Brazil energy policy: Social tariffs and regional discount proposals

Brazil is implementing various measures to manage electricity costs for vulnerable populations through the Social Electricity Tariff (TSEE). Under current legislation, families registered in the Cadastro Único (CadÚnico) can receive full exemption for consumption up to 80 kWh per month.

To address regional disparities, Project of Law 1527/26 has been proposed to create a Regionalized Social Electricity Tariff (TSRE). This proposal aims to adjust consumption limits based on local climate and cost of living, preventing residents in hotter regions from being penalized by a uniform national cap that does not account for increased refrigeration needs.

In several regions, maintaining these benefits requires strict administrative compliance. In Piauí, over 116,000 families risk losing their discounts due to outdated registration data, with a deadline set for December 2026. Similarly, in Lucas do Rio Verde, residents are urged to perform annual updates to maintain water and sewage social tariffs.

In remote areas like the Amazon, energy access remains a critical challenge. While 99.8% of Brazilian households have electricity, approximately 1.5 million people in the Legal Amazon still lack reliable service, often relying on limited diesel generators or solar systems.