In this paper we analyze energy efficiency promoting mechanisms used in Argentina in the 2001-2010 period in the electricity sector and their results. We particularly concentrate in analyzing the evolution of tariffs, sectorial consumption and the results of recent energy efficiency programs. We find that, as long as security of supply constitutes a key problem for the country, and as the governments decided to remain energy prices frozen and diverging from their real costs, the results of the program have not been the desired ones. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.