customer deposits from residential tariff customers.

 

 

 

 

 

27

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Customer deposits may be paid either in cash or through the customer’s bill and accrue monthly interest at a specific rate of BNA for each customer category.

 

When the conditions for which the Company is allowed to receive customer deposits no longer exist, the customer’s account is credited with the principal amount plus any interest accrued thereon, after deducting, if appropriate, any amount owed by the customer to the Company.

 

c.

Customer contributions

 

Refundable: The Company receives assets or facilities (or the cash necessary to acquire or build them) from certain customers for services to be provided, based on individual agreements and the provisions of ENRE Resolution No. 215/12. These contributions are initially recognized as trade payables at fair value with a contra-account in property, plant and equipment, and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

 

d.

Other payables

 

The financial liabilities recorded in Other Payables, the Payment agreement with the ENRE, and the advances for the execution of works, are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost.

 

The recorded liabilities for penalties accrued, whether imposed or not yet issued by the ENRE (Note 2.g), and other provisions are the best estimate of the settlement value of the present obligation in the framework of IAS 37 provisions at the closing date of these financial statements.

 

The balances of ENRE Penalties and Discounts are updated in accordance with the regulatory framework applicable thereto and on the basis of the Company’s estimate of the outcome of the renegotiation process described in Note 2.g.

 

 

Note

4.13 |    Borrowings

 

Borrowings are initially recognized at fair value, less direct costs incurred in the transaction. Subsequently, they are measured at amortized cost; any difference between the funds obtained (net of direct costs incurred in the transaction) and the amount to be paid at maturity is recognized in profit or loss during the term of the borrowings using the effective interest rate method.

 

 

Note

4.14 |    Deferred revenue

 

Non-refundable customer contributions: The Company receives assets or facilities (or the cash necessary to acquire or build them) from certain customers for services to be provided, based on individual agreements. The assets received are recognized by the Company as property, plant and equipment with a contra-account in deferred revenue, the accrual of which depends on the nature of the identifiable services, in accordance with the following:

 

·

Customer connection to the network: revenue is accrued until such connection is completed;

 

·

Continuous provision of the electric power supply service: throughout the shorter of the useful life of the asset and the term for the provision of the service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

4.15 |    Employee benefits

 

·

Benefit plans

 

The Company operates several benefit plans. Usually, benefit plans establish the amount of the benefit the employee will receive at the time of retirement, generally based on one or more factors such as age, years of service and salary.

 

The liability recognized in the Statement of Financial Position in respect of benefit plans is the present value of the benefit plan obligation at the closing date of the year, together with the adjustments for past service costs and actuarial gains or losses. The benefit plan obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries in accordance with the projected unit credit method. The present value of the benefit plan obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using actuarial assumptions about demographic and financial variables that affect the determination of the amount of such benefits. The benefit plans are not funded.

 

The Company’s accounting policy for benefit plans is as follow:

 

a.

Service costs are immediately recorded in profit or loss, unless the changes to the benefit plan are conditional on the employees’ remaining in service for a specified period of time (the vesting period). In this case, past service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

 

b.

Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are recognized in “Other comprehensive income” in the year in which they arise.

 

·

The Company’s Share-based Compensation Plan

 

The Company has share-based compensation plans under which it receives services from some employees in exchange for the Company’s shares. The fair value of the services received is recognized as an operating expense in the “Salaries and social security taxes” line item. The total amount of the referred to expense is determined by reference to the fair value of the shares granted.

 

When the employees provide the services before the shares are granted, the fair value at the grant date is estimated in order to recognize the respective result.

 

 

Note

4.16 |    Income tax

 

The income tax is recognized in profit or loss, other comprehensive income or in equity depending on the items from which it originates.

 

The Company determines the income tax payable by applying the effective 35% rate, resulting from the application of the tax scale in effect, to the estimated taxable profit.

 

By means of Law No. 27,630, a change was introduced in the corporate income tax rate, applicable to fiscal years beginning from January 1, 2021. The tax will be determined according to the following scale:

 

Accumulated net taxable income		Amount to be paid $	Plus %	On the amount exceeding $
From more than $	To $
$ 0	$ 5	$ 0	25%	$ 0
$ 5	$ 50	$ 1.25	30%	$ 5
$ 50	onwards	$ 14.75	35%	$ 50

 

The amounts of the detailed scale will be adjusted annually, beginning January 1, 2022, taking into consideration the annual variation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) provided by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC).

 

29

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Additionally, the deferred tax is recognized, in accordance with the liability method, on the temporary differences arising between the tax base of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the Statement of Financial Position. However, no deferred tax liability is recognized if such difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill, or from the initial recognition of an asset or liability other than in a business combination, which at the time of the transaction affected neither the accounting nor the taxable profit.

 

The deferred tax is determined using the effective rate resulting from the application of the tax scale in effect at the closing date of the financial statements and which is expected to apply when the deferred tax assets are realized or the deferred tax liabilities are settled.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if the Company has a legally enforceable right to offset recognized amounts and when deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to income tax levied by the same tax authority on the same taxable entity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are stated at their undiscounted nominal value.

 

Moreover, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 27,430, the Company has applied the tax inflation adjustment set forth in Title VI of the Income Tax Law, effective for fiscal years beginning as from January 1, 2018, albeit with a limited scope of application for certain accounts.

 

The tax inflation adjustment for the first, second and third fiscal year was applicable as from its effective date in 2018, if the CPI cumulative variation, calculated from the beginning to the end of each year, exceeded fifty-five percent (55%), thirty percent (30%) and fifteen percent (15%) for fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Although as of December 31, 2018, the CPI cumulative variation did not exceed the 55% threshold for the application of the tax inflation adjustment in that first fiscal year, as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the CPI cumulative variations for the 12 months of each year had amounted to 36.13% and 53.77%, respectively, which exceeded the 15% and 30% thresholds fixed for the third and second transition years of the tax inflation adjustment, and, therefore, the Company recognized the effect of the tax inflation adjustment in the calculation of the current and deferred income tax provision in those fiscal years.

 

As from fiscal years ended in December 2021, fourth fiscal year since the implementation of the tax inflation adjustment, the threshold for its application is that the cumulative variation of the aforementioned index for the thirty-six months prior to the closing date of the relevant fiscal year be greater than 100%. Furthermore, as from the fiscal year under analysis said adjustment is no longer applied with deferrals (over six fiscal years) but rather computed in full in the tax balance sheet for the period in which the adjustment is calculated. In accordance with the described criterion, the Company recognized the effect of the tax inflation adjustment in the calculation of the current income tax provision for fiscal year 2021.

 

Note

4.17 |    Leases

 

A right-of-use asset and a lease liability are recognized for lease contracts from the date on which the leased asset is available for use, at the present value of the payments to be made over the term of the contract, using the discount rate implicit in the lease contract, if it can be determined, or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.

 

Subsequent to their initial measurement, leases will be measured at cost less accumulated depreciation, impairment losses, and any adjustment resulting from a new measurement of the lease liability.

 

 

30

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

4.18 |    Provisions and contingencies

 

Provisions have been recognized in those cases in which the Company is faced with a present obligation, whether legal or constructive, that has arisen as a result of a past event, whose settlement is expected to result in an outflow of resources, and the amount thereof can be estimated reliably.

 

The amount recognized as provisions is the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting year, taking into account the corresponding risks and uncertainties. When a provision is measured using the estimated cash flow to settle the present obligation, the carrying amount represents the present value of such cash flow. This present value is obtained by applying a pre-tax discount rate that reflects market conditions, the time value of money and the specific risks of the obligation.

 

The provisions included in liabilities have been recorded to face contingent situations that could result in future payment obligations. To estimate the amount of provisions and the likelihood of an outflow of resources, the opinion of the Company’s legal advisors has been taken into account.

 

 

Note

4.19 |    Balances with related parties

 

Receivables and payables with related parties are recognized at amortized cost in accordance with the terms agreed upon by the parties involved.

 

 

 

Note

5 |    Financial risk management

 

Note 5.1 | Financial risk factors

 

The Company’s activities and the market in which it operates expose the Company to a number of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk, cash flows interest rate risk, fair value interest rate risk and price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.

 

The management of the financial risk is part of the Company’s overall policies, which focus on the unpredictability of the financial markets and seek to minimize potential adverse effects on its financial performance. Financial risks are the risks derived from the financial instruments to which the Company is exposed during or at the end of each year. The Company uses derivative instruments to hedge exposure to certain risks whenever it deems appropriate in accordance with its internal risk management policy.

 

Risk management is controlled by the Finance and Control Department, which identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks. Risk management policies and systems are periodically reviewed so that they can reflect the changes in the market’s conditions and the Company’s activities.

 

This section includes a description of the main risks and uncertainties that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s strategy, performance, results of operations and financial position.

 

a.

Market risks

 

i.

Currency risk

 

Currency risk is the risk of fluctuation in the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company’s exposure to currency risk relates to the collection of its revenue in pesos, in conformity with regulated electricity rates that are not indexed in relation to the US dollar, whereas a significant portion of its existing financial liabilities is denominated in US dollars. Therefore, the Company is exposed to the risk of a loss resulting from a devaluation of the peso. The Company may hedge its currency risk by trying to enter into currency futures. At the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company has not hedged its exposure to the US dollar.

 

 

31

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

If the Company continued to be unable to effectively hedge all or a significant part of its exposure to currency risk, any devaluation of the peso could significantly increase its debt service burden, which, in turn, could have a substantial adverse effect on its financial and cash position (including its ability to repay its Corporate Notes) and the results of its operations. The exchange rates used as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are $ 102.72 and $ 84.15 per USD 1, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s balances in foreign currency are as follow:

 

 

		Currency		Amount in foreign currency		Exchange rate (1)		Total 12.31.21		Total 12.31.20
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Other receivables		USD		1		102.720		103		762
		JPY		-		0.893		-		68
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss		USD		46		102.720		4,725		-
Cash and cash equivalents		USD		12		102.720		1,233		2,159
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS								6,061		2,989
TOTAL ASSETS								6,061		2,989
LIABILITIES
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Borrowings		USD		-		102.720		-		12,465
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES								-		12,465
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade payables		USD		12		102.720		1,233		1,451
Borrowings		USD		100		102.720		10,262		216
Other payables		USD		10		102.720		1,027		1,142
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES								12,522		2,809
TOTAL LIABILITIES								12,522		15,274

 

 

(1)

The exchange rates used are the BNA exchange rates in effect as of December 31, 2021 for US Dollars (USD) and Japanese Yens (JPY).

