Government to benefit consumers who share energy surplus

In a bid to raise the competitiveness of renewable energy, especially solar power, the Brazilian government will lower taxes on privately-owned microgenerators that produce and share a surplus. The decision was announced Wednesday (Mar 4) by Minister of Mines and Energy Eduardo Braga.

“As many as 31 projects for solar energy production were covered in the [so-called] reserve auctions [aimed at increasing the security in the national electric energy supply], held in in 2014. In 2015, the government will lower taxes [on net metering technology], so that this source of energy becomes more competitive,” the minister said during a session in Congress on the current water and energy crisis facing the country.

According to Braga, the government has met with state authorities to consider cutting down taxes on net metering also at state level. This type of energy generation can usually be found in companies looking to reduce electric energy costs, but households supplying the local energy grid with their surplus will also benefit from the measure.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira