Electricity bill will continue with green flag in September

Aneel (National Electric Energy Agency) announced this Friday (26) that it will maintain the green tariff flag, with no additions to the energy tariff, for all consumers in the month of September.

The agency states that the maintenance of the flag reflects good conditions for electricity generation, even considering the forecast of growth in energy consumption in the country. It is the fifth green tariff announcement since the end of the water scarcity flag, which lasted from September 2021 to April this year.

For consumers benefiting from the social tariff, who did not have to pay the water scarcity flag, the green flag has been in effect since December 2021. Before that, these consumers paid the yellow tariff. The change represented a decrease of R$ 1.87 for every 100 kWh spent.

Families that are included in CadÚnico, of the federal government, and have an income per person of up to half a minimum wage per month (R$ 606) can benefit from the social tariff.

Those who receive the BPC (Benefício de Prestação Continuada), a benefit from the INSS (National Institute of Social Security) intended for the elderly over 65 years of age or people with disabilities in a situation of poverty, are also entitled to the social tariff.

In addition, families with a total monthly income of up to three minimum wages (R$ 3,636) that have members with illnesses or disabilities whose medical treatment depends on equipment that requires energy consumption can apply for inclusion in the program.

WHAT ARE TARIFF FLAGS?

The tariff flag system was adopted in 2015 to indicate, in the electricity bill, the costs of generating electricity. The three colors used in the flags – green, yellow or red – imitate the alert of a traffic light to signal the price level to maintain energy supply.

Energy tariffs and flags are not the same thing. Tariffs are the largest part of the electricity bill and serve to cover the costs of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, in addition to sector charges. The flags, on the other hand, reflect the costs of generation, which vary according to the source.