TCU used outdated premises in decision on GD, says ABSOLAR

The TCU (Federal Court of Auditors) determination regarding regulatory changes to DG (distributed generation) is based on outdated and partial assumptions about the benefits of the segment for society as a whole. This is what the ABSOLAR (Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association).

According to the association, the TCU's decision was simply to set a 90-day deadline for the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) present an action plan to resolve the SCEE (electric energy compensation system) contained in REN 482 (Normative Resolution No. 482/2012) of the agency.

“There is no requirement from the TCU regarding the end of incentives in the distributed generation compensation system, since the external control body does not have the prerogative to remove from ANEEL the discretion over how regulatory updates will be handled by the agency, nor determine when and how resolution changes should be completed”, explains lawyer Bárbara Rubim, vice president of Distributed Generation at ABSOLAR.

“Furthermore, the TCU’s decision is problematic because it is based on unilateral arguments that do not reflect the current discussions between the National Congress, the regulatory agency and other agents in the sector”, he adds.

A ABSOLAR still highlights that the review of REN 482 is being discussed between the sector, the ANEEL and the National Congress for more than a year. Furthermore, the entity emphasizes the benefits of solar energy that must be incorporated, which contribute to attracting private capital, increasing public revenue, diversifying the electrical matrix, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, generating employment and income, postponement of investments in transmission and distribution of electricity and relief for networks due to the neighborhood effect, among many others.