 

The table below shows the Company’s exposure to currency risk resulting from the financial assets and liabilities denominated in a currency other than the Company’s functional currency.

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Net position
US dollar		(6,461)		(12,353)
Japanese Yen		-		68
Total		(6,461)		(12,285)

 

The Company estimates that a 10% devaluation of the Argentine peso with respect to each foreign currency, with all other variables held constant, would give rise to the following decrease in the loss for the year:

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Net position
US dollar		(646)		(1,235)
Japanese Yen		-		7
Decrease in the results of operations for the year		(646)		(1,228)

 

 

 

 

 

32

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

i.

Price risk

 

The Company’s investments in listed equity instruments are susceptible to market price risk arising from the uncertainties concerning the future value of these instruments. Due to the low significance of the investments in equity instruments in relation to the net asset/liability position, the Company is not significantly exposed to the referred to instruments price risk.

 

Furthermore, the Company is not exposed to commodity price risk.

 

ii.

Interest rate risk

 

It is the risk of fluctuation in the fair value or cash flows of an instrument due to changes in market interest rates. The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is related mainly to the long-term debt obligations.

 

Indebtedness at floating rates exposes the Company to interest rate risk on its cash flows. Indebtedness at fixed rates exposes the Company to interest rate risk on the fair value of its liabilities. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, 100% of the loans were obtained at fixed interest rates. The Company’s policy is to keep the largest percentage of its indebtedness in instruments that accrue interest at fixed rates.

 

The Company analyzes its exposure to interest rate risk in a dynamic manner. Several scenarios are simulated taking into account the positions with respect to refinancing, renewal of current positions, alternative financing and hedging. Based on these scenarios, the Company calculates the impact on profit or loss of a specific change in interest rates. In each simulation, the same interest rate fluctuation is used for all the currencies. Scenarios are only simulated for liabilities that represent the most relevant interest-bearing positions.

 

b.

Credit risk

 

It is the risk of a financial loss as a consequence of a counterparty’s failure to comply with the obligations assumed in a financial instrument or commercial contract. The Company’s exposure to credit risk results from its operating (particularly from its commercial receivables) and financial activities, including deposits in financial entities and other instruments.

 

Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, deposits with banks and financial entities and derivative financial instruments, as well as from credit exposure to customers, including outstanding balances of accounts receivable and committed transactions.

 

With regard to banks and financial entities, only those with high credit quality are accepted.

 

With regard to debtors, if there are no independent credit risk ratings, the Finance Department evaluates the debtors’ credit quality, past experience and other factors.

 

Individual credit limits are set in accordance with the limits set by the Company’s CEO, on the basis of the internal or external ratings approved by the Finance and Control Department.

 

The Company has different procedures in place to reduce energy losses and allow for the collection of the balances owed by its customers. The Operations and Customer Service Departments periodically monitor compliance with the above-mentioned procedures.

 

One of the significant items of delinquent balances is that related to the receivable amounts with Municipalities, in respect of which the Company applies different offsetting mechanisms against municipal taxes it collects in the name and to the order of those government bodies and debt refinancing plans, with the aim of reducing its exposure.

 

 

 

 

33

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

At each year-end, the Company analyzes whether the recording of an impairment is necessary. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, delinquent trade receivables totaled approximately $ 10,409.5 and $ 12,504.4, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the financial statements included allowances for $ 6,006.3 and $ 6,947.9, respectively.

 

The inability to collect the amounts receivable in the future could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and its financial position, which, in turn, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to repay loans, including payment of the Corporate Notes.

 

The balances of the bills for electricity consumption of small-demand (T1), medium-demand (T2) and large-demand (T3) customer categories that remain unpaid seven working days after the bills’ first due dates are considered delinquent trade receivables. Additionally, the amounts included in the Framework Agreement are not considered within delinquent balances of the electricity supplied to low-income areas and shantytowns.

 

The Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk is based on the book value of each financial asset in the financial statements, after deducting the corresponding allowances.

 

c.

Liquidity risk

 

The Company monitors the risk of a deficit in cash flows on a periodical basis. The Finance Department supervises the updated projections of the Company’s liquidity requirements in order to ensure that there is enough cash to meet its operating needs, permanently maintaining sufficient margin for undrawn credit lines so that the Company does not fail to comply with the indebtedness limits or covenants, if applicable, of any line of credit. Such projections give consideration to the Company’s debt financing plans, compliance with covenants, with internal balance sheet financial ratios objectives and, if applicable, with external regulations and legal requirements, such as, restrictions on the use of foreign currency.

 

Cash surpluses held by the Company and the balances in excess of the amounts required to manage working capital are invested in mutual funds and/or time deposits that accrue interest, currency deposits and securities, choosing instruments with appropriate maturities or sufficient liquidity to provide sufficient margin as determined in the aforementioned projections. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s current financial assets at fair value amount to $ 15,450.8 and $ 3,352.3, respectively, which are expected to generate immediate cash inflows to manage the liquidity risk.

 

The table below includes an analysis of the Company’s non-derivative financial liabilities, which have been classified into maturity groupings based on the remaining period between the closing date of the fiscal year and the contractual maturity date. Derivative financial liabilities are included in the analysis if their contractual maturities are essential for an understanding of the timing of the cash flows. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

 

 

		No deadline		Less than 3 months		From 3 months to 1 year		From 1 to 2 years		From 2 to 5 years		Total
As of December 31, 2021
Trade payables and other liabilities		52,926		26,963		7,192		311		12,519		99,911
Borrowings		-		-		10,262		-		-		10,262
Total		52,926		26,963		17,454		311		12,519		110,173
As of December 31, 2020
Trade payables and other liabilities		27,414		30,038		5,829		302		13,362		76,945
Borrowings		-		-		216		12,465		-		12,681
Total		27,414		30,038		6,045		12,767		13,362		89,626

 

 

 

34

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note 5.2 | Concentration risk factors

 

a.      Related to customers

 

The Company’s receivables derive primarily from the sale of electricity.

 

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of sales for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

 

b.     Related to employees who are union members

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s employees are members of unions, Sindicato de Luz y Fuerza de Capital Federal (Electric Light and Power Labor Union of the Federal Capital) and Asociación del Personal Superior de Empresas de Energía (Association of Supervisory Personnel of Energy Companies). These employees labor cost depends on negotiations between the Company and the unions; a sensitive change in employment conditions generates a significant impact on the Company’s labor costs.

 

The collective bargaining agreements entered into in 2020 were in effect until March 2021. Subsequently, in April 2021 a new agreement was signed, and revised in October 2021, which will be in effect until March 2022. At the date of issuance of the financial statements, there is no certainty concerning future collective bargaining agreements.

 

Note 5.3 | Capital risk management

 

The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue operating as a going concern and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

 

Consistent with others in the industry, the Company monitors its capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt is calculated as total liabilities (current and non-current) less cash and cash equivalents. Total capital is calculated as equity as shown in the Statement of Financial Position plus net debt.

 

The gearing ratios at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follow:

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Total liabilities		164,129		129,608
Less: Cash and cash equivalents and Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss		(18,623)		(9,934)
Net debt		145,506		119,674
Total Equity		73,694		94,902
Total capital attributable to owners		219,200		214,576
Gearing ratio		66.38%		55.77%

 

 

Note 5.4 | Regulatory risk factors

 

Pursuant to caption C of Section 37 of the Concession Agreement, the Grantor of the Concession may, without prejudice to other rights to which the Grantor is entitled thereunder, foreclose on the collateral granted by the Company when the cumulative value of the penalties imposed to the Company in the previous one-year period exceeds 20% of its annual billing, net of taxes and fees.

 

 

35

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company’s Management evaluates the development of this indicator on an annual basis. At the date of issuance of these financial statements, there are no events of non-compliance by the Company that could lead to that situation.

 

Note 5.5 | Fair value estimate

 

The Company classifies the measurements of financial instruments at fair value using a fair value hierarchy that reflects the relevance of the variables used to carry out such measurements. The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:

· Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

· Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from the prices).

· Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (i.e. unobservable inputs).

 

The table below shows the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2021 and 2020:

 

		LEVEL 1
At December 31, 2021
Assets
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
Government bonds		8,872
Mutual funds		6,579
Cash and cash equivalents:
Mutual funds		1,349
Total assets		16,800
At December 31, 2020
Assets
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
Government bonds		3,352
Cash and cash equivalents
Mutual funds		4,110
Total assets		7,462

 

The value of the financial instruments traded in active markets is based on the quoted market prices at the Statement of Financial Position date. A market is regarded as active if quoted prices are regularly available from a stock exchange, broker, sector-specific institution or regulatory agency, and those prices represent current and regularly occurring market transactions on an arms’ length basis. The quoted market price used for financial assets held by the Company is the current bid price. These instruments are included in level 1.

 

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in active markets is determined by using valuation techniques. These valuation techniques maximize the use of observable market data, where it is available, and rely as little as possible on specific estimates of the Company. If all the significant variables to establish the fair value of a financial instrument are observable, the instrument is included in level 2. There are no financial instruments that are to be included in level 2.

 

If one or more of the significant variables used to determine fair value are not observable in the market, the financial instrument is included in level 3. There are no financial instruments that are to be included in level 3.

 

 

 

36

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

Note

6 |    Critical accounting estimates and judgments

 

The preparation of the financial statements requires the Company’s Management to make estimates and assessments concerning the future, exercise critical judgments and make assumptions that affect the application of the accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses.

 

These estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based upon past experience and other factors that are reasonable under the existing circumstances. Future actual results may differ from the estimates and assessments made at the date of preparation of these financial statements.

 

The estimates that have a significant risk of causing adjustments to the amounts of assets and liabilities during the next fiscal year are detailed below:

 

a.

Impairment of financial assets

 

The allowance for the impairment of accounts receivable is assessed based on the delinquent balance, which comprises all such debt arising from the bills for electricity consumption of small-demand (T1), medium-demand (T2), and large-demand (T3) customer categories that remain unpaid seven working days after their first due dates. The Company’s Management records an allowance by applying to the delinquent balances of each customer category an uncollectibility rate that is determined according to each customer category, based on the historical comparison of collections made.

 

Additionally, and faced with temporary and/or exceptional situations, the Company’s Management may redefine the amount of the allowance, specifying and supporting the criteria used in all the cases.

