Government intensifies efforts to approve provisional measure that expands free electricity bills.

247 - The federal government is racing against time to secure approval for the provisional measure (MP) that expands the social electricity tariff and alters rules in the electricity sector. According to a report by... g1The text has not yet been put on the agenda of the National Congress and may expire on September 17th.

This Friday (22), the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, stated that he had spoken with more than 20 parliamentarians in an attempt to sensitize them about the importance of the proposal. The measure provides for discounts for around 55 million Brazilians and total exemption from the electricity bill for another 60 million.

Resistance and criticism of political articulation

Despite the social relevance of the project, some parliamentarians interviewed by g1 Those speaking off the record claim that the government has not been sufficiently committed to political maneuvering to guarantee approval. The government leader in Congress, Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (PT-PE), said that he "continues working for the approval of the Provisional Measure." However, only the part dealing with the social tariff has found consensus. The other points, such as the opening of the free energy market, continue to divide opinions. One parliamentarian even summarized the situation by saying: "The numbers don't add up.".

Social tariff can be preserved even without the Provisional Measure.

Asked if there would be an alternative to maintain the social tariff should the provisional measure expire, Alexandre Silveira replied that the benefit is temporarily guaranteed.

"Our understanding is that the social tariff is guaranteed because the contracts have already been amended during the period of the provisional measure. However, for it to become permanent, the measure needs to be approved, and we can only analyze a new provisional measure next year, based on the principle of annuality.", explained the minister.

Other government priorities in the electricity sector

In addition to defending the social tariff, Silveira stated that the economic team is working to approve two other fundamental measures for the restructuring of the Brazilian electricity system. According to him, the objective is to modernize the sector, increase competitiveness, and guarantee energy security amidst rising demand in the country.