A STF decision (Federal Supreme Court) including tariffs for the use of distribution and transmission systems (TUSD and TUST) in the ICMS calculation basis could cause the energy bill in Rio Grande do Sul to rise approximately 9% from March this year.
This decision could result in losses for consumers who, last year, ended up paying up to 30% in the same rates. This is the assessment of Luiz Alberto Wagner, CEO of HCC Energia Solar.
“The ICMS was only levied on the sale of goods, in this case, electricity. Making the ICMS levied on TUST and TUSD, that is, on the transportation of energy, will increase the calculation basis and will certainly make the energy bill more expensive in Rio Grande do Sul,” explains the executive.
Wagner also adds that, in this case, installing solar panels has been a viable way to save on electricity bills and could be a solution for consumers to deal with the increase that will come in March. “Sustainable, self-generation of electricity could be one of the best alternatives for consumers in Rio Grande do Sul to save on their electricity bills,” he says.
The expectation, according to the executive, is that, although there is a charge for excess energy generation by photovoltaic panels, which are injected into the grid and reused by nearby units, there will be significant advances in the coming years so that the cost of power generation falls.
Renewable energy has grown exponentially throughout the country, especially in Rio Grande do Sul. Data from ANEEL point out that the state has 1,9 GW of installed solar energy capacity, with more than 223 thousand photovoltaic systems installed and more than 295 thousand UCs (Consumer Units) receiving credit.
