Colombia. The Superintendence of Public Household Services opened an administrative investigation into the companies Interaseo and Aseo Técnico de la Sabana, Atesa, for alleged breaches of the regime for the provision of the public cleaning service in the District of Santa Marta.

At the end of the preliminary investigations initiated on August 19, 2022, the Superservicios formulated a statement of objections against these two companies for alleged irregularities in the assignment that Interaseo made to Atesa, of the contracts of uniform conditions within the framework of Concession Contract 07 of 1993 signed with the Public Services Company of the District of Santa Marta (Essmar); and for alleged irregularities in the provision of the public cleaning service.

In this regard, the superintendent, Dagoberto Quiroga Collazos, said that "The opening of the investigation was formalized taking into account the findings evidenced in the development of the inspection and surveillance visit carried out from August 9 to 11, as well as the statements made by the companies investigated in the development of the preliminary investigation. The Superintendence identified alleged breaches of the regime for the provision of domestic public services defined in Law 142 of 1994, Single Regulatory Decree 1077 of 2015; as well as provisions of the Commission for the Regulation of Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation".

Reasons for investigations
The opening of an investigation against Interaseo is motivated by alleged breaches of conditions indicated by the rules for the provision of the service, including: using waste collection and transport vehicles without the required characteristics, not having reported the completion of activities in the Single Registry of Public Service Providers (RUPS), not having duly informed users of the assignment of the contract of uniform conditions.

In addition, it was evident that the company did not have sufficient reserve collection vehicles and its Emergency and Contingency Plan was not adjusted to the regulations issued by the Ministry of Housing, City and Territory.

In the case of Atesa, a company that began operating on August 1, 2022, the Superservicios also detected alleged breaches of the rules, including: not having the characteristics required for the identification of collection vehicles, nor with a study of costs and rates for the public cleaning service approved by the local tariff entity and published for the knowledge of the community.

Likewise, there was a lack of identification of the company in the uniforms of the operators and in the informative billboards of the work of pruning trees and cutting grass. Likewise, its Emergency and Contingency Plan was not in accordance with the regulations issued by the Ministry of Housing, City and Territory. In addition, it was found that, allegedly, the company did not inform the public of the new frequencies and schedules of the provision of the public cleaning service, and did not have facilities for the attention of petitions, complaints and claims.

The Superservices notified the two companies of the initiation of investigations. Interaseo and Atesa may present defenses, within the framework of due process. "At the end of the administrative investigation, it will be established if a sanction against these two providers is appropriate," said the superintendent.