 

The Company has performed a review of the financial assets it currently measures and classifies at fair value through profit or loss or at amortized cost and has concluded that they meet the conditions to maintain their classification; consequently, the initial adoption affected neither the classification nor the measurement of the Company’s financial assets.

 

b.

Revenue recognition

 

Revenue is recognized on an accrual basis upon delivery to customers, which includes the estimated amount of unbilled distribution of electricity at the end of each year. The accounting policy for the recognition of estimated revenue is considered critical because it depends on the amount of electricity effectively delivered to customers, which is valued on the basis of applicable tariffs. Unbilled revenue is classified as current trade receivables.

 

c.

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

The Company analyzes the recoverability of its long-lived assets on a periodical basis or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recoverable amount of the long-lived assets, which is measured as the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell at the end of the year, may be impaired.

 

As from the enactment by the PEN of the new measures, mentioned in Notes 1 and 2.b., the projections made by the Company concerning the recoverability of its property, plant and equipment have been updated.

 

The value in use is determined on the basis of projected and discounted cash flows, using discount rates that reflect the time value of money and the specific risks of the assets under consideration.

 

37

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

Cash flows are prepared based on estimates concerning the future performance of certain variables that are sensitive to the determination of the recoverable amount, among which the following can be noted: (i) nature, timing, and modality of the electricity rate increases; (ii) demand for electricity projections; (iii) development of the costs to be incurred; (iv) investment needs in line with the service quality levels required by the regulatory authority, and (v) macroeconomic variables, such as growth rates, inflation rates and foreign currency exchange rates, among others. The other variables have low impact on the calculation and have been estimated by the Company using the best available information.

 

The Company has made its projections under the assumption that in the next few years it will obtain the delayed electricity rates adjustments to which it is entitled in accordance with the applicable regulations, using as a basis a Discount rate (WACC) in dollars of 13.72%, translating it into Argentine pesos for the discount in each of the scenarios presented.

 

However, the Company is not in a position to ensure that the future performance of the assumptions used for making its projections will be in line with that which the control authorities will define, therefore, they could differ significantly from the estimates and assessments made at the date of preparation of these financial statements.

 

In order to consider the estimation risk included in the projections of the aforementioned variables, the Company has taken into consideration three alternative probability-weighted scenarios, which are detailed below:

 

a)

Scenario No. 1: The Company forecasts that the CPD increases will be transferred to tariffs as from January 2023. Furthermore, from February 2023 the CPD adjustments for each period would be transferred to tariffs. Probability of occurrence assigned: 30%.

 

b)

Scenario No. 2: In January 2023, the Company forecasts that a percentage lower than that resulting from the CPD increases set by the RTI and which had not been applied, will be transferred to tariffs. Furthermore, from February 2023 the CPD adjustments for each period would be transferred to tariffs. Probability of occurrence assigned: 60%.

 

c)

Scenario No. 3: In January 2023, the Company forecasts that 50% of the CPD increases set by the RTI and which had not been applied, will be transferred to tariffs. Furthermore, from August 2023 the CPD adjustments for each period would be transferred to tariffs. Probability of occurrence assigned: 10%.

 

The Company has assigned to these three scenarios the previously detailed probability of occurrence percentages based mainly on experience and giving consideration to the current economic and financial situation.

 

After having carried out the analysis of recoverability of long-lived assets, as of the date of these financial statements, the Company has recorded no impairment of property, plant and equipment.

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment of property, plant and equipment for $ 17,396 million ($26,248 at the purchasing power of the currency at December 31, 2021).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

Sensitivity analysis:

 

The main factors that could result in impairment charges or recoveries in future periods are: i) a difference in the nature, timing, and modality of the electricity rate increases and/or recognition of cost adjustments, ii) a distortion in the nature, timing, and modality of the settlement of the debt with CAMMESA and/or in the application of the system for the settlement of debts with the MEM. These factors have been taken into account in the aforementioned weight of scenarios. Due to the uncertainty inherent in these assumptions, the Company estimates that any sensitivity analysis that considers changes in any of them taken individually could lead to significant changes in the determination of the recoverable amount.

 

d.

Current and deferred income tax

 

A degree of judgment is required to determine the income tax provision inasmuch as the Company’s Management has to evaluate, on an ongoing basis, the positions taken in tax returns in respect of situations in which the applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation and, whenever necessary, make provisions based on the amount expected to be paid to the tax authorities. When the final tax outcome of these matters differs from the amounts initially recognized, such differences will impact both the income tax and the deferred tax provisions in the fiscal year in which such determination is made.

 

There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Company recognizes liabilities for eventual tax claims based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due in the future.

 

Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and reduced in accordance with the probability that the sufficient taxable base will be available to allow for the total or partial recovery of these assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted. The realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income in the periods in which these temporary differences become deductible. To make this assessment, the Company’s Management takes into consideration the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, the projected future taxable income, the prevailing rates to be applied in each period, and tax planning strategies.

 

e.

Benefit plans

 

The liability recognized by the Company is the best estimate of the present value of the cash flows representing the benefit plan obligation at the closing date of the year together with the adjustments for past service costs and actuarial losses. Cash flows are discounted using a rate that contemplates actuarial assumptions about demographic and financial conditions that affect the determination of benefit plans. Such estimate is based on actuarial calculations made by independent professionals in accordance with the projected unit credit method.

 

f.

ENRE penalties and discounts

 

The Company considers its applicable accounting policy for the recognition of ENRE penalties and discounts critical because it depends on penalizable events that are valued on the basis of the Management´s best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the date of these financial statements. The balances of ENRE penalties and discounts are adjusted in accordance with the regulatory framework applicable thereto and have been estimated based on that which has been described in Note 2.g).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

g.

Contingencies and provisions for lawsuits

 

The Company is a party to several complaints, lawsuits and other legal proceedings, including customer claims, in which a third party is seeking payment for alleged damages, reimbursement for losses or compensation. The Company’s potential liability with respect to such claims, lawsuits and legal proceedings may not be accurately estimated. The Company’s Management, with the assistance of its legal advisors, periodically analyzes the status of each significant matter and evaluates the Company’s potential financial exposure. If the loss deriving from a complaint or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, a provision is recorded.

 

Provisions for contingent losses represent a reasonable estimate of the losses that will be incurred, based on the information available to Management at the date of the financial statements preparation, taking into account the Company’s litigation and settlement strategies. These estimates are mainly made by the Company’s Management. However, if the Management’s estimates proved wrong, the current provisions could be inadequate and result in a charge to profits that could have a material effect on the Statements of Financial Position, Comprehensive Income (Loss), Changes in Equity and Cash Flows.

 

 

 

 

Note

7 |    Interest in joint ventures

 

Percentage interest held			Equity attributable to the owners
in capital stock and votes			12.31.21	12.31.20
SACME	50.00%		14	17

 

 

 

Note

8 |    Contingencies and lawsuits

 

The Company has contingent liabilities and is a party to lawsuits that arise from the ordinary course of business. The Company’s Management estimates that the outcome of the current contingencies and lawsuits will not result in amounts that either exceed those of the recorded provisions or could be significant with respect to the Company’s financial position or the results of its operations.

 

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that there exist contingent obligations and labor, civil and commercial complaints filed against the Company related to legal actions for individual non-significant amounts, which as of December 31, 2021 total $ 4,518, for which a provision has been recorded.

 

We detail below the nature of the significant judicial processes in relation to which, as of December 31, 2021, the Company believes, based on the opinion of its in-house and external legal advisors, there exist grounds for them not to be deemed probable.

 

- Federal Administration of Public Revenues (“AFIP”) – Difference in contribution rate to the Single Social Security System (“SUSS”) (executive order 814/2001) for the 12/2011- 11/2019 fiscal periods

 

On July 6, 2021, the Company filed an appeal to the Federal Social Security Court of Appeals against AFIP Resolution No. 1740/2021 that dismissed the presentation made by edenor in relation to the assessment of a debt in connection with contributions to Argentina’s Integrated Social Security System, relating to the January 2017-June 2019 period, for differences detected due to the use of the rate set forth in Section 2 Sub-section B) 2001 (17%), when the applicable rate, according to the AFIP, is that mentioned in Section 2 Sub-section A) (21%), of Executive Order No. 814.

 

40

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

Additionally, on April 8, 2021, the Company was notified by the AFIP of a new resolution pursuant to which a debt had been assessed for the same concept, relating to the July 2019-November 2019 period. The resolution was challenged by the Company on September 23, 2021.

 

This new notification follows the one received on July 12, 2018 relating to the December 2011-December 2016 period, and has been appealed to the Federal Social Security Court of Appeals.

 

The Company’s Management believes that the application of the 17% rate is correct. In this regard, in accordance with the analysis performed, it is reasonable that “minority government-owned corporations (sociedades anónimas con simple participación estatal) governed by Law No. 19,550” be understood to mean all those corporations (sociedades anónimas) in which the government has a minority stake, whatever the reason why such stake has been acquired. Therefore, included therein are the shareholdings that the National Social Security Administration (“ANSES”) has in certain corporations, among which the Company is included.

 

The Company filed appeals to the Federal Social Security Court of Appeals, on July 6, 2021 and September 13, 2021, against the first two resolutions, relating to the 01/2017-06/2019 and 11/2011-12/2016 periods, respectively, as the administrative remedies available in relation thereto have been exhausted.

 

Under such conditions and in connection with the aforementioned AFIP’s assessment, in the Company’s opinion, there exist sufficient and solid arguments to make its position prevail at the judicial stage. Consequently, no liabilities whatsoever have been recorded by the Company for this matter as of December 31, 2021.

 

- National Regulatory Authority for the Distribution of Electricity, Proceeding for the Determination of a Claim” (case file No. 16/2020)

 

On May 4, 2021, the Company was served notice of a complaint filed by the ENRE in connection with edenor‘s compliance with captions 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 of the “Agreement on the Renegotiation of the Concession Agreement” for differences arising from the date of payment of certain penalties included therein.

 

At the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company has answered the complaint, with the case being currently in process.

 

The Company believes that it has sufficient authority under the Agreement on the Renegotiation of the Concession Agreement to support the payment made under such conditions and considers it to be in compliance with the law, to have an extinguishing effect and to have implied no damage to the users. In this regard, the Company believe that there exist sufficient and solid arguments to make its position prevail at the judicial stage; therefore, no liabilities whatsoever for this concept have been recorded as of December 31, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

-

AFIP’s Income Tax claim, Undocumented outflows and VAT

 

On July 2, 2020, and at the request of the Court hearing a criminal case, the AFIP initiated the sua sponte assessment process of tax debt for possible apocryphal invoices issued by the suppliers in question, as they are considered to be “usinas mixtas” (companies used as real and fake invoice plants).

