kirchner proposed a fiscal austerity program in early 2012, including the gradual removal of subsidies. the proposal turned out to be unpopular, and was not implemented. she opted instead to send a bill to congress for the renationalization of ypf, privatized in 1993, blaming the spanish company repsol for the energy trade deficit. the bill was approved by the chamber of deputies by a 207-32 margin. it was criticized as an authoritarian move, as there was no negotiation with repsol. as well, the vaca muerta oil field had been discovered by this time. however, ypf was unable to afford the costs to exploit the oil at the site, and the rights to drill at vaca muerta were sold to the chevron corporation. the costs of energy imports increased the trade deficit and the inflation rate, and power outages became frequent. outages usually took place on the hottest days of the summer season, as the use of air conditioning increased electricity consumption to peak levels.