Senate approves reduction in electricity tariffs for 5 years

The Senate approved on Thursday (13) PL 1143/21 (Bill 1143/2021) which proposes the reduction of electricity tariffs for five years in Brazil. The proposal authored by Senator Mecias de Jesus (Republicanos-RR) and reported by Senator Zequinha Marinho (PSC-PA), creates a mechanism to reduce electricity tariffs for the consumer through the refund of undue charges.

According to the text, this reduction in the tariff would occur thanks to the reimbursement of taxes collected unduly by electricity distribution companies. The bill is now being analyzed by the Chamber of Deputies. The bill proposes that taxes collected unduly by energy distributors in the past be returned to the consumer in the form of a reduction in the tariff. This collection of resources will be possible thanks to a decision by the STF (Supreme Federal Court).

In this decision, the STF understood that the ICMS (Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services) charged to electricity distributors, and passed on to consumers, should not be part of the calculation basis for Cofins (Contribution for Social Security Financing) and PIS (Social integration program).

Learn more: ANEEL proposes the return of R$50,1 billion in credits to consumers

According to the rapporteur of the matter, Zequinha Marinho, agreements to reimburse these amounts with the state and the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) have been discussed. “The ANEEL has already announced that, as a result of this decision, approximately R$50,1 billion is at stake, considering the entire country, which could provide average discounts of around 3% on the value of invoices issued”, stated Marinho in his opinion.

“In addition, the Agency signaled that it is considering deducting such amounts from future increases in electricity tariffs, which are contractually provided for between the States and the concessionaires”, added the rapporteur.