Brazil’s government threatens to intervene in electric power watchdog

Brazil’s mines and energy (MME) minister Alexandre Silveira has threatened to intervene in electric power watchdog Aneel to speed up the regulation of government proposals. 

“The persistence of this state of affairs will impel this ministry to intervene, adopting measures to ascertain the situation of prolonged inertia on the part of the board of directors in dealing with the delays that have regrettably characterized the current situation,” says a letter sent to Aneel head Sandoval Feitosa.

The letter can be seen in the Documents box in the top-right corner of the screen. It was obtained by BNamericas after the information was published by the EPBR news agency.

Silveira cites four issues that, in his view, could be considered by the Aneel board. 

These include the approval of new governance and configuration of irregularities in the operation of the electric energy trading chamber CCEE and the disclosure of the power rate impact perceived by consumers after the negotiation of receivables from the privatization of Eletrobras, provided for in provisional measure (MP) 1,212.

The minister also expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in publishing the drafts of the reserve energy contracts (CER), a measure provided for in MP 1.232, which authorizes intervention in Amazonas state energy distributor Amazonas Energia. 

Another issue that still needs to be regulated, according to the letter, is the policy of sharing street lamp posts between electricity distribution companies and telecommunications providers.

Aneel’s press office told BNamericas that it will answer Silveira’s letter within the five-day deadline established by the minister.