University of São Paulo: Green flag can represent a reduction of up to 20% in the energy tariff

The federal government informed that the green flag will come into effect in the electricity tariff. Since last year, Brazilians have been subject to the water scarcity tariff flag, which makes energy more expensive. Professor Pedro Luiz Côrtes, from the School of Communications and Arts and the Institute of Energy and Environment, both at USP, tells Jornal da USP no Ar 1st edition that this change could mean a 15% to 20% reduction in the rate .

Côrtes recalls, however, that this impact will be felt from June onwards, since, in mid-April, the shortage tariff came into force. In the professor’s assessment, the situation of the reservoirs allows for this change. “What causes concern is that the government has warned that it intends to keep this flag until the end of the year.” The prognosis for the South of the country is negative, mainly due to the La Niña phenomenon, which causes drought in the region. “Today we are able to maintain this flag, but I don’t know if over the next few months we will be able to”, he warns.

lower rate
The scarcity flag is mainly adopted to cover the costs of using thermoelectric plants. The government also granted other benefits to companies in the sector, such as a loan of more than R$10 billion. According to Côrtes, the reduction in the tariff could be smaller, so that this bill would be paid little by little. “The situation may improve this year, but that does not mean that in terms of electricity we will have a cooling off starting next year”, he concludes.