Brazil opens distributed gen rules to comment

Brazil's electricity regulator Aneel will take public comments and hold an open hearing on plans to regulate distributed generation.

The legal framework for distributed generation was approved at the beginning of 2022, with Aneel tasked with issuing specific regulations for the sector. The comment period seeks input on a wide range of issues, including the transition for new distributed generation projects to progressively pay more transmission and distribution tariffs, the rule for existing units to not pay these tariffs until 2045, and payment for power supplied to the grid through the government's energy development fund (CDE).

Aneel will also regulate the connection of distributed generation to storage systems, payment requirements if the unit does not go online for plants above 500kW, the consumer's compensation for generated surplus, and billing when compensation for generating plants do not meet conditions indicated by law.

The public consultation runs from 4 November to 19 December and will accept contributions via email at cp051_2022@aneel.gov.br. A public hearing will be held on 8 December.

By Rebecca Gompertz