In this regard, on May 17, 2021 the AFIP notified the Company of three resolutions, whereby the tax authorities resolved:

i)                 To object to the Company’s transactions with two suppliers, and thereby to the related tax credit for the January 2017-December 2018 monthly tax periods;

ii)                That the Company would have deducted from its tax balance sheets for the 2017 and 2018 tax periods unfounded expenses and/or costs related to the transactions presumably carried out with the suppliers in question;

iii)              To object to the transactions with both suppliers and the destination of the funds earmarked for the settlement thereof;

iv)

To initiate investigative proceedings for the 2017 and 2018 periods in respect of:

a.

Income tax;

b.

Value Added Tax;

c.

Undocumented outflows.

 

On July 6, 2021, the Company answered the notice, with respect to the income tax, undocumented outflows and value added tax concepts for the 2017 and 2018 tax periods, answering to the charges and filing a motion for nullity on the AFIP’s tax claim, stating the legal foundations and submitting the relevant documentary evidence.

Additionally, in response to the Tax Authorities’ subsequent orders aimed at obtaining further evidence, the duly submitted information was supplemented with more details, in the two presentations dated September 23 and October 14, 2021.

On November 17, 2021, the Company was served notice of three resolutions from the AFIP with the respective sua sponte assessments of the three taxes previously mentioned.

The Company believes that the assessments issued by the AFIP are groundless; therefore, on December 10, 2021 an Appeal was filed to the Federal Tax Court against the three rulings. This appeal stays the execution of payment.

 

In the Company’s opinion, there exist sufficient and solid arguments to make its position prevail at the judicial stage. Consequently, no liabilities whatsoever have been recorded by the Company for this matter as of December 31, 2021.

 

 

42

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

9 |    Revenue from sales and energy purchases

 

We provide below a brief description of the main services provided by the Company:

 

Sales of electricity

Small demand segment: Residential use and public lighting (T1)	Relates to the highest demand average recorded over 15 consecutive minutes that is less than 10 kilowatts. In turn, this segment is subdivided into different residential categories based on consumption. This segment also includes a category for public lighting. Users are categorized by the Company according to their consumption.
Medium demand segment: Commercial and industrial customers (T2)	Relates to the highest demand average recorded over 15 consecutive minutes that is equal to or greater than 10 Kilowatts but less than 50 Kilowatts. The Company agrees with the user the supply capacity.
Large demand segment (T3)	Relates to the highest demand average recorded over 15 consecutive minutes that is greater than 50 Kilowatts. In turn, this segment is subdivided into categories according to the supply voltage -low, medium or high-, from voltages of up to 1 Kilovolt to voltages greater than 66 Kilovolts.
Other: (Shantytowns/ Wheeling system)	Revenue is recognized to the extent that a renewal of the Framework Agreement has been formalized for the period in which the service was rendered. In the case of the service related to the Wheeling system, revenue is recognized when the Company allows third parties (generators and large users) to access to the available transmission capacity within its distribution system upon payment of a wheeling fee.

 

 

Other services

Right of use of poles	Revenue is recognized to the extent that the rental value of the right of use of the poles used by the Company’s electricity network has been agreed upon for the benefit of third parties.
Connection and reconnection charges	Relate to revenue accrued for the carrying out of the electricity supply connection of new customers or the reconnection of already existing users.

 

 

43

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Energy purchases

Energy purchase

The Company bills its users the cost of its purchases of energy, which includes charges for purchases of energy and power. The Company purchases electric power at seasonal prices approved by the ENRE. The price of the Company’s electric power represents transmission costs and other regulatory charges.

Energy losses

Energy losses are equivalent to the difference between energy purchased and energy sold. These losses can be classified into technical and non-technical losses. Technical losses represent the energy lost during transmission and distribution within the network as a consequence of the natural heating of the conductors and transformers that carry electricity from power generation plants to users. Non-technical losses represent the remainder of the Company’s energy losses and are mainly due to the illegal use of its services or the theft of energy. Energy losses require that the Company purchase additional energy in order to meet the demand and its Concession Agreement allows it to recover from its users the cost of these purchases up to a loss factor specified in its concession for each rate category. The current loss factor recognized in the tariff by virtue of its concession amounts to approximately 9.1%.

 

 

		12.31.21				12.31.20				12.31.19
		GWh		$		GWh		$		GWh		$
Sales of electricity
Small demand segment: Residential use and public lighting (T1)		12,373		66,852		11,600		86,541		10,768		109,511
Medium demand segment: Commercial and industrial (T2)		1,447		12,150		1,341		15,909		1,549		24,104
Large demand segment (T3)		3,492		28,531		3,210		29,921		3,503		48,203
Other: (Shantytowns/Wheeling system)		4,398		5,192		4,028		4,695		4,154		2,159
Subtotal - Sales of electricity		21,710		112,725		20,179		137,066		19,974		183,977
Other services
Right of use of poles				702				635				582
Connection and reconnection charges				73				81				180
Subtotal - Other services				775				716				762
Total - Revenue				113,500				137,782				184,739

 

 

 

		12.31.21				12.31.20				12.31.19
		GWh		$		GWh		$		GWh		$
Energy purchases (1)		26,373		(69,800)		25,124		(87,408)		24,960		(117,160)

 

 

(1)

As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, includes technical and non-technical energy losses for 4,663 GWh, 4,945 GWh and 4,986 GWh, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

44

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

10 |    Expenses by nature

 

The breakdown of expenses by nature is as follows:

 

Expenses by nature at 12.31.21
Description		Transmission and distribution expenses		Selling expenses		Administrative expenses		Total
Salaries and social security taxes		11,292		1,797		2,553		15,642
Pension plans		545		87		123		755
Communications expenses		260		577		-		837
Allowance for the impairment of trade and other receivables		-		1,962		-		1,962
Supplies consumption		2,264		-		212		2,476
Leases and insurance		-		-		511		511
Security service		507		43		116		666
Fees and remuneration for services		5,832		3,105		2,588		11,525
Public relations and marketing		-		116		-		116
Advertising and sponsorship		-		60		-		60
Reimbursements to personnel		-		-		1		1
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		7,159		1,067		875		9,101
Depreciation of right-of-use asset		46		92		320		458
Directors and Supervisory Committee members’ fees		-		-		35		35
ENRE penalties (1)		1,207		838		-		2,045
Taxes and charges		-		1,751		85		1,836
Other		-		-		28		28
At 12.31.21		29,112		11,495		7,447		48,054

(1)

Includes recovery of technical service quality-related penalties for $ 344.3.

 

The expenses included in the chart above are net of the Company’s own expenses capitalized in property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2021 for $ 2,300.4.

 

 

Expenses by nature at 12.31.20
Description		Transmission and distribution expenses		Selling expenses		Administrative expenses		Total
Salaries and social security taxes		11,703		1,942		3,428		17,073
Pension plans		493		82		145		720
Communications expenses		329		670		1		1,000
Allowance for the impairment of trade and other receivables		-		6,311		-		6,311
Supplies consumption		2,834		-		223		3,057
Leases and insurance		1		1		475		477
Security service		462		49		52		563
Fees and remuneration for services		5,885		3,275		2,320		11,480
Public relations and marketing		-		29		-		29
Advertising and sponsorship		-		15		-		15
Reimbursements to personnel		-		-		1		1
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		7,720		1,148		944		9,812
Depreciation of right-of-use asset		48		97		333		478
Directors and Supervisory Committee members’ fees		-		-		43		43
ENRE penalties (2)		499		550		-		1,049
Taxes and charges		-		2,193		96		2,289
Other		-		-		14		14
At 12.31.20		29,974		16,362		8,075		54,411

 

 

(2)

Includes recovery of technical service quality-related penalties for $ 1,057.4.

 

The expenses included in the chart above are net of the Company’s own expenses capitalized in property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2020 for $ 2,785.3.

 

 

45

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Expenses by nature at 12.31.19
Description		Transmission and distribution expenses		Selling expenses		Administrative expenses		Total
Salaries and social security taxes		13,076		2,149		2,745		17,970
Pension plans		392		65		81		538
Communications expenses		170		760		35		965
Allowance for the impairment of trade and other receivables		-		2,782		-		2,782
Supplies consumption		3,319		-		235		3,554
Leases and insurance		-		-		465		465
Security service		487		88		190		765
Fees and remuneration for services		5,253		3,323		2,800		11,376
Public relations and marketing		-		84		-		84
Advertising and sponsorship		-		44		-		44
Reimbursements to personnel		-		-		2		2
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		7,472		1,114		913		9,499
Depreciation of right-of-use asset		33		68		235		336
Directors and Supervisory Committee members’ fees		-		-		45		45
ENRE penalties		2,962		2,725		-		5,687
Taxes and charges		-		1,897		103		2,000
Other		-		-		32		32
At 12.31.19		33,164		15,099		7,881		56,144

The expenses included in the chart above are net of the Company’s own expenses capitalized in property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2019 for $ 2,313.8.

 

 

Note

11 | Other operating income (expense)

 

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Other operating income
Income from customer surcharges			1,936		2,339		2,364
Commissions on municipal taxes collection			359		338		264
Fines to suppliers			118		-		41
Services provided to third parties			248		363		370
Related parties	35.a		-		65		41
Recovery of provision for contingences	34		-		313		-
Income from non-reimbursable customer contributions			47		40		14
Expense recovery			31		107		336
Construction plan Framework agreement	2.e		2,060		-		-
Other			43		70		137
Total other operating income			4,842		3,635		3,567
Other operating expense
Gratifications for services			(863)		(77)		(395)
Cost for services provided to third parties			(112)		(145)		(199)
Severance paid			(37)		(37)		(44)
Debit and Credit Tax			(1,068)		(1,235)		(1,628)
Provision for contingencies	34		(2,351)		(1,343)		(2,808)
Disposals of property, plant and equipment			(249)		(227)		(130)
Refund of fines to suppliers			-		(195)		-
Other			(207)		(140)		(45)
Total other operating expense			(4,887)		(3,399)		(5,249)

 

 

 

 

 

 

46

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

12 | Net financial costs

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20			12.31.19
Financial income
Financial interest			65		38			113
Other interest	35.a		-		45			5
Total financial income			65		83			118
Financial costs
Commercial interest			(22,232)		(9,031)			(6,139)
Interest and other			(4,688)		(4,783)			(7,704)
Fiscal interest			(4)		(165)			(11)
Bank fees and expenses			(37)		(17)			(35)
Total financial costs			(26,961)		(13,996)			(13,889)
Other financial results
Changes in fair value of financial assets			3,967		1,492			578
Net gain from the cancelattion of Corporate Notes			3		626			939
Exchange differences			(1,602)		(4,458)			(8,561)
Adjustment to present value of receivables			(150)		(195)			(157)
Recovery of provision for credit RDSA	38		580		-			-
Other financial costs (*)			(1,057)		(317)			(35)
Total other financial results			1,741		(2,852)			(7,236)
Total net financial costs			(25,155)		(16,765)			(21,007)

 

(*)

As of December 31, 2021, includes $ 911 relating to EDELCOS S.A.’s technical assistance (Note 35).

