Agencia de Gobierno Electrónico y Sociedad de la Información y del Conocimiento

26 – Strengthening access to energy information

Brief description of the commitment: Effective communication of the energy sector data will be promoted, guaranteeing access to information through its availability and updates in open formats. The dissemination of content understandable to the entire population will be encouraged, incorporating channels for citizen consultation and feedback, as well as tools that facilitate the interpretation of the available energy information.

Organization leading the commitment: Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining - National Energy Directorate (MIEM).

Responsible for the commitment: Arianna Spinelli, National Director of Energy. Contact: secretaria.dne@miem.gub.uy.

Technician in charge: Noelia Medina. Contact: noelia.medina@miem.gub.uy; Mariana Scala. Contact: mariana.scala@miem.gub.uy .

Actors:

1. Government: Public institutions, in general.

2. Civil Society: Organized civil society, Non-Governmental Organizations, Chambers of Commerce and private sector associations, interested in the process and the information that arises from it.

3. Other actors: The citizenry as a whole, the private sector. Other participating institutions will be incorporated as defined during the implementation process.

Implementation period: September 2025 – June 2029.

Problem definition

What problem does the commitment intend to address?

There is a perceived low level of knowledge among the population about the functioning and progress of the energy sector, as well as difficulties in accessing information that is already publicly available.

What are the causes of the problem?

Lack of effective public outreach and communication strategies. Scattered, poorly organized, and difficult-to-find information. Limited channels for consultation or citizen participation on energy issues.

Description of the commitment

What has been done so far to solve the problem?

Several initiatives have been developed and are currently in place, such as the Industry, Energy, and Technology Observatory; the energy efficiency platform; the BIEE (Energy Efficiency Indicators Database, developed in collaboration with ECLAC and OLADE); the Energy Balance visualization tool, developed with Agesic; VisualPEB, a monthly energy data visualization tool; and the publication of data series in the open data catalog. However, barriers to access, usability, and visibility of these resources persist.

What solution does it propose?

Information on the energy sector will be systematized in open formats, promoting its accessibility to diverse audiences. Therefore, an Energy Information Link Library will be developed to centralize, organize, and facilitate navigation among official sources.

Additionally, a guide to accessing energy information will be developed in the form of a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, using clear and accessible language. This guide will organize the explanatory content on the published data, facilitating learning and independent research.

Finally, an institutional channel will be enabled to receive inquiries, contributions and feedback from citizens, promoting a process of continuous improvement and active participation in access to quality energy information.

This solution also aims at boosting the open government culture within the institution by establishing clear procedures and assigning specific responsibilities for each stage: from defining commitments, their implementation and monitoring, to ensuring the sustainability of actions beyond the formal period of the Plan. For example, it will define which role will be responsible for keeping published information up to date, ensuring its continuity and relevance over time.

What results do we want to achieve by implementing this commitment?

Improve access to, understanding and the use of energy information by all actors. Promote transparency and accountability in the energy sector. Foster an informed and empowered population on energy issues.

Commitment analysis

How will the commitment promote transparency?

Establishing a feedback channel allows citizens to express their concerns, make suggestions, and request information. This fosters a more transparent relationship between the government and society and compels institutions to actively respond to these interactions.

How will the commitment help foster accountability?

The creation of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide and a digital library of links facilitate understanding of how the energy sector works. This empowers citizens to exercise informed oversight of government actions and policies.

Furthermore, the commitment to review and adapt content and tools based on actors´ input shows a proactive approach by the State toward continuous improvement and adaptation. This reinforces institutional accountability to public expectations.

The periodic publication of reports on the energy transition enables to monitor the commitments made, specifically regarding the electrification of urban transport, generating clear and understandable evidence on the achievement of goals and facilitating evaluation by citizens, academia and oversight organizations.

Taken together, these actions create conditions for effective accountability by increasing transparency, participation, and the capacity for citizen oversight of energy policies.

How will the commitment improve citizen participation in defining, implementing, and monitoring solutions?

These commitments will enhance citizen participation by opening channels for direct dialogue, such as a space for consultations and suggestions, allowing citizens to have influence on the definition and improvement of content within the energy sector. By facilitating access to clear and accessible information, a more informed participation is being proposed. Furthermore, the incorporation of feedback into the updating of tools and publishing of regular progress reports, enables the monitoring of implemented policies. These contributes to a more open, responsive, and collaborative institutional culture.