O ONS (National Electric System Operator) announced the suspension of the RVD (Voluntary Demand Response) program, which encouraged the reduction of electricity consumption through the payment of financial compensation to companies that were willing to reduce spending.
According to the statement, the decision was motivated by the improvement in the country's hydroenergy conditions, which guarantee energy supply in 2021. But the program could come back into force next year, if necessary.
“The measure, however, does not exclude the possibility of resuming actions in 2022, if the need for additional resources to meet the demand for electricity in the country is identified,” says the report.
The program
Voluntary Demand Response was launched during the period of the water crisis, the worst in the last 91 years, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The program aimed to reduce the energy expenditure of large consumers or, at least, shift the production hours of companies and industries, thus avoiding periods of greatest demand.
“The ONS also reinforces that the RVD process generated relevant learning for the use and regulation of Demand Response in the country and highlights that it keeps communication channels open to monitor the conditions of service to the National Interconnected System (SIN) and that will inform the reopening of the offering platforms in a timely manner, if necessary”, concludes the statement.
