Aneels to start Light for All inspection in Bahia Jun 6

Brazil's power regulator Aneel will start inspecting the federal government Light for All power supply expansion program in the northeastern state of Bahia where power distributor Coelba operates on June 6, Aneel said in its weekly bulletin. Bahia has by far the largest number of connections to be made under the program, which aims to extend power supply to as many as 12 million families living in poor rural regions of Brazil by 2008. The program is expected to need total investments of 7bn reais (US$2.89bn). Under the program Coelba has to carry out 357,970 new connections, starting with some 20,394 in 2004 and 76,894 in 2005, according to mines and energy ministry information. Total investment in the program in Bahia alone is pegged at 1.9bn reais, divided between Coelba, the state and federal governments through tax breaks and subsidized loans from federal power holding company Eletrobrás. Since the program started on March 31, Coelba has hooked up 21,138 new clients, according to company information. Coelba is controlled by Neoenergia, the holding company of Spanish company Iberdrola's Brazilian assets. Aneel has concluded its inspection program in Minas Gerais state, which has a target of some 176,000 new connections by 2008.