Electricity bills have already had three consecutive increases in 2021

The shortage of the main Brazilian reservoirs amid the water crisis caused three consecutive increases in the electricity bill this year. This is what a survey of Canal Solar points out, based on reports published by ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency).

In January, when the flag in force in the country was yellow, the extra energy charge was R$ 1.34 for every 100 kWh consumed.

The value remained stagnant until April 30, when the first adjustment was announced, with the activation of the red flag, at level 1, at a cost of R$ 4.16 for every 100 kWh.

About a month later, on May 28, came the second adjustment to invoices across the country, with the tariff flag changing levels: going from red 1 to red 2, the most expensive of all. The new value, therefore, rose to R$ 6.24 for every 100 kWh consumed. The third and final adjustment took place on June 29, with the announcement of an increase of 52% in relation to the value that had been charged previously.

The announcement was made by ANEEL days after the entity approved the resolution that established a new table for the value of flags. As a result, the price went from R$ 6.24 to R$ 9.49.

Less than a month ago, the Agency opened a public consultation to decide whether the red flag rate, at level 2, in August, would remain at R$ 9.49 or whether it would be increased to R$ 11.5 for every 100 kWh, precisely, due to the current water crisis, which is the worst in the last 91 years. At the time, despite the discussion, the entity decided not to increase the tariff for the fourth time in the year.

Inflation

Official inflation in the country, measured by the IPCA (Extended National Consumer Price Index), rose 0.98% in July, recording the highest result for the month since 2002, when it was 1.19%. In total, the indicator now accumulates an increase of 4.76% since the beginning of the year and 8.99% in the last 12 months, according to data from IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). Of the nine groups of products and services surveyed, eight increased in July.

The biggest variation (3.10%) and the biggest impact came from the housing group, due to the rise in electricity (7.88%), which accelerated by 1.95% compared to the previous month. The only group that recorded a drop was health and personal care (-0.65%), influenced by the 1.36% reduction in health plan prices.

Solar energy

With the country cornered by the red flag, increasing inflation and an increasingly high electricity bill, energy sector professionals warn that it is necessary to diversify the national energy matrix as quickly as possible.

Ronaldo Koloszuk, president of the Board of Directors of ABSOLAR (Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association) and commercial director of Solar Group, for example, defends own generation of solar energy as a fundamental factor in improving the economy and eliminating the risks of energy rationing. short-term energy in the country.

“It is clear that solar energy is an important part of the solution to this energy crisis we are experiencing. It is a source ten times cheaper than the thermoelectric plants that are being connected all the time, increasing Brazilians' electricity bills and having a harmful impact on the entire economy”, he said.

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In the executive's opinion, the photovoltaic source has also been a fundamental piece in the diversification of electricity supply. He explains, for example, that solar systems on roofs and small plots of land already represent more than 40% of the entire installed power of the Itaipu hydroelectric plant, the second largest in the world.

“To date, with practically no incentives, Brazil already has around 40% from the Itaipu plant in solar energy in distributed generation. It is clear that if there are government incentives, people will invest and this will help reduce the electricity bill of all Brazilians, because fewer red flags and thermoelectric plants will be used, in addition to generating more energy supply”, he stressed.

Tariff flags

Created by ANEEL six years ago, the tariff flag is a system that applies an additional charge to the electricity bill whenever there is an increase in the cost of energy production in the country. The objective is to make the increase pay for the more intense use of thermoelectric plants. The operation is simple: the colors green, yellow or red (at levels 1 and 2) indicate whether the energy will cost more or less depending on the generation conditions. 

When production at hydroelectric plants is favorable, the green flag is activated, without tariff increases. In bad conditions, the yellow, red 1 or red 2 flags may be activated.

It is worth remembering that the values of the tariff flags are updated every year and consider as a base calculation parameters such as market estimates, inflation, projected volume of hydroelectric plants, history of operation of the SIN (National Interconnected System), in addition to the values and limits of the PLD (Difference Settlement Price).