Edenor SA (EDN) Risk Factors

In the recent past, the Fernández de Kirchner administration increased its direct intervention in the economy, including through the implementation of expropriation and nationalization measures, price controls and exchange controls. Notwithstanding the measures adopted by the Macri administration and its planned liberalization of the economy, we cannot assure you that measures that may be adopted by the current or any future Argentine 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 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 Class B common shares to decline.

Weak, flat or negative economic growth of any of Argentina's major trading partners such as Brazil could adversely affect Argentina's economic growth. Argentina's economy is vulnerable to external shocks. For example, economic slowdowns, especially in Argentina's major trading partners, led to declines in Argentine exports in the last few years. Specifically, fluctuations in the price of the commodities sold by Argentina and a significant revaluation 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 sometimes demonstrate a "contagion" effect in which an entire region or class of investment is disfavored by international investors. The economy of Brazil, Argentina's largest export market and the principal source of imports to Argentina, has experienced heightened negative pressure due to the uncertainties stemming from the ongoing political crisis and extensive corruption investigations. The Brazilian economy contracted by 3.6% during 2016. Although the Brazilian economy slightly expanded by 1% in 2017 and 1.1% in 2018, a deterioration of economic conditions in Brazil may reduce demand for Argentine exports and increase demand for Brazilian imports. In October 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was elected president of Brazil. As a result, political uncertainty has increased in Brazil, in relation to future actions that may be taken by the president, which might include substantial economic reforms and changes in Brazil's foreign policy, as was proposed during Jair Bolsonaro's campaign. A further deterioration of economic conditions in Brazil could reduce the demand for Argentine exports and increase demand for Brazilian imports. There is a possibility that continued uncertainty with respect to Brazil's economic and political conditions or the occurrence of an economic and political crisis in Brazil might result in an impact on the Argentine economy, and in turn, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and result of operations. Financial and securities markets in Argentina are also influenced by economic and market conditions in other markets worldwide. U.S. monetary policy has significant effects on capital inflows and asset price movements in emerging market economies. Increases in U.S. interest rates result in the appreciation of the U.S. dollar and decreases in prices for raw materials, which can adversely affect commodity-dependent emerging economies. Additionally, a slowing of China's GDP growth has led to a reduction in exports to China, which in turn has caused oversupply and price declines in certain commodities. Decreases in exports may have a material adverse effect on Argentina's public finances due, among others, to a loss of tax on exports, and cause an imbalance in the country's exchange market. On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom voted in favor of exiting the European Union. As of the date of this annual report, the actions that the United Kingdom will take to effectively exit from the European Union or the length of such process are uncertain. The results of the United Kingdom's referendum and the initiation of the Brexit process have caused, and are anticipated to continue to cause, volatility in the financial markets, which may in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The United Kingdom was due to leave the EU on March 29, 2019 at 11 pm UK time. However, the period for negotiating a Withdrawal Agreement was extended. Brexit could lead to additional political, legal and economic instability in the European Union and produce a negative impact on the commercial exchange of Argentina with that region. On November 8, 2016, Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States and he assumed office in January 2017. The results of the presidential election have created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries, including with respect to the trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs that could apply to trade between the United States and other nations. Even though President Trump's protectionist measures are not, for the time being, aimed at Argentina, we cannot predict how they will evolve, nor can we predict the effect that the same or any other measure taken by the Trump administration could cause on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets. Furthermore, the ongoing trade tensions between United States and China due to tariffs placed on goods traded between them, may have a potential impact in trade-dependent countries such as Argentina. On October 27, 2017, the regional government of Catalonia declared independence from Spain. In response to this declaration, the Spanish national government rejected the declaration and intervened dissolving the regional parliament and convening new elections to elect new regional authorities. These conflicts in the European Union in general, and in Spain in particular, may have political, regulatory and economic implications on the international markets. During August 2018, an increase in inflation and a sustained deficit in current accounts, as well as the protectionist measures taken by the United States which included the doubling of the tariffs on steel and aluminum from Turkey, caused a collapse of the Turkish lira against the Dollar. Such collapse triggered a wave of sales of assets from emerging markets and the significant drop in the value of shares from emerging markets, generating a contagion effect in international markets and several stock exchanges in the world, including Argentina. Although economic conditions vary from country to country, investors' perceptions of events occurring in other countries have in the past substantially affected, and may continue to substantially affect, capital flows into and investments in securities from issuers in other countries, including Argentina. International investors' reactions to events occurring in one market sometimes demonstrate a "contagion" effect in 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 countries, which in turn may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Argentina could be adversely affected by negative economic or financial developments in other emerging and developed countries, which in turn may have material adverse effect 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.

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 devaluation 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. Although as of the date of this annual report, the Argentine Government completed the process after RTI for distributors and the declaration of emergency expired and was not renewed. We cannot assure you that these recent measures will be sufficient to address the structural problems created for our Company by the economic crisis and in its aftermath. 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.

