TCU sees risk of “expressive” energy readjustment

TCU sees risk of “expressive” energy readjustment

Although it prevents a “tariff” in the short term, the authorization for another loan to help companies in the electricity sector, added to other expenses, has the risk of causing “significant” increases in electricity bills in the coming years, warns the Court. of Accounts of the Union (TCU) in a report sent to the government.

The agency demands “clarity” and “objectivity” from the government in the conduct of the tariff policy and mentions “deficient previous studies” that do not indicate complete data on the impact of financing on inflation or alternative actions to solve the financial problems of the concessionaires.

In mid-December, the government published a provisional measure that makes room for a new bailout to the electricity sector in order to avoid a “tariff” on electricity bills now in 2022, the year of elections.

The loan will be used to fund emergency measures to avoid power supply failures due to shortages in hydroelectric power plant reservoirs – and must be repaid in subsequent years.

The exact amounts of the loan were not detailed, nor the payment term, but the forecast is that the operation will be around R$ 15 billion.

“Somehow, an accumulation of tariff increases is starting to form as a result of previous tariff processes, Covid-19 and decisions taken during the hydro-energy crisis”, says the report.

“There is a risk that the consumer, in the coming years, will be subject to significant tariff increases, due to the cumulative effects of decisions taken in the past, such as payment of the Covid-Account and this new credit operation, associated with regular tariff readjustments/revisions. .”

For the Court’s technicians, the option for the loan, if adopted, should be based on “structured studies, evidence and analysis so that the alternatives can be judged objectively, thus making it possible to verify whether the policy adopted represented the most effective alternative”. advantageous to deal with the problem, in the face of alternative solutions”.

It is the fourth time that the government resorts to financial operations to contain high readjustments in electricity bills or to help distribution companies.

The last one was in 2020, when the loan was authorized to minimize the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on the sector – this operation is already being paid for through additional transfers to electricity bills.

Reference: CNN Brasil