Colombia's electricity market, restructured in 1994 through Laws 142 and 143, transitioned from a state-controlled model to a competitive framework with unbundled activities, CREG regulation, and the creation of the Wholesale Energy Market (MEM). While this model has been recognized for ensuring supply reliability and attracting investment, it now faces significant challenges in the energy transition context. Integrating non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), incorporating technologies like storage and smart grids, and addressing tariff equity require substantial regulatory changes to ensure the system’s flexibility, resilience, and sustainability. These challenges are not unique to Colombia; globally, electricity markets have progressively modernized to navigate the energy transition, adapting regulatory and operational frameworks to meet the demands of decarbonization and digitalization. The National Development Plan 2022-2026 (PND), "Colombia: A World Power for Life," identifies the energy transition as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. The plan emphasizes the integration of renewable energy sources, developing resilient and equitable energy systems, and promoting innovative solutions such as energy storage and demand-side management. It underscores the importance of modernizing the electricity sector to support Colombia's decarbonization goals, enhance energy security, and promote regional equity in energy access, which aligns with the global shift towards cleaner and smarter energy systems. In July 2025, Colombia will celebrate 30 years since the implementation of its electricity market. The Government of Colombia (GoC) is advancing several initiatives to modernize the electricity sector and ensure it contributes to the High-Level Outcomes (HLOs) established in the National Development Plan. The HLOs aim to support the country's development priorities in three key areas: (i) promoting equitable territorial development and social inclusion, (ii) fostering a sustainable and inclusive economic transformation, and (iii) strengthening resilience and mitigating climate change. The Government of Colombia (GoC), with the assistance of the World Bank (WB), is advancing key actions for the country’s energy transition through technical assistance (TA) and support for policy and regulatory reforms. In this context, the World Bank has developed an ambitious package of technical assistance framed as a comprehensive roadmap to modernize and adapt the electricity market, grid planning, and system operation for the energy transition. This roadmap is structured around three main pillars: (i) modernizing the rules, procedures, and processes of the electricity market; (ii) enhancing the readiness of the National Interconnected System for the adoption of smart grid technologies; and (iii) advancing transmission expansion planning with a bottom-up, socioeconomic approach. 2 This technical assistance (TA) falls under the first pillar of market modernization and aims to critically evaluate the framework underpinning electricity service provision in Colombia over the past 30 years, focusing on its impact on end-user welfare, affordability and efficiency of delivery, and the evolution of costs across the supply chain. This TA represents the second step in a broader roadmap, supporting an informed analysis of how regulatory and policy actions have influenced consumers, institutions, and private enterprises. It encourages a deeper reflection on the role of electricity service provision in advancing Colombia’s social and economic development.

SELECTION OF CONSULTING FIRMS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Electronic Submissions through WBGeProcure RFx Now

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Assignment Title: Evolution and Challenges of Electricity Service Provision in Colombia: A 30-Year Analysis

Assignment Countries:

• Colombia

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

Colombia's electricity market, restructured in 1994 through Laws 142 and 143, transitioned from astate-controlled model to a competitive framework with unbundled activities, CREG regulation, andthe creation of the Wholesale Energy Market (MEM). While this model has been recognized forensuring supply reliability and attracting investment, it now faces significant challenges in the energytransition context. Integrating non-conventional renewable energy sources (FNCER), incorporatingtechnologies like storage and smart grids, and addressing tariff equity require substantial regulatorychanges to ensure the system’s flexibility, resilience, and sustainability. These challenges are notunique to Colombia; globally, electricity markets have progressively modernized to navigate theenergy transition, adapting regulatory and operational frameworks to meet the demands ofdecarbonization and digitalization.The National Development Plan 2022-2026 (PND), "Colombia: A World Power for Life," identifies theenergy transition as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. The planemphasizes the integration of renewable energy sources, developing resilient and equitable energysystems, and promoting innovative solutions such as energy storage and demand-side management.It underscores the importance of modernizing the electricity sector to support Colombia'sdecarbonization goals, enhance energy security, and promote regional equity in energy access, whichaligns with the global shift towards cleaner and smarter energy systems.In July 2025, Colombia will celebrate 30 years since the implementation of its electricity market. TheGovernment of Colombia (GoC) is advancing several initiatives to modernize the electricity sector andensure it contributes to the High-Level Outcomes (HLOs) established in the National DevelopmentPlan. The HLOs aim to support the country's development priorities in three key areas: (i) promotingequitable territorial development and social inclusion, (ii) fostering a sustainable and inclusiveeconomic transformation, and (iii) strengthening resilience and mitigating climate change.The Government of Colombia (GoC), with the assistance of the World Bank (WB), is advancing keyactions for the country’s energy transition through technical assistance (TA) and support for policyand regulatory reforms. In this context, the World Bank has developed an ambitious package oftechnical assistance framed as a comprehensive roadmap to modernize and adapt the electricitymarket, grid planning, and system operation for the energy transition. This roadmap is structuredaround three main pillars: (i) modernizing the rules, procedures, and processes of the electricitymarket; (ii) enhancing the readiness of the National Interconnected System for the adoption of smartgrid technologies; and (iii) advancing transmission expansion planning with a bottom-up, socioeconomic approach.2This technical assistance (TA) falls under the first pillar of market modernization and aims to criticallyevaluate the framework underpinning electricity service provision in Colombia over the past 30 years,focusing on its impact on end-user welfare, affordability and efficiency of delivery, and the evolutionof costs across the supply chain. This TA represents the second step in a broader roadmap, supportingan informed analysis of how regulatory and policy actions have influenced consumers, institutions,and private enterprises. It encourages a deeper reflection on the role of electricity service provisionin advancing Colombia’s social and economic development.

FUNDING SOURCE

The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following:

• BB: Bank Budget
• TF0C6809: SFLAC

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility restrictions apply:

• [Please type list of restrictions]

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The World Bank Group invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications unless otherwise stated in the solicitation documents. Where a group of firms associate to submit an EOI, they must indicate which is the lead firm. If shortlisted, the firm identified in the EOI as the lead firm will be invited to the request for proposal (RFP) phase.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through WBGeProcure RFx Now

NOTES

Following this invitation for EOI, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

Only those firms which have been shortlisted will be invited to participate in the RFP phase. No notification or debrief will be provided to firms which have not been shortlisted.

If you encounter technical difficulties while uploading documents, please send an e-mail to the Help Desk at corporateprocurement@worldbank.org prior to the submission deadline.