AES detailed that, of the total amount of the investment, US$35.5 million will be destined for the improvement and expansion of the electric distribution system and US$23.8 million to modernize and integrate more digitalization, technology and automation in its technical operations and commercial management.

AES El Salvador, through its four distribution companies, serves more than 77% of El Salvador's customers through a 19,728-kilometer medium-voltage power grid.

US$ 35.5 million: Improvements and expansion of the distribution network AES informed that through its distribution companies it will allocate US$ 35.5 million to improve and expand its distribution network, thus guaranteeing a reliable, continuous and safe service to its commercial, commercial and industrial customers.

The company stated that the investment includes: maintenance and expansion of lines, renewal of meters, growth in subway networks, execution of service quality projects, replacement of two power transformers in substations serving the departments of San Miguel, Morazan and Usulután; construction of three new substations in San Salvador, San Martin and Apopa; acquisition of diagnostic equipment, as well as rural electrification projects, normalization of lines and connection of new customers.

US$ 23.8 million: Technology, digitalization and automation.

AES's main commitment for 2022 will be to invest US$23.8 million to implement technological innovations in its technical and commercial operations. During this year, AES El Salvador will implement an innovative virtual assistance project on social networks, which consists of providing commercial assistance to its clients from a remote location.

The 2022 investment in the commercial area includes resources for updating and transforming its digital customer service channels and self-management systems in commercial offices. It will also continue to promote electronic billing and implement smart energy metering, which improves the reliability of the reading and facilitates the analysis of consumption data to design energy efficiency plans tailored to users.

In addition, AES will expand its line inspection and maintenance operations with drones and the development of computer tools applied to this technology, which will allow exceeding 4 thousand flights in the year, thus contributing to reduce failures in the electricity supply.

Another of the innovations that the energy company included in its 2022 investment is the implementation of its modernization project in the operational telecommunications network, which will allow real-time monitoring of the condition and performance of substations and equipment in the network, facilitating preventive and corrective maneuvers that guarantee the continuity of service. In addition, the distributors will continue to build low voltage networks in compact mode to guarantee an optimal energy supply to their customers.

Also, on the operational side, AES El Salvador will allocate funds to implement an advanced system of operation management (ADMS). With this cutting-edge technology, the company will increase the speed with which it attends to the network's operational processes to provide world-class service to its users.

Expansion of its electric vehicle fleet

In line with AES Corporation's global strategy to reduce CO2 emissions for the benefit of the environment, the distributors are progressively replacing the combustion vehicles in their light urban fleet with 100% electric cars. By 2022, AES will expand its fleet of electric vehicles and its network of stations at the distributors' technical facilities to a total of 25.

With this investment, AES El Salvador is aligned with AES Corporation's commitment to accelerate the future of energy to positively impact the lives of Salvadorans through a quality electric service that drives the economic, social, and environmental development of the country.