Aneel updates the data and shows that more than 33,000 consumers have already indicated to distributors that they will change energy suppliers in 2024 and 2025. Of the total, 95% are small companies, consuming medium and high voltage energy, with lighting bills exceeding R$10,000.
The new update on consumer migration to the free electricity market shows that as of August 31, 33,264 consumers have already informed distributors that they will migrate to the free energy market, which will happen throughout 2024 and 2025. Of this total, 31,685 (95%) are smaller companies with demand of less than 500 kW. It is expected that between 2,500 and 3,000 consumers will migrate to the free energy market each month by the end of the year.
This move was made possible with the publication of Decree MME 50/2022, which allowed all energy consumers in Group A to choose their electricity supplier from January 2024, regardless of the quantity consumed. This group consists of medium and high voltage energy consumers, with smaller consumers whose demand does not exceed 500 kW, who must be represented by a retail supplier. Group A includes around 202,000 consumer units, mostly companies. Of these, more than 54,000 have already migrated to the free energy market.
Before Order No. 50/2022, only Group A consumers with a demand greater than 500 kW, equivalent to an average electricity bill of R$140,000, were allowed to enjoy the benefits of freely choosing their electricity supplier, thus paying less on their energy bills. This year, small customers, whose electricity bills exceed R$10,000, have the same right.
“It is a very large influx of consumers migrating to the free energy market and we need to continue efforts so that they can find simplified processes to take advantage of the different options available in products and services,” summarizes Rodrigo Ferreira, CEO of Abraceel, who highlighted the importance of the legal authorization issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in 2022 for this moment of growth, as Decree 50/2022 encouraged public bodies and companies to strengthen procedures to simplify procedures and facilitate the journey of consumers who decide to choose a new energy supplier. (Abrasil Consulting)