 

 

 

Note

13 | Basic and diluted (loss) income per share

 

Basic

 

The basic (loss) income per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to the holders of the Company’s equity instruments by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, excluding common shares purchased by the Company and held as treasury shares.

 

The basic (loss) income per share coincides with the diluted (loss) income per share, inasmuch as the Company has issued neither preferred shares nor Corporate Notes convertible into common shares.

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
(Loss) Income for the year attributable to the owners of the Company		(21,344)		(26,704)		24,913
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		875		875		875
Basic and diluted (loss) income per share – in pesos		(24.39)		(30.52)		28.47

 

 

 

 

47

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

14 | Property, plant and equipment

 

 

		Lands and buildings		Substations		High, medium and low voltage lines		Meters and Transformer chambers and platforms		Tools, Furniture, vehicles, equipment, communications and advances to suppliers		Construction in process		Supplies and spare parts		Total
At 12.31.20
Cost		5,498		47,483		120,974		52,866		9,461		42,313		485		279,080
Accumulated depreciation		(1,079)		(15,890)		(46,771)		(20,668)		(6,194)		-		-		(90,602)
Net amount		4,419		31,593		74,203		32,198		3,267		42,313		485		188,478
Additions		51		316		229		452		1,488		12,277		1,433		16,246
Disposals		(6)		-		(32)		(210)		(1)		-		-		(249)
Transfers		135		3,180		5,929		2,165		1,001		(10,972)		(1,438)		-
Depreciation for the year		(129)		(1,731)		(4,197)		(2,122)		(922)		-		-		(9,101)
Net amount 12.31.21		4,470		33,358		76,132		32,483		4,833		43,618		480		195,374
At 12.31.21
Cost		5,679		50,979		126,941		55,163		11,929		43,618		480		294,789
Accumulated depreciation		(1,209)		(17,621)		(50,809)		(22,680)		(7,096)		-		-		(99,415)
Net amount		4,470		33,358		76,132		32,483		4,833		43,618		480		195,374

 

 

 

·     During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company capitalized as direct own costs $ 2,300.4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

48

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

		Lands and buildings		Substations		High, medium and low voltage lines		Meters and Transformer chambers and platforms		Tools, Furniture, vehicles, equipment, communications and advances to suppliers		Construction in process		Supplies and spare parts		Total
At 12.31.19
Cost		4,913		45,261		128,855		54,901		8,216		46,427		499		289,072
Accumulated depreciation		(940)		(14,094)		(42,379)		(18,397)		(5,201)		-		-		(81,011)
Net amount		3,973		31,167		86,476		36,504		3,015		46,427		499		208,061
Additions		62		1,918		217		442		1,092		12,842		131		16,704
Disposals		-		(3)		(78)		(146)		-		-		-		(227)
Transfers		524		6,318		6,259		3,848		152		(16,956)		(145)		-
Depreciation for the year		(140)		(1,799)		(4,556)		(2,325)		(992)		-		-		(9,812)
Impairment		-		(6,008)		(14,115)		(6,125)		-		-		-		(26,248)
Net amount 12.31.20		4,419		31,593		74,203		32,198		3,267		42,313		485		188,478
At 12.31.20
Cost		5,498		47,483		120,974		52,866		9,461		42,313		485		279,080
Accumulated depreciation		(1,079)		(15,890)		(46,771)		(20,668)		(6,194)		-		-		(90,602)
Net amount		4,419		31,593		74,203		32,198		3,267		42,313		485		188,478

 

 

·

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company capitalized as direct own costs $ 2,785.3.

·

Includes $ 2,197.7 in additions, related to a 500/220 Kw - 800 MVA transformer bank in General Rodriguez transformer station (section 8, item 8.2 of the agreement entered into by the Company, the BICE bank and CAMMESA on April 24, 2014); with a contra-account in Deferred revenue.

 

 

 

 

 

49

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

15 | Financial instruments

 

Note 15.1 | Financial instruments by category

 

 

		Financial assets at amortized cost		Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss		Non-financial assets		Total
As of December 31, 2021
Assets
Trade receivables		17,563		-		-		17,563
Other receivables		2,117		-		23		2,140
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and Banks		1,518		-		-		1,518
Time deposits		305		-		-		305
Mutual funds		-		1,349		-		1,349
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
Government bonds		-		8,872		-		8,872
Mutual funds		-		6,579		-		6,579
Financial assets at amortized cost:
Government bonds		243		-		-		243
Total		21,746		16,800		23		38,569
As of December 31, 2020
Assets
Trade receivables		21,352		-		-		21,352
Other receivables		592		-		492		1,084
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and Banks		2,472		-		-		2,472
Mutual funds		-		4,110		-		4,110
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
Government bonds		-		3,352		-		3,352
Financial assets at fair value
Government bonds		478		-		-		478
Total		24,894		7,462		492		32,848

 

 

		Financial liabilities at amortized cost		Total
As of December 31, 2021
Liabilities
Trade payables		76,837		76,837
Other payables		13,429		13,429
Borrowings		10,262		10,262
Total		100,528		100,528
As of December 31, 2020
Liabilities
Trade payables		50,606		50,606
Other payables		14,009		14,009
Borrowings		12,681		12,681
Total		77,296		77,296

 

 

 

 

Financial instruments categories have been determined based on IFRS 9.

 

 

 

 

 

50

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

The income, expenses, gains and losses resulting from each category of financial instruments are as follow:

 

		Financial assets at amortized cost		Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss		Total
As of December 31, 2021
Interest income		65		-		65
Exchange differences		456		492		948
Changes in fair value of financial assets		-		3,967		3,967
Net gain from the cancelattion of Corporate Notes		3		-		3
Other		580		-		580
Total		1,104		4,459		5,563
As of December 31, 2020
Interest income		83		-		83
Exchange differences		860		874		1,734
Changes in fair value of financial assets		-		1,492		1,492
Net gain from the cancelattion of Corporate Notes		626		-		626
Total		1,569		2,366		3,935

		Financial liabilities at amortized cost		Total
As of December 31, 2021
Interest expense		(26,920)		(26,920)
Exchange differences		(2,550)		(2,550)
Other financial results		(1,057)		(1,057)
Total		(30,527)		(30,527)
As of December 31, 2020
Interest expense		(13,814)		(13,814)
Exchange differences		(6,192)		(6,192)
Other financial results		(317)		(317)
Total		(20,323)		(20,323)

Note 15.2 | Credit quality of financial assets

 

The credit quality of financial assets that are neither past due nor impaired may be assessed based on external credit ratings or historical information:

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Customers with no external credit rating:
Group 1  (i)		12,828		15,748
Group 2 (ii)		1,660		1,304
Group 3 (iii)		3,075		4,300
Total trade receivables		17,563		21,352

 

(i)

Relates to customers with debt to become due.

(ii)

Relates to customers with past due debt from 0 to 3 months.

(iii)

Relates to customers with past due debt from 3 to 12 months.

 

At the Statement of Financial Position date, the maximum exposure to credit risk is the carrying amount of these financial assets.

 

 

 

 

51

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

16 | Right-of-use asset

 

The Company leases commercial offices, two warehouses, the headquarters building (comprised of administrative, commercial and technical offices), the Energy Handling and Transformer Center (two buildings and a plot of land located within the perimeter of Puerto Nuevo and Nuevo Puerto Power Generation Plant) and Las Heras Substation. The Company’s lease contracts have cancelable terms and lease periods of 2 to 3 years.

 

The leases recognized as right-of-use assets in accordance with IFRS 16 are disclosed below:

 

	12.31.21		12.31.20
Right of uses asset by leases	425		344

 

The development of right-of-use assets is as follows:

 

	12.31.21		12.31.20
Balance at beginning of year	344		357
Additions	539		465
Depreciation for the year	(458)		(478)
Balance at end of the year	425		344

 

 

 

Note

17 | Inventories

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Supplies and spare-parts		3,441		2,772
Advance to suppliers		-		51
Total inventories		3,441		2,823

 

 

 

 

52

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

18 | Other receivables

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current:
Credit for Real estate asset	38		-		3,325
Financial credit			5		21
Related parties	35.d		2		5
Allowance for the impairment of other receivables			-		(3,208)
Total non-current			7		143
Current:
Credit for Real estate asset	38		31		55
Construction plan Framework agreement	2.e		294		-
Judicial deposits			85		116
Security deposits			64		58
Prepaid expenses			208		64
Advances to personnel			24		3
Financial credit			14		27
Advances to suppliers			9		110
Tax credits			1,364		492
Related parties	35.d		1		28
Debtors for complementary activities			63		103
Other			5		1
Allowance for the impairment of other receivables			(29)		(116)
Total current			2,133		941

 

 

The value of the Company’s other financial receivables approximates their fair value.

 

The non-current other receivables are measured at amortized cost, which does not differ significantly from their fair value. 

 

The roll forward of the allowance for the impairment of other receivables is as follows:

 

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Balance at beginning of year			3,324		4,501
Increase			3		140
Decrease			(1,771)		-
Result from exposure to inflation			(939)		(1,192)
Recovery			(588)		(125)
Balance at end of the year			29		3,324

 

The aging analysis of these other receivables is as follows:

 

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Without expiry date			151		202
Past due			341		98
Up to 3 months			610		125
From 3 to 6 months			355		478
From 6 to 9 months			338		17
From 9 to 12 months			338		21
More than 12 months			7		143
Total other receivables			2,140		1,084

 

At the Statement of Financial Position date, the maximum exposure to credit risk is the carrying amount of each class of other receivables. 

