Free energy: electricity bills should not be zero, warns Abradee

Last Saturday (5), the new Social Tariff came into effect, which provides free consumption of 80 kWh/month for families registered in CadÚnico (Single Registry for Social Programs), with a monthly income of up to half the minimum wage per person.

The program should reach 60 million people and includes elderly people and people with disabilities who receive the BPC (Continuous Benefit Payment), indigenous and quilombola families registered with CadÚnico, and those served by isolated systems with generation by solar panels and batteries.

The benefit is provided for in Provisional Measure 1.300/2025, which is still pending analysis by the National Congress to become law. This means that – despite the benefit being in force – deputies and senators can still modify the program.

“We are bringing energy to those who need it most, with dignity and respect. These 80 kWh per month will guarantee the basics for a better quality of life. It is the light that brightens the house, the refrigerator that preserves food, the charged cell phone, the television on so that children can watch cartoons and adults can watch the news or soap operas,” added Alexandre Silveira.

Abradee (Brazilian Association of Electric Energy Distributors) warned that the bill will not be zeroed as some may think. Benefited consumers may still receive bills with residual amounts related to state and municipal taxes and charges that affect the electricity bill.

“Even with the discount of up to 100% on energy, it is important that beneficiaries pay attention to their bill. The electricity bill may still include taxes and charges that are not covered by the benefit, such as ICMS and the public lighting fee. These amounts, although smaller, need to be paid to avoid problems,” says Abradee president Marcos Madureira.

In addition to free electricity for those who consume up to 80 kWh/month, MP 1.300 also provides, starting January 1, 2026, an average discount of 12% on the electricity bill for another 55 million people.

This measure complies with the new Social Discount on Electric Energy, which exempts payment of the CDE (Energy Development Account) on monthly consumption of up to 120 kWh for CadÚnico families with a monthly income between half and one minimum wage per person.

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