Cooperatives open bidding to purchase energy on the free market

A CERIPA (Itaí-Paranapanema-Avaré Rural Electrification Cooperative) and the CERNHE (Electrification and Rural Development Cooperative of the Novo Horizonte Region) will jointly promote a electronic auction for purchasing energy on the free market. The bidding will be held on May 11th.

Those interested in participating in the competition can access the edict and send the documentation by 17pm on May 5th. Qualified bidders will be announced on May 8th.

“The auction will be held in a way that ensures publicity, transparency and equal opportunities for those interested in offering electric energy in accordance with the applicable legislation in Decree 5163 of 30/07/2004, and regulatory standards of the Brazilian electric sector approved by ANEEL”, says the statement.

Free market data

According to hug (Brazilian Association of Energy Traders), the free market grew 19% in the last 12 months, accumulating 4.957 new consumer units in the period ending in January 2023. As a result, the ACL (free contracting environment) now totals 31.686 consumer units, grouped into 11.149 consumers. Each unit is equivalent to an energy meter.

The 31.686 consumer units that are on the free market correspond to just 0,03% of the 89 million energy consumer units registered in Brazil. They are large industrial and service consumers, who can choose the supplier and seek lower prices for the purchase of electricity.

In February 2023, the cost of energy was R$279/MWh in the regulated market and R$106/MWh in the free market, a difference of 62%. “This is a gigantic benefit that only a small portion of energy consumers can enjoy due to the lack of legislative and regulatory decisions,” said Rodrigo Ferreira, executive president of Abraceel.

“The expectation is that, this year, the decisions will be favorable to all energy consumers, allowing them to migrate to the free energy market, if they so wish,” he concluded.