Associations argue that GD rules should not change until market consolidation

The feeling of disappointment regarding the position of ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) on the update of resolution 482 remains among associations in the DG (distributed generation) sector after a new meeting held this Friday morning (26) with the agency.

Sources informed the Solar Channel that the regulatory body maintained the position adopted in the virtual meeting held on February 19th, where a draft of a proposal similar to the text proposed at the end of 2019 was presented.

Furthermore, they stated that the agency is going beyond its role in the electricity sector and that it is only up to the National Congress to regulate the issue.

Furthermore, they informed that they will encourage dialogue with leaders from the Legislature and the agricultural sector to defend the maintenance of current rules and the formulation of a reasonable legal framework for all players in the electricity sector.

Read too: Associations sign manifesto against GD setback proposed by ANEEL

According to Giancarlo Smith, president of ABS (Bahia Solar Energy Association), the proposal presented by ANEEL at this Friday's meeting fell far short of what the photovoltaic market was expecting. “The proposal continues to be to end GD in Brazil. It was very poorly received and is far from what is needed. She did not even consider the already approved calculations of GD benefits for Brazil. It remains a very bad and unacceptable proposal,” he said.

Already the ABGD (Brazilian Association of Distributed Generation) and the INEL (National Institute of Clean Energy) reported that during this Friday's meeting, they advocated that ANEEL maintain the current rules, starting the transition only when the DG penetration rate reaches 5% of energy injected into the electricity grid - scenario of proposal 0 presented by ANEEL at the end of 2019. 

“We must pay attention to what is happening around the world, improving and improving what already exists in Brazil. Therefore, it makes sense to maintain the current rules, that is, scenario 0, until we reach the DG penetration rate of 5%”, stated Carlos Evangelista, president of ABGD. 

The executive also pointed out that ABGD supports the text proposed by federal deputy Lafayette Andrada, contained in the CBEE (Brazilian Electric Energy Code). “The proposal that integrates the CBEE is the best bill presented to govern the topic and was prepared by a heterogeneous, multidisciplinary and highly specialized group, which considered the electricity sector from all aspects: technical, environmental and social, computing all costs and benefits of distributed generation, remaining aligned with resolution no. 15 of the CNPE (National Energy Policy Council), the highest body for energy policy in Brazil”, highlighted Evangelista. 

The entities' position comes after impasses in the process of reviewing resolution 482, which has already lasted more than two years. The associations assess that, if it is not possible to promote advances in regulation to meet the demands of clean energy producers and society, it is best to leave the rules as they are until the modality is consolidated. 

“We talked to different sectors of the market, especially Agro. They also assess that the moment is for the expansion of distributed Generation and for this we will work for the zero scenario or a PL that seeks consensus, like Congressman Lafayette Andrada”, highlighted Heber Galarce, president of INEL.

A ABSOLAR (Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association) stated that he will only officially take a position on GD's legal and regulatory debates when there are clear definitions of rules by the government. 

Furthermore, he informed that he will hold a new meeting with the sector for analysis and contributions next Tuesday (2), at 6:00 pm, to discuss the new proposal presented by ANEEL, collect contributions from participants and debate the progress of the GD legal framework in National Congress.