Almost half of the electricity bill (48,1%) paid by Brazilian consumers is intended for sectoral taxes and charges, according to a study carried out by PwC Brazil in partnership with Instituto Acende Brasil.
Research was prepared based on the tax collection of 45 companies in the national electricity sector, which represent around 70% of the GTD market (generators, transmitters and distributors).
In relation to the previous year, it was identified that the weight of charges and taxes on the electricity bill increased for the Brazilian consumer: from 46% in 2021 to the current 48,1%.
Vandré Pereira, partner at PwC Brasil, explains that the increase in taxes from one year to the next was driven by sectoral charges, which was from 4,8% and what was led by the increase in the CDE (Energy Development Account), whose collection budget is defined by ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency).
The load of federal taxes grew 0,8% in the same period, while the state and municipal levels recorded a drop of 3,4% from 0,1%, respectively.
“The year 2022 could have been a year of celebration for the electricity consumer due to the average reduction in the state ICMS (Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services) on the electricity bill,” he said.
According to the study, the reduction in state and municipal taxes occurred due to the anticipation of the recognition of electrical energy as an essential service, through the Complementary Law No. 194/2022, a factor that would have contributed to a 2,7% reduction in taxes, from 35,6% in 2021 to 32,9% in 2022.
“However, the 4,8% increase in sectoral charges completely nullified this benefit, and also ended up increasing by 2,1% the consolidated burden of taxes and charges that burden both companies and consumers in the electricity sector”, he analyzed. Eduardo Müller Monteiro, executive director of Instituto Acende Brasil.
Higher revenue increases the electricity bill
The study by PwC and Instituto Acende Brasil also identified that the increase in the collection of taxes and sectoral charges collected by the selected companies was R$2,2 billion, rising from R$106,1 billion in 2021 to R$108,3 billion in 2022.
There was a drop in the distribution companies' share of revenue from 73% (2021) to 68% (2022). This variation is due to the following factors:
- Reduction of ICMS, from July 2022, due to Complementary Law nº 194/2022;
- Decrease in the supply tariff in mid-April 2022, when the “Green Flag” came into force instead of the “Water Scarcity Flags”;
- Stagnation in consumption among regulated consumers (from 43.386 MWmed to 42.769 MWmed).
Exclusive
In addition to analyzing the tax burden and sectoral charges collected by 45 companies in the electricity sector, the study by PwC Brasil and Instituto Acende Brasil also analyzed the weight of the following taxes:
- IRPJ (Corporate Income Tax);
- PIS/Pasep (Social Integration Program and Public Servant Asset Formation Program);
- Cofins (Contribution to the Financing of Social Security);
- CSLL (Social Contribution on Net Profit);
- ICMS (Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services);
- ISS (Tax on Services of Any Nature);
- Labor charges (INSS and FGTS).
The behavior of the following charges in the electricity sector was also observed:
- CFURH (Financial Compensation for the Use of Water Resources;
- CDE (Energy Development Account);
- RGR (Global Reversion Reserve);
- TFSEE (Electric Energy Services Inspection Fee);
- ESS (System Service Charges);
- ONS (National Electric System Operator);
- Proinfa (Incentive Program for Alternative Sources of Electricity);
- R&D (Research and Development);
- PEE (Energy Efficiency Program);
- EPE (Energy Research Company);
- FNDCT (National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development).