 

The carrying amount of the Company’s other receivables is denominated in Argentine pesos.

 

 

53

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

19 | Trade receivables

 

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Current:
Sales of electricity – Billed			15,037		18,565
Framework Agreement (1)			-		14
Receivables in litigation			253		452
Allowance for the impairment of trade receivables			(6,006)		(6,948)
Subtotal			9,284		12,083
Sales of electricity – Unbilled			7,894		8,769
PBA & CABA government credit			383		497
Fee payable for the expansion of the transportation and others			2		3
Total current			17,563		21,352

 

(1)

As of December 31, 2020, the Province of Buenos Aires and the Federal Government have a debt with the Company for the consumption of electricity by low-income areas and shantytowns. The indicated amount does not include interest and no revenue for this concept has been recognized by the Company.

 

The value of the Company’s trade receivables approximates their fair value.

 

 

54

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The roll forward of the allowance for the impairment of trade receivables is as follows:

 

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Balance at beginning of the year			6,948		3,176
Increase			1,967		6,296
Decrease			(211)		(928)
Result from exposure to inflation			(2,698)		(1,596)
Balance at end of the year			6,006		6,948

 

The aging analysis of these trade receivables is as follows:

 

 

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Not due			-		14
Past due			4,735		5,604
Up to 3 months			12,828		15,734
Total trade receivables			17,563		21,352

 

At the Statement of Financial Position date, the maximum exposure to credit risk is the carrying amount of each class of trade receivables. 

 

The carrying amount of the Company’s trade receivables is denominated in Argentine pesos. 

 

Sensitivity analysis of the allowance for impairment of trade receivables:

 

- 5% increase in the uncollectibility rate estimate
			12.31.21
Allowance			6,306
Variation			300

 

- 5% decrease in the uncollectibility rate estimate
			12.31.21
Allowance			5,705
Variation			(301)

 

 

 

 

 

Note

20 | Financial assets at amortized cost

 

Schedule of financial assets at amortized cost

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current
Government bonds			-		361
Current
Government bonds			243		117

 

 

 

 

 

 

55

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note

21 | Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

Schedule of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Government bonds			8,872		3,352
Mutual funds			6,579		-
Total Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss			15,451		3,352

 

 

 

Note

22 | Cash and cash equivalents

 

 Schedule of cash and cash equivalents

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Cash and banks		1,518		2,472
Time deposits		305		-
Mutual funds		1,349		4,110
Total cash and cash equivalents		3,172		6,582

 

 

 

Note

23 | Share capital and additional paid-in capital

 

Schedule of share capital and additional paid-in capital 

		Share capital		Additional paid-in capital		Total
Balance at December 31, 2019 and 2020		57,475		760		58,235
Payment of Other reserve constitution - Share-bases compensation plan		-		6		6
Balance at December 31, 2021		57,475		766		58,241

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s share capital amounts to 906,455,100 shares, divided into 462,292,111 common, book-entry Class A shares with a par value of one peso each and the right to one vote per share; 442,210,385 common, book-entry Class B shares with a par value of one peso each and the right to one vote per share; and 1,952,604 common, book-entry Class C shares with a par value of one peso each and the right to one vote per share.

 

Listing of the Company’s shares

 

The Company’s shares are listed on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, forming part of the Merval Index, as well as on the NYSE, where each ADS represents 20 common shares.

 

 

Note

24 | Allocation of profits

 

The restrictions on the distribution of dividends by the Company are those provided for by the Business Organizations Law and the negative covenants established by the Corporate Notes program. As of December 31, 2021, the Company complies with the indebtedness ratio established in such program.

 

If the Company’s Debt Ratio were higher than 3, the negative covenants included in the Corporate Notes program, which establish, among other issues, the Company’s impossibility to make certain payments, such as dividends, would apply.

 

 

56

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Additionally, in accordance with Title IV, Chapter III, section 3.11.c of the CNV, the amounts subject to distribution will be restricted to the amount equivalent to the acquisition cost of the Company’s own shares.

 

 

Note

25 | The Company’s Share-based Compensation Plan

 

In 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors proposed that the treasury shares be used for the implementation of a long-term incentive plan in favor of executive directors, managers or other personnel holding key positions in the Company in an employment relationship with the latter and those who in the future are invited to participate, in accordance with the provisions of section 67 of Law No. 26,831 on Capital Markets. The plan was ratified and approved by the Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 18, 2017.

 

On April 15, 2021, 246,451 treasury shares were awarded, as part of the Share-based Compensation Plan, to executive directors, managers and other personnel holding key executive positions in the Company.

 

The fair value of the previously referred to shares at the award date, amounted to $ 162.3 and has been recorded in the Salaries and social security taxes line item, with a contra account in Equity. The amount recorded in Equity is net of the tax effect.

 

 

 

Note

26 | Trade payables

 

			12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current
Customer guarantees			367		414
Customer contributions			293		372
Total non-current			660		786
Current
Payables for purchase of electricity - CAMMESA			57,618		32,265
Provision for unbilled electricity purchases - CAMMESA			9,480		10,025
Suppliers			8,542		6,880
Advance to customer			468		602
Customer contributions			32		48
Discounts to customers			37		-
Total current			76,177		49,820

 

 

The fair values of non-current customer contributions as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 amount to $ 46.4 and $ 64.6, respectively. The fair values are determined based on estimated discounted cash flows in accordance with a representative market rate for this type of transactions. The applicable fair value category is Level 3.

 

The value of the rest of the financial liabilities included in the Company’s trade payables approximates their fair value.

 

 

57

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

27 | Other payables

 

	Note		12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current
ENRE penalties and discounts			9,373		9,391
Financial Lease Liability  (1)			79		92
Total Non-current			9,452		9,483
Current
ENRE penalties and discounts			3,554		4,265
Related parties	35.d		138		22
Advances for works to be performed			13		20
Financial Lease Liability   (1)			268		217
Other			4		2
Total Current			3,977		4,526

 

 

The value of the Company’s other financial payables approximates their fair value.

 

(1)

The development of the finance lease liability is as follows:

 

 

 

	12.31.21		12.31.20
Balance at beginning of year	309		301
Increase	451		258
Payments	(526)		(382)
Exchange difference	89		96
Interest	128		86
Result from exposure to inlfation	(104)		(50)
Balance at end of the year	347		309

 

 

As of December 31, 2021, future minimum payments with respect to finance leases are those detailed below:

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
2021		-		297
2022		380		74
2023		116		27
2024		6		-
Total future minimum lease payments		502		398

 

 

 

The Company has entered into contracts with certain cable television companies granting them the right to use the network poles. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, future minimum collections with respect to operating assignments of use are those detailed below:

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
2021		-		715
2022		727		712
2023		700		705
2024		2		-
Total future minimum lease collections		1,429		2,132

 

 

 

58

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Note

28 | Deferred revenue

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current
Nonrefundable customer contributions		1,687		2,220
		12.31.21		12.31.20
Current
Nonrefundable customer contributions		44		55

 

  

 

Note

29 | Borrowings

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current
Corporate notes (1)		-		12,465
Current
Corporate notes (1)		10,067		-
Interest from corporate notes		195		216
Total current		10,262		216

 

(1)

Net of debt issuance, repurchase and redemption expenses.

 

 

The fair values of the Company’s non-current borrowings as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 amount approximately to $ 8,982.5 and $ 10,228.5, respectively. Such values were determined on the basis of the estimated market price of the Company’s Corporate Notes at the end of each year. The applicable fair value category is Level 1.

 

The Company’s borrowings are denominated in the following currencies:

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
US dollars		10,262		12,681

 

 

The maturities of the Company’s borrowings and their exposure to interest rates are as follow:

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Fixed rate
Less than 1 year		10,262		216
From 1 to 2 years		-		12,465
Total fixed rate		10,262		12,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The roll forward of the Company’s borrowings during the year was as follows:

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Balance at beginning of the year		12,681		20,246
Payment of borrowings' interests		(895)		(1,385)
Paid from repurchase of Corporate Notes		(17)		(5,731)
Payment of borrowings		-		(1,132)
Gain from repurchase of Corporate Notes		(3)		(626)
Exchange diference and interest accrued		2,769		6,113
Result from exposure to inlfation		(4,273)		(4,804)
Balance at the end of year		10,262		12,681

 

 

Corporate Notes programs

 

The Company has a Corporate Notes program, the relevant information of which is detailed below:

 

Debt issued in United States dollars

 

								USD						$
Corporate Notes		Class		Rate		Year of Maturity		Debt structure at 12.31.20		Debt repurchase		Debt structure at 12.31.21		At 12.31.21
Fixed Rate Par Note		9		9.75		2022		98		-		98		10,067
Total								98		-		98		10,067

 

 

								USD						$
Corporate Notes		Class		Rate		Year of Maturity		Debt structure at 12.31.19		Debt repurchase		Debt structure at 12.31.20		At 12.31.20
Fixed Rate Par Note		9		9.75		2022		137		(39)		98		12,465
Total								137		(39)		98		12,465

 

The main covenants are those detailed below:

 

i.

Negative Covenants

 

The terms and conditions of the Corporate Notes include a number of negative covenants that limit the Company’s actions with regard to, among others, the following:

 

-

Encumbrance or authorization to encumber its property or assets;

-

Incurrence of indebtedness, in certain specified cases;

-

Sale of the Company’s assets related to its main business;

-

Carrying out of transactions with shareholders or related companies;

-

Making certain payments (including, among others, dividends, purchases of edenor’s common shares or payments on subordinated debt).

 

ii.

Suspension of Covenants:

 

Certain negative covenants stipulated in the terms and conditions of the Corporate Notes will be suspended or adapted if:

 

60

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

-

The Company’s long-term debt rating is raised to Investment Grade, or the Company’s Debt Ratio is equal to or lower than 3.

-

If the Company subsequently losses its Investment Grade rating or its Debt Ratio is higher than 3, as applicable, the suspended negative covenants will be once again in effect.

 

At the date of issuance of these financial statements, the previously mentioned ratios have been complied with.

 

Furthermore, on January 28, 2021, the Company paid Class 9 Corporate Notes for a total of USD 224,000 nominal value, equivalent to $ 23, received as collection of receivables. At the date of these financial statements, the Corporate Notes that remain outstanding amount to USD 98.1 million nominal value.

 

Additionally, on July 16, 2021, within the framework of the change of control of the Company (Note 39), and as provided for in article 10.3 of the class 9 Corporate Notes prospectus, which provides that each holder of these instruments will be entitled to require that the Company repurchase all or any part thereof by submitting an Offer due to Change of Control, the Company’s Board of Directors approved and informed the markets of the launching of the consent solicitation for consents of the holders of Corporate Notes due 2022.

 

In this regard, on July 30, 2021, the Company, given the majority support of the holders, obtained approval of the consent solicitation issued on July 16. Thus, edenor maintains the financial terms set forth in the respective Corporate Notes.

 

 

 

Note

30 | Salaries and social security taxes payable

 Schedule of salaries and social security taxes payable

a.

Salaries and social security taxes payable

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current
Early retirements payable		-		37
Seniority-based bonus		398		421
Total non-current		398		458
Current
Salaries payable and provisions		4,159		5,181
Social security payable		332		415
Early retirements payable		24		39
Total current		4,515		5,635

 

The value of the Company’s salaries and social security taxes payable approximates their fair value.

 

b.

Salaries and social security taxes charged to profit or loss

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Salaries		11,262		12,293		12,939
Social security taxes		4,380		4,780		5,031
Total salaries and social security taxes		15,642		17,073		17,970

 

 

 

 

 

61

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Early retirements payable correspond to individual optional agreements. After employees reach a specific age, the Company may offer them this option. The related accrued liability represents future payment obligations, which, as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, amount to $ 23.8 and $ 80.1, respectively.

 

The seniority-based bonus included in collective bargaining agreements in effect consists of a bonus to be granted to personnel with a certain amount of years of service. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related liabilities amount to $ 404.5 and $ 421.1, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the number of employees amounts to 4,668 and 4,776, respectively.

 

 

 

 

Note

31 | Benefit plans

 

The defined benefit plans granted to Company employees consist of a bonus for all the employees who have the necessary years of service and have made the required contributions to retire under ordinary retirement plans.

 

The amounts and conditions vary depending on the collective bargaining agreement and for non-unionized personnel.

 

	12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current	997		1,130
Current	131		127
Total Benefit plans	1,128		1,257

 

The breakdown of the benefit plan obligations as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

 

 

	12.31.21		12.31.20
Benefit payment obligations at beginning of year	1,257		1,181
Current service cost	66		243
Interest cost	689		477
Actuarial losses	(200)		(164)
Result from exposure to inflation for the year	(613)		(459)
Benefits paid to participating employees	(71)		(21)
Benefit payment obligations at end of year	1,128		1,257

 

As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company does not have any assets related to post-retirement benefit plans.

 

The breakdown of the charge recognized in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) is as follows:

 

	12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Cost	66		243		226
Interest	689		477		312
Actuarial results - Other comprehensive results	(200)		(164)		15
Benefit plan charge	555		556		553

 

 

 

 

 

 

62

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The actuarial assumptions used are based on market interest rates for Argentine government bonds, past experience, and the Company Management’s best estimate of future economic conditions. Changes in these assumptions may affect the future cost of benefits and obligations. The main assumptions used are as follow:

 Schedule of actuarial assumptions

	12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Discount rate	5%		5%		5%
Salary increase	1%		1%		1%
Inflation	57%		50%		31%

 

Sensitivity analysis:

 

			12.31.21
Discount Rate: 4%
Obligation			1,234
Variation			106
			9%
Discount Rate: 6%
Obligation			1,038
Variation			(90)
			(8%)
Salary Increase : 0%
Obligation			1,034
Variation			(94)
			(8%)
Salary Increase: 2%
Obligation			1,237
Variation			109
			9%

 

 

The expected payments of benefits are as follow:

 

		In 2022		In 2023		In 2024		In 2025		In 2026		Between 2027 to 2031
At December 31, 2021
Benefit payment obligations		131		23		25		26		5		22

 

 

Estimates based on actuarial techniques imply the use of statistical tools, such as the so-called demographic tables used in the actuarial valuation of the Company’s active personnel.

 

In order to determine the mortality of the Company’s active personnel, the “1971 Group Annuity Mortality” table has been used. In general, a mortality table shows for each age group the probability that a person in any such age group will die before reaching a predetermined age. Male and female mortality tables are elaborated separately inasmuch as men and women’s mortality rates are substantially different.

 

In order to estimate total and permanent disability due to any cause, 80% of the “1985 Pension Disability Study” table has been used.

 

In order to estimate the probability that the Company’s active personnel will leave the Company or stay therein, the “ESA 77” table has been used.

 

Liabilities related to the above-mentioned benefits have been determined taking into consideration all the rights accrued by the beneficiaries of the plans through the closing date of the year ended December 31, 2021.

 

63

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

These benefits do not apply to key management personnel.

 

 

Note

32 | Income tax and deferred tax

 

The breakdown of deferred tax assets and liabilities is as follows:

 

 

	12.31.20		Result from exposure to inflation		Charged to Profit and loss		Charged to Other comprenhen- sive income		12.31.21
Deferred tax assets
Tax loss carryforward	374		(126)		(248)		-		-
Trade receivables and other receivables	2,038		(687)		882		-		2,233
Trade payables and other payables	1,022		(345)		524		-		1,201
Salaries and social security taxes payable	385		(130)		277		-		532
Benefit plans	116		(39)		11		(70)		18
Tax liabilities	29		(10)		6		-		25
Provisions	1,234		(416)		798		-		1,616
Deferred tax asset	5,198		(1,753)		2,250		(70)		5,625
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	(35,283)		11,899		(27,600)		-		(50,984)
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	(450)		152		(84)		-		(382)
Borrowings	(3)		1		1		-		(1)
Tax inflation adjustment	(5,236)		1,766		(226)		-		(3,696)
Deferred tax liability	(40,972)		13,818		(27,909)		-		(55,063)
Net deferred tax liability	(35,774)		12,065		(25,659)		(70)		(49,438)

 

	12.31.19		Result from exposure to inflation		Charged to Profit and loss		Charged to Other comprenhen- sive income		12.31.20
Deferred tax assets
Tax loss carryforward	-		-		374		-		374
Trade receivables and other receivables	1,137		(302)		1,203		-		2,038
Trade payables and other payables	1,236		(327)		113		-		1,022
Salaries and social security taxes payable	232		(60)		213		-		385
Benefit plans	222		(59)		2		(49)		116
Tax liabilities	38		(11)		2		-		29
Provisions	1,382		(367)		219		-		1,234
Deferred tax asset	4,247		(1,126)		2,126		(49)		5,198
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	(40,347)		10,710		(5,646)		-		(35,283)
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	(427)		113		(136)		-		(450)
Borrowings	(8)		3		2		-		(3)
Tax inflation adjustment	(4,658)		1,237		(1,815)		-		(5,236)
Deferred tax liability	(45,440)		12,063		(7,595)		-		(40,972)
Net deferred tax liability	(41,193)		10,937		(5,469)		(49)		(35,774)

 

 

	12.31.21		12.31.20
Deferred tax assets:
To be recover in more than 12 months	5,625		5,198
Deferred tax asset	5,625		5,198
Deferred tax liabilities:
To be recover in more than 12 months	(55,063)		(40,972)
Deferred tax liability	(55,063)		(40,972)
Net deferred tax liability	(49,438)		(35,774)

 

 

 

64

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The breakdown of the income tax expense for the year includes two effects: (i) the current tax for the year payable in accordance with the tax legislation applicable to the Company; (ii) the effect of applying the deferred tax method which recognizes the effect of the temporary differences arising from the valuation of assets and liabilities for accounting and tax purposes.

 

The breakdown of the income tax expense is as follows:

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Deferred tax		(6,345)		4,184		(17,052)
Change in the income tax rate		(7,473)		1,284		1,273
Current tax		(2,042)		-		(5,964)
Difference between provision and tax return		224		(92)		(181)
Income tax expense		(15,636)		5,376		(21,924)

		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
(Loss) Income for the year before taxes		(5,708)		(32,080)		46,847
Applicable tax rate		35%		30%		30%
Result for the year at the tax rate		1,998		9,624		(14,054)
Loss on net monetary position		(3,359)		(2,020)		(3,943)
Adjustment effect on tax inflation		(6,972)		(3,357)		(5,761)
Non-taxable income		(54)		(63)		742
Difference between provision and tax return		224		(92)		(181)
Change in the income tax rate		(7,473)		1,284		1,273
Income tax expense		(15,636)		5,376		(21,924)

 

 

The income tax payable, net of withholdings is detailed below.

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Current
Provision of income tax payable		2,042		-
Tax withholdings		(788)		-
Total current		1,254		-

 

 

Note

33 | Tax liabilities

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Non-current
Current
Provincial, municipal and federal contributions and taxes		131		692
VAT payable		-		1,389
Tax withholdings		228		258
SUSS withholdings		27		16
Municipal taxes		233		350
Total current		619		2,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

65

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Note

34 | Provisions

		Non-current liabilities		Current liabilities
		Contingencies
At 12.31.20		3,668		540
Increases		1,832		519
Decreases		-		(301)
Result from exposure to inflation for the year		(1,519)		(221)
At 12.31.21		3,981		537
At 12.31.19		4,237		439
Increases		1,097		246
Decreases		(158)		(18)
Recovery		(313)		-
Result from exposure to inflation for the year		(1,195)		(127)
At 12.31.20		3,668		540

 

 

 

 

Note

35 | Related-party transactions

 

The following transactions were carried out with related parties:

 

 

a.

Income

 

Company		Concept		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
PESA		Impact study		-		5		-
SACDE		Reimbursement expenses		-		60		41
FIDUS SGR		SGR contribution revenue				45		5
				-		110		46

 

 

b.

Expense

 

Company		Concept		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
EDELCOS S.A.		Technical advisory services on financial matters		(911)		-		-
PESA		Technical advisory services on financial matters		-		(311)		(279)
SACME		Operation and oversight of the electric power transmission system		(317)		(154)		(170)
OSV		Hiring life insurance for staff		-		(41)		(41)
SB&WM Abogados		Legal fees		-		(20)		-
FIDUS		Legal fees		-		(6)		(2)
ABELOVICH, POLANO  & ASOC.		Legal fees		-		(2)		(3)
				(1,228)		(534)		(495)

 

c.

Key Management personnel’s remuneration

 

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20		12.31.19
Salaries		1,518		486		605

 

66

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

The balances with related parties are as follow:

 

d.

Receivables and payables

 

		12.31.21		12.31.20
Other receivables - Non current
SACME		2		5
Other receivables - Current
FIDUS SGR		-		26
SACME		1		2
		1		28
Other payables
Andina PLC		(119)		-
SACME		(19)		(22)
		(138)		(22)

 

 

(*) Balances held and transactions carried out as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, with the companies that comprised the Company’s former controlling economic group (Pampa Energía S.A.) are disclosed for comparative purposes.

The other receivables with related parties are not secured and do not accrue interest. No allowances have been recorded for these concepts in any of the periods covered by these financial statements.

 

According to IAS 24, paragraphs 25 and 26, the Company applies the exemption from the disclosure requirement of transactions with related parties when the counterpart is a governmental agency that has control, joint control or significant influence.

 

The agreements with related parties that were in effect throughout fiscal year 2021 are detailed below:

 

Agreement with SACME

 

In the framework of the regulation of the Argentine electric power sector established by Law No. 24,065 and SEE Resolution No. 61/92, and after the awarding of the CABA and the Greater Buenos Aires distribution areas to edenor and Edesur S.A., the bidding terms and conditions of the privatization provided that both companies were to organize in equal parts SACME to operate the electric power supervision and control center of the transmission and sub-transmission system that feeds the market areas transferred to those companies.

 

The purpose of this company is to manage, supervise and control the operation of both the electric power generation, transmission and sub-transmission system in the CABA and the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and the interconnections with the Argentine Interconnection System, to represent Distribution Companies in the operational management before CAMMESA, and, in general, to carry out the necessary actions for the proper development of its activities.

 

The operating costs borne by the Company in fiscal year 2021 amounted to $ 317.

 

 

67

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Agreement with EDELCOS S.A.

 

The agreement comprises the provision to the Company of technical advisory services especially on financial topics. It expires in December 2026, but may be extended if so agreed by the parties. In consideration of these services, the Company pays EDELCOS S.A. either an annual amount of $ 1,766 or the amount equivalent to 1.75% of the annual gross billing, whichever results in the higher amount, plus the related value added tax. Any of the parties may terminate the agreement at any time by giving 60 days’ notice, without having to comply with any further obligations or paying any indemnification to the other party.

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Company recorded charges for EDELCOS S.A. technical advisory services for a total of $ 911 relating to the services rendered in the second half of 2021.

 

Fidus Sociedad de Garantía Recíproca

 

The Company’s Board of Directors, at its meeting of December 4, 2018, approved the making of a contribution of funds to Fidus SGR for a sum of $ 25, in the capacity as protector partner and with the scope set forth in Law No. 24,467.

 

Furthermore, on December 21, 2020, the contribution made as protector partner was refunded to the Company.

 

 

Note

36 |    Keeping of documentation

 

On August 14, 2014, the CNV issued General Resolution No. 629 which introduced changes to its regulations concerning the keeping and preservation of corporate and accounting books and commercial documentation. In this regard, it is informed that for keeping purposes the Company has sent its workpapers and non-sensitive information, whose periods for retention have not expired, to the warehouses of the firm Iron Mountain Argentina S.A., located at:

 

-

1245 Azara St. – CABA

-

2163 Don Pedro de Mendoza Av. – CABA

-

2482 Amancio Alcorta Av. – CABA

-

Tucumán St. on the corner of El Zonda, Carlos Spegazzini City, Ezeiza, Province of Buenos Aires

 

The detail of the documentation stored outside the Company’s offices for keeping purposes, as well as the documentation referred to in Section 5 sub-section a.3) of Part I of Chapter V of Title II of the Regulations (Technical Rule No. 2,013, as amended) is available at the Company’s registered office.

 

 

Note

37 |    Shareholders’ Meetings

 

The Company Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 27, 2021 resolved, among other issues, the following:

 

-

To approve edenor’s Annual Report and Financial Statements as of December 31, 2020;

-

To allocate the $ 17,698 loss for the year ended December 31, 2020 (at the purchasing power of the currency at December 31, 2021 amounts to $ 26,704) to the partial absorption of the Discretionary reserve, under the terms of section 70, 3rd paragraph, of Business Organizations Law No. 19,550;

-

To approve the actions taken by the Directors and Supervisory Committee members, together with their respective remunerations;

-

To appoint the authorities and the external auditors for the current fiscal year;

 

 

68

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Furthermore, on August 10, 2021 an Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting was held, at which the following issues, among others, were dealt with:

 

-

Consideration of the actions taken by the Directors and Supervisory Committee members that resigned their positions as from June 30, 2021, and their respective remunerations;

-

Consideration of the appointment of Directors and Supervisory Committee members as from June 30, 2021.

 

Finally, and in relation to what was discussed by the Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 28, 2020, in which it was decided to approve the modification of Articles No. 13, 19, 23, 25 and 33 and an ordered text of the Bylaws, ad-referendum of its approval by the ENRE, dated February 23, 2022 through Resolution No. 62/2022, the Regulatory Entity gave its approval.

 

  

Note

38 |    Termination of agreement on real estate asset

 

With regard to the real estate asset to be constructed, acquired by the Company in November 2015, the subsequent termination of the agreement due to RDSA’s default in August 2018 and the respective legal actions brought by the Company against the seller and the insurance company, and with respect to the settlement agreement dated September 30, 2019 that the Company entered into with Aseguradores de Cauciones S.A., the following recent events stand out:

 

-

With regard to the USD 1 million receivable resulting from the agreement with Aseguradora de Cauciones S.A., the Company has received to date the payment of USD 720,000. The remaining balance for USD 280,000 will be collected in accordance with a new payment schedule to be agreed upon between the Company and the insurance company. At the date of these financial statements, such payment schedule is being negotiated.

 

-

With regard to RDSA reorganization proceedings, the Company has filed ancillary proceedings for review of the amount declared inadmissible, relating to the contractually agreed-upon penalty clause. The ancillary proceedings for review have been rejected by the Court, decision which the Company has appealed to the Court of Appeals in Commercial Matters, where it is pending resolution. Due to the pandemic declared by the WHO on March 11, 2020 and the mandatory and preventive social isolation ordered by DNU 297/2020, and the subsequent extensions thereof, the originally set procedural time limits have been extended, with the exclusivity period in order for the reorganization debtor to propose one or more reorganization plans and obtain the consent required by law for the confirmation of the eventual agreement being currently underway.

 

Finally, as a result of the assessment of different alternatives aimed at the recovery of the referred to claim, on January 18, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors accepted the “Offer for the Assignment of the Claim in Litigation” made by Creaurban S.A., whereby edenor assigns and transfers the claim, under the terms of section 1,614 and subsequent sections of the Civil and Commercial Code.

 

By virtue of the assignment, Creaurban S.A. will assume the consequences and results deriving from the Reorganization proceedings, the Claim in Litigation and/or any other action or arrangement deriving from the claim to collect the Claim in Litigation; whereas the Company agrees to immediately give Creaurban S.A., with no deductions whatsoever, any amount or assets received on account of the referred to claim.

 

The assignment of the claim was agreed for a value of: (i) $ 400 million, which was paid by Creaurban S.A. on January 27, 2021; plus (ii) an additional contingent price determined in meters that will be of 30% of the square meters to which the holder of the claim would be entitled if an Internal Rate of Return of at least 15% per annum after taxes were applied to the New Tower Project, after having deducted the New Tower’s development and construction costs and the commitments of the trust and the repayment of the mortgage loan with Banco Patagonia S.A. To be valid, the assignment was subject to the acceptance by Banco Comafi S.A. of an offer under similar terms, condition which was met on January 19, 2021, with the offer of assignment thus becoming accepted by edenor.

 

69

2021 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

As of December 31, 2021, a gain has been recognized on recovery of allowance for $ 580, which is disclosed in Other financial results, resulting from edenor’s acceptance of the aforementioned offer.

 

 

Note

39 |    Change of control

 

On December 28, 2020, Pampa Energía S.A., the holder of 100% of edenor’s Class A shares, representing 51% of edenor‘s share capital, entered into a share purchase and sale agreement, as the seller, with Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A.

 

By virtue of such agreement, Pampa Energía S.A. agreed, subject to certain conditions precedent such as the approval of both its shareholders’ meeting and the ENRE, to sell control of edenor by transferring all the Class A Shares and votes in edenor.

 

In this regard, on February 17, 2021, the Shareholders’ meeting of Pampa Energía approved the referred to transaction.

 

On June 23, 2021, by means of Resolution No. 207/2021, the ENRE authorized Pampa Energía S.A. to transfer all the Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes, to Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. in accordance with the share purchase and sale agreement entered into on December 28, 2020.

 

The transfer of all the Class A shares, representing 51% of the Company’s share capital and votes owned by Pampa Energía S.A., in favor of Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. was completed shortly afterwards on June 30, 2021.

 

Within this context, after the aforementioned transfer, the Class A Directors tendered resignation; therefore, to fill the vacancies, the Company’s Supervisory Committee appointed Messrs. Neil A. Bleasdale (Chairman), Esteban Macek (Vice-Chairman); Nicolás Mallo Huergo, Eduardo Vila, Edgardo Volosin, Federico Zin and Mariano C. Lucero as Directors and Messrs. Hugo Quevedo, Mariano C. Libarona, Daniel O. Seppacuercia, Diego Hernán Pino, Sebastián Álvarez and María Teresa Grieco as Alternate Directors.

 

Finally, as required by the regulations in effect and within the time periods set forth therein, Empresa de Energía del Cono Sur S.A. will announce the launching of a mandatory Public Tender Offer to all the holders of Class B and Class C common shares issued by the Company, including the holders of ADS in respect of the underlying Class B common shares, in accordance with the provisions of General Resolution No. 779/2018 of the National Securities Commission.

 

 

Note

40 |    Events after the reporting year

 

The following are the events that occurred subsequent to December 31, 2021:

 

-

Public Hearing – ENRE Resolution No. 25/2022, see Note 2.b;

-

Seasonal prices - ENRE Resolution No. 41/2022, see Note 2.b;

-

Special system for the settlement of debts – Executive Order No. 88/2022, see Note 2.c.

-

Amendment to the By-laws – ENRE Resolution No. 62/2022, see Note 37.

-

Transition tariff – ENRE Resolution No. 76/2022, see Note 2 paragraphs b and g.

 

 

 

 

 

NEIL BLEASDALE

Chairman

 

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