The Argentine economy has experienced significant volatility in recent decades, characterized by periods of low or negative growth, high levels of inflation and currency devaluation. Sustainable economic growth in Argentina is dependent 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 economy has been volatile since 2011. For example, Argentina's economy grew in 2017, but contracted in 2018. The Argentine economy remains vulnerable, as reflected by the following economic conditions: - according to the revised calculation of 2004 Gross Domestic Product ("GDP") published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos(National Statistics and Census Institute or "INDEC") on June 29, 2016, which forms the basis for the real GDP calculation for every year after 2004, and recent data published by the INDEC in 2019, for the year ended December 31, 2018, Argentina's real GDP decreased by 2.5% compared to the same period in 2017. Argentina's performance has depended to a significant extent on 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;- investment as a percentage of GDP remains low to sustain the growth rate of the past decade;- several protests or strikes took place during 2018, which adversely affects the stability of the political, social and economic environment and may negatively impact the global financial market's confidence in the Argentine economy. We cannot guarantee that these kinds of events will not occur in the future;- energy or natural gas supply may not be sufficient to supply increased industrial activity (thereby limiting industrial development) and consumption;- unemployment and informal employment remain high; 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 adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, or cause the market value of our ADSs and our Class B common shares to decline. In 2018, the Peso experienced a rapid devaluation 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 Peso devaluated by 102.2% against the U.S. dollar during the year ended December 31, 2018 (compared to 17.4% and 21.9% in the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively). As a result of the Peso's increased volatility, the Argentine Government announced several measures to restore market confidence and stabilize its value. Measures implemented by the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina (Banco Central de la República Argentina, the "Central Bank" or "BCRA") include, among others, an increase of short term interest rates and selling foreign currency reserves. The Argentine Government in turn announced that it would accelerate the proposed reduction of the fiscal deficit. Further, on May 8, 2018, the current administration announced that the Argentine Government would initiate negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (the "IMF") with a view to entering into a stand-by credit facility that would give Argentina access to financing by the IMF. On June 20, 2018, the executive board of the IMF approved the terms of the stand-by arrangement (the "SBA"), consisting of a stand-by credit facility for U.S.$50.0 billion, subject to adjustments and compliance with certain political and fiscal performance guidelines by the Argentine Government. On October 26, 2018, a first revision of the SBA concluded with the enlargement of the arrangement for U.S.$5.7 billion. We cannot predict whether the Argentine Government will be able to comply with all terms of the SBA. The ability of the Argentine Government to stabilize the foreign exchange market, restore economic growth and meet the terms of the SBA, is subject to uncertainty. The continued depreciation of the Peso and the failure to meet the terms of the SBA could have a material adverse effect on Argentina's economy and, consequently, our cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. Since October 2018, the Central Bank established an exchange rate band. The band in which the Central Bank would not intervene was initially defined between Ps.34 to U.S.$1.00 to Ps.44 to U.S.$1.00, which is adjusted upwards on a monthly basis. The Central Bank allows the free floating of the currency within this band. These measures implemented by the Central Bank have been complemented with, among others, an increase of short term interest rates and a strict control of the money supply. The intention of the Central Bank is to avoid excessive fluctuations of the exchange rate. The success of these measures is subject to uncertainty and the continued depreciation of the Peso could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that 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, would 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.

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. From 2011 to date, Argentina experienced increases in inflation as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (the "WPI") that reflected the continued growth in the levels of private consumption and economic activity (including exports and public and private sector investment), which applied an upward pressure on the demand for goods and services, evidenced by significantly higher fuel, energy and food prices, among others. The INDEC resumed publication of the WPI for full year since 2016. The Argentine WPI increased by 18.8% in 2017, and 73.5% in 2018 on a year-over-year comparison. According to data published by the INDEC, CPI rates for July, August, September, October, November and December 2018, and January, February and March 2019 were 3.1%, 3.9%, 6.5%, 5.4%, 3.2%, 2.6%, 2.9%, 3.8% and 4.7% respectively. See "-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 previous administration has implemented programs to control inflation and monitor prices for essential goods and services, including the freezing of prices of supermarket products, and through price support arrangements with private sector companies in several industries and markets. 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. Recently, the Macri administration announced the implementation of new price control agreements for different basic goods. A high inflation rate affects Argentina's foreign competitiveness by diluting the effects of the Peso devaluation, 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 Coeficiente de Estabilización de Referencia (Stabilization Coefficient, 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 current administration 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 common shares to decline.

Prior to 2015, the credibility of the CPI, as well as other indices published by the INDEC were called into question. The Fernández de Kirchner administration implemented a new price index on February 13, 2014. Such new price index represented the first national indicator to measure changes in prices of final consumption by households. Unlike the previous price index, which only measured inflation in the urban sprawl of the City of Buenos Aires, the new price index was calculated by measuring prices of goods across the entire urban population of the 24 provinces of Argentina. Although this methodology brought inflation statistics closer to those estimated by private sources, material differences between official inflation data and private estimates remained during 2015. In November 2015, the INDEC suspended the publication of the CPI and the WPI. 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 Macri administration declared a state of administrative emergency for the national statistical system and the INDEC. The INDEC 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 was finalized in June 2016. During the suspension period, the INDEC published CPI figures published by the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of San Luis for reference as an estimated benchmark for national inflation. In June 2016, the INDEC resumed publishing an official inflation rate using a new methodology for calculating the CPI. On September 22, 2016, the INDEC resumed publication of its essential goods and services basket assessment. On July 11, 2017, the INDEC began publishing a national CPI (the "National CPI"). The National CPI is based on a survey conducted by 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, 2018 was 47.6%